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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.

The Wailers

Jason Benz — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 15:25:12 +0000

2022 saw the return of Reggae Royalty to Bluesfest. The Wailers closed the Delta stage on the final day of music. They are such a common sight on Bluesfest stages that they risk being taken for granted. Make no mistake, they are all reggae legends and it is a privilege to watch them play.

To say they captured the original ’70s sound is an understatement. Never has a band produced a more faithful live performance, of the original recordings. Close your eyes and you will think Bob Marley had come back to life.

I know of no other group who can fly halfway around the world, play for 90mins to any festival audience, most of which are younger than the tunes, and still have the crowd sing along to every song.

The crowd then called them back for 3 encore songs. First, they chilled the tempo with Redemption Song and the crowd responded by holding lighters in the air (but this is 2022, so most were phone lights) Then they played One World, One Prayer from their latest album which was quickly followed by Could You Be Loved, at which point the crowd erupted and five thousand people jumped in the air and began to move as one.

The Wallers released their first new album in 25 years. I have downloaded some tunes to help me get over the end of live music at Bluesfest for another year.

Next year’s festival tickets will soon be available from the Bluesfest website.

This image is available for download here.

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

Funk Chunk

Jason Benz — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 23:47:18 +0000

This is the Melbourne Ska Orchestra rockin’ the Delta stage on the third day of Bluesfest 2022. They are my favourite band to photograph due to their spectacular show. The exceptional blend of organised chaos must be seen to be believed. They extend the limit of what up to 25 people can do on a stage simultaneously. They have been busy too, recording 7 studio albums, overturning the assumption that big bands write slowly. Defying the possible is MSO MO. All the new tunes in their set had the instant catchy quality they are known for. Their energy is infectious and inspires wild dancing in the crowd. (image download here)

The Melbourne Ska Orchestra will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in 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.

Midnight Oil

Jason Benz — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 22:07:43 +0000

This is Midnight Oil on the Crossroads stage on the second day of Bluesfest. The show began with a slideshow of protests which have shaped Australian politics. The Oils are far more than a protest band, frontman Peter Garrett was elected in 2004 and served in the cabinet back when the government took action on climate change more seriously.

The crowd were packed in to see the band. For safety the pit in front of the crowd is larger this year, this gives photographers more room to move. Unfortunately, Garrett recently recovered from Covid which made shooting from there impossible. I must thank Sarah Ndiaye for arranging a last-minute opportunity to shoot from the sound desk.

Garret shows no signs of slowing down, his energetic performance and frenetic dancing style enthused the audience. When they played Beds Are Burning I saw the crowd move in unison. A wave of dancing spread as far as the eye could see.

UPDATE: Peter Garrett will be back at the festival in Easter 2024 with his band The Alter Egos. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website

UPDATE: At Bluesfest 2026 there will be a tribute to Oils drummer Rob Hirst, Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Bluesfest 2026

Bluesfest Returns

Jason Benz — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 10:02:38 +0000

This is The War & Treaty which had the honour of heralding the return of live music on the Mojo stage on Day 1 of Bluesfest 2022. What a great choice to kick things off. They have a raw energetic groove that infuses into your bones. Like getting in a warm bath that instantly reminds you how much you miss it. The husband and wife team fuse Southern soul and gospel vocals while the band add a tasty dollop of rock and roll.

The band are playing all 5 days of the festival so there is still time to get your tickets from the Bluesfest website.

This image is available for download here.

Last Pedestrians

Jason Benz — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 03:38:53 +0000

This is Nottingham pub band The Last Pedestrians playing at the Lincolnshire Poacher on Sunday night. Their music is a potent mix of junkyard grooves and gruff vocals supplied by the legendary Harry Stephenson.

The gig was packed so I ditched the usual DSLR in favour of a LG G4 camera phone.

This shot was taken on a busy 6 week trip to the UK. It was great to catch up with friends and family all over the country. Thanks for the hospitality from everyone.

The Lumineers

Jason Benz — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 13:58:00 +0000

These are the Lumineers playing the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2017. Their music has a folky edge with stomping rhythms and acoustic riffs. Although they are not strictly blues, We were told by festival director Peter Noble that it has been about more than blues for at least 20 years. He said his guiding principle when booking bands is to find artists who make music with people rather than computers, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

UPDATE: The Lumineers will return to Australia in November 2022. 13th in Brisbane, 15th in Sydney, and 18th in Melbourne. Tickets from Bluesfest Touring.

Mick Fleetwood

Jason Benz — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 13:05:39 +0000

This is The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band playing the Crossroads stage at 2016 Bluesfest. Karen took me to see Fleetwood Mac in Brisbane in 2015 but Photography was not allowed. Thanks to the festival I got this shot of Mick behind his drums using a 100-400mm from the foot of the stage.

This image is available for download here.

Vintage Trouble

Jason Benz — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 13:19:30 +0000

This is Vintage Trouble playing the Crossroads stage on the final day of Bluesfest 2016. They were definitely a highlight of the festival. It is impossible to overstate the amount of energy lead singer Ty Taylor puts into every performance. One review said “imagine James Brown singing lead for Led Zeppelin” I can’t think of a better description of this supercharged tight four piece band.

UPDATE: Vintage Trouble are confirmed to play the 30th Byron Bay Bluesfest in 2019.

UPDATE: Vintage Trouble will be back at the festival in 2023, Tickets from the Bluesfest Website.

This image is available for download here.

Cat Empire

Jason Benz — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:38:54 +0000

This is The Cat Empire electrifying the audience on the Mojo stage at Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia. They are a Melbourne based band whose music is a fusion of Raggae, Jazz, Dance and Ska with a distinctly Cuban feel. The performance was energetic and the infectious rhythms soon had the crowd dancing wildly as far as the eye could see. (image download here)

The Cat Empire 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.