Benz World Blog » Delta

Nicky Bomba

Jason Benz — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 13:17:49 +0000

This is Nicky Bomba leading the awesome Melbourne Ska Orchestra on the Delta stage on the final day of Byron Bay Bluesfest. I saw their previous set on Saturday and was impressed that they had enough quality songs, they did not repeat the same set. This is unusual. In my experience, the larger a band gets, the harder it is to produce more than 1 tight set. MSO is no ordinary band, In 2018 they recorded one new song a week for a whole year, producing 4 albums.

Credit must also be given to the backstage crew who keep every performance running like clockwork, no matter how big the band. The success of the sold-out Bluesfest 2025 has guaranteed the future of live music festivals in NSW for now. However, this great festival is only made possible by people buying discounted early bird tickets, so Peter Nobel can book more great acts for Bluesfest 2026.

Melody Angel

Jason Benz — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:45:00 +0000

This is Melody Angel on the Delta stage putting the Blues in Bluesfest on the first day of the Byron Bay music festival. It was the most powerful performance so far, and there was a lot of competition, such as Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) At the time of writing, Melody Angel has 3 more shows over the weekend, a few ticket options are still available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

Electric Cadillac

Jason Benz — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:55:33 +0000

I have never seen a guitarist and bass player switch instruments so quickly mid-song. This is Electric Cadillac on the Delta stage, kicking off the music at the pre-party party of Byron Bay Bluesfest 2025. All the festival goers who camp onsite are treated to a sneak peek on Welcome Wednesday before the festival officially starts on Thursday. Festival director, Peter Nobel, briefly chatted with the crowd after their set and hinted there may still be a future for Bluesfest as ticket sales have broken records. At the time of writing, a few ticket options are still available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

Mummy Cass

Jason Benz — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 22:42:14 +0000

This is Mummy Cass charging up before the 2024 Byron Bay Bluesfest. The 5000 year old reanimation process harnesses the energy from a perfectly timed bolt of lightning to bring the ancient party spirit back to the future.

There have been 70 mummies in the last 20 years. Mummy Cass is 1 of about 10 roaming mummies. They are a rare wild breed of mummy who have passed through the boarding gate. After thousands of years in a sarcophagus, most mummies are unwilling to be sealed into a jumbo jet.

This was overcome when it was discovered if 10 cats are wandering free for each mummy, they would become relaxed enough to get onboard. Once the simple process of herding 100 cats on a plane was done, the fun-funk band of coffin dodgers could go on tour.

It was suggested, if 1000 mice were released on the plane, cats and mummies would follow willingly. When Australian Boarder Force heard about this plan they deployed a highly trained team of drop bears to meet the plane on the runway.

By then the cats had taken control of the plane and were refusing to negotiate with everyone, except royalty. It was resolved when the drop bears had lunch with the mice, in return “Here Come the Mummies” and “The Cat Empire” will bring the party to Easter 2025. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: In 2026 Bluesfest will be the last in a line of major festivals closed from increasing headwinds. This began before covid, with the previous state government’s legislative “war on festivals“. The new government risks letting this trend continue through inaction. However, you can change this. If 20,000 signatures are received, the NSW Parliament must debate Bluesfest’s future. #savebluesfest if you live in the state Sign up here. For everyone else, there is an international petition on change.org Sign up here.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

Taj Farrant

Jason Benz — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:31:30 +0000

These are the magic fingers of Taj Farrant on the Delta stage on the Welcome Wednesday of Byron Bay Bluesfest 2024. Taj is a young Aussie blues guitar prodigy who can shred with the best of them. He began his set with Hendrix-Red House and SRV-Tightrope. These songs are familiar to anyone who has picked up a guitar and followed the blues greats. I remember learning Red House almost 40 years ago. It is reassuring that these blues standards are still inspiring kids today. Mastering these songs led to his first record deal at age 10.

Taj Farrant has been confirmed to play next Easter at the very last Byron Bay Bluesfest.

I am still reeling from the news that Australia’s best music festival will end. It has been such a big part of my life. At least there is one last chance to see my friends again and celebrate “blues, roots & beyond” in 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Taj Farrant will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

Freak Flag

Jason Benz — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:53:35 +0000

This is Here Come The Mummies letting their freak flag fly on the Delta stage at Bluesfest 2024 in Byron Bay, Australia. They are the most powerful groove machine I have seen, or not seen, in ages. Why the disguise? Could they be moonlighting while signed to opposing record labels? Maybe they are the real Fun Lovin’ Criminals? All I can say is they are the Banksy of the disco funk world. They have 3 more sets over the next 4 days of music, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Here Come The Mummies will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

Welcome Wednesday

Jason Benz — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:59:47 +0000

This is Tor Trethowan getting the crowd moving with Mark Hoffmann and his 4 yidaki/didgeridoo as eMDee on the Delta stage at Bluesfest 2024 in Byron Bay, Australia. They produce a form of live drum & bass which is impossible not to dance to. It could be called drum & didge or drum & quadridoo. Their music took me back to the 90′s when I booked a live drum & bass band called Skinny Sumo in Nottingham, UK. Bluesfest puts on a warm-up gig for all the 5-day campers at the festival who take the opportunity to get set up from 10 am on Wednesday before the festival officially starts on Thursday, and why wouldn’t you, turn a 5-day festival into a 6-day festival? Tickets are still available via the Bluesfest Website.

Roshani Everett

Jason Benz — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:19:13 +0000

This is multi-instrumentalist Roshani opening the Delta stage on the first day of Bluesfest 2022. The level of energy and excitement from artists and audience at that first post-covid festival was beyond anything I have seen before, and that includes a dozen Glastonbury festivals.

I am cautious using the word “talent” when describing musicians, as it ignores the hard work they put in. Roshani has a rich, powerful, soulful voice which could be the star of any band, but her talents don’t end there.

While travelling and living in her van she developed a one woman show with the creative use of loop pedals and various music tech. Roshani is the modern version of a one-woman band. (image download here)

Roshani will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Roshani will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

19 Twenty

Jason Benz — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 01:19:56 +0000

This is power trio 19-Twenty on the Delta stage at Bluesfest 2023. Imagine a mix of ZZ Top and The White Stripes with an Aussie twist. Like Jimi Hendrix, the band is built around the considerable guitar skills of lead singer, Kane Dennelly. Also like Hendrix, the role of the bass and drums should not be underestimated, John Gwilliam and Jeremy Berg do an excellent job of taking already powerful grooves and pushing them into overdrive. As well as giving the guitar room to shine, they can each take the lead. The chance to see a double bass solo should not be missed. When these “Masters of the Riff” are not banging out high-energy electric blues with a folk edge to cheering crowds, they have produced a chilled Sunday arvo studio number with what can only be called an Australian Supergroup, teaming up with Lachy Doley and Hussy Hicks to record What A Night. (image download here). It is great to hear that 19-Twenty has been confirmed for the 2024 festival. There are rumours of guest musicians appearing at that performance.

UPDATE: 19-Twenty will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. 19-Twenty will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

Steve Poltz

Jason Benz — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:04:32 +0000

This is singer-songwriter and eccentric comedian Steve Poltz on the Delta stage at Bluesfest 2023 in New South Wales, Australia. Poltz had played the previous day on the Mojo stage and word spread through the festival that this guy was worth checking out. This creative Canadian loves to try new things. Moments before he started the gig, he saw a large box on wheels backstage that he could fit in, so he asked the stagehands to wheel him out to begin the show. He emerged like a magician’s assistant all while playing his guitar. (image download here).

I was glad to hear Steve Poltz has been confirmed in the first line-up announcement for the 2024 festival. Tickets are available via the Byron Bay Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Steve Poltz will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal