Benz World Blog » Gig

Nahko Bear

Jason Benz — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 13:01:20 +0000

Happy New Year 2025. This is Nahko and Medicine for the People playing on the Jambalaya stage at Bluesfest Byron Bay in 2017. He is wearing a “Make America Native Again” cap. Then, as now, the world is facing uncertainty about the future. One thing is certain, Nahko Bear is returning to Bluesfest in 2025, this time he is billed as just Nahko without his band. This is a trend in music, the industry is putting money behind solo artists over bands. This is something Bluesfest has resisted. You will always find bands at Bluesfest.

I cannot think of anything worse than paying hundreds of dollars for a festival ticket, only to watch someone press play on a laptop. You can pay even more money to watch elaborate costumes and dance routines to hide the fact that there is someone backstage pressing play on a laptop. Bluesfest is committed to supporting musicians making music with instruments rather than computers. It is a live music experience like no other.

Nahko will return to the festival with an unnamed band in 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.

Little Quirks

Jason Benz — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 04:57:35 +0000

This is Jaymi Toole playing the mandolin and singing with the Little Quirks as they opened the Mojo stage with their dynamic folk/rock/pop style at Bluesfest 2024 in Byron Bay. They put on the most passionate and energetic performance I have seen at the festival, and they have some stiff competition. Like many at this festival, they started out busking on the streets of Australia and dreaming of one day playing Bluesfest. Today their dream came true, and they made the most of it. It was great to see artists having so much fun onstage. Little Quirks will be back on the final Monday of music. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Jaymi Toole and Abbey Toole from Little Quirks opening the Mojo stage at Bluesfest 2024 in Byron Bay.

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.

Pierce Brothers

Jason Benz — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 02:42:02 +0000

This Duo from under Down Under (Melbourne) are the Pierce Brothers playing on the Juke Joint at Bluesfest in 2016. You know you are in for something special when you see this onstage.

This year I’ve been listening to their album “Atlas Shoulders” It has an uplifting, fun summer holiday vibe to it. Imagine all the toe-tapping folksy stomp of Mumford and Sons without the melancholy.

Their music does not stop there. They have one song, “Juno”, which sounds so much like Simon and Garfunkel, it must have been an intentional homage. They nailed their sound so well that I had to Google it to make sure they hadn’t uncovered some unknown Paul Simon tune.

Their sibling harmonies generally favour acoustic instruments, which is great. Occasionally, they dust off the electric guitar and create the type of hard-driving rhythm you would expect from a Chris Rea track, as they do for “Back To You”

I enjoyed listening to them for this review and will add this album to my playlist. Now I know these songs so well, I am especially looking forward to seeing them performed live on Sat 30th & Sun 31st March 2024. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

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

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

New Year

Jason Benz — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 13:01:58 +0000

Happy New Year 2024. What I am looking forward to most this year is the return of one of my favourite bands to Australia. This is Tedeschi Trucks Band putting on an awesome performance on the Crossroads stage at the 2016 Byron Bay Bluesfest. Husband and wife team of Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks here with saxophone player Kebbi Williams.

Imagine two smooth blues guitars jamming together, while they evoke the kind of atmospheric sounds Knopfler would be proud of, wrap these harmonies in the soulful depth you can only get from gospel backing singers, fill the backstage with duelling drummers, mix in a Hammond Organ and some New Orleans Horns and the sweet blues sound they make is world-class.

(image download here)

UPDATE: After 8 long years the band will return to the festival in Easter 2024, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

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: 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. 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

Ollie McGill

Jason Benz — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 13:59:30 +0000

This is Ollie McGill on the Mojo stage at Bluesfest 2023. Along with Felix Riebl, they are the remaining two-thirds of the founding trio of The Cat Empire. The band’s history includes over 40 musicians, enough for a chamber orchestra. After their last gig with the original lineup at Bluesfest 2022 there were a number of changes in the lineup. This made the reformed Kitten Empire the most anticipated show at Bluesfest 2023. Who would be there? What songs would they play? Would they still have that festival energy they are famous for? Australian Musician got the scoop on their new album. Watch this space for more Bluesfest stories throughout the year.

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.

Julz Parker

Jason Benz — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 13:59:39 +0000

This is local guitarist Julz Parker from Hussy Hicks making a guest appearance with Michael Franti & Spearhead on the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2023 in Byron Bay, Australia. Meanwhile, on the Mojo stage, Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne were jamming together. As the night went on, the party atmosphere built until the line between artist and audience disappeared. I saw a whole brass section vanish into the crowd, and members of the crowd got up on stage to sing and dance.

UPDATE: Hussy Hicks will be back after a successful world tour to perform back home at Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2024.

UPDATE: Hussy Hicks will return to the festival in 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025 and #savebluesfest, the festival’s future has been confirmed. Hussy Hicks will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Bluesfest 2026

Counting Crows

Jason Benz — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 13:59:19 +0000

This is Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows taking the audience of the Mojo stage back in time at Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Australia. In the early 90′s when Grunge was busy reviving the bones of Punk, one band from San Francisco, California, took the road less travelled by. Adam looked to the troubadours, like Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, and decided to keep the art of storytelling alive with vivid imagery and heartfelt lyrics. The music has a timeless quality. They have remained on my playlist for 30 years because, like wine, they only improve with age.

Adam’s current favourite band is Gang of Youths, who headlined last night at Bluesfest. Adam also sang on their latest album.

2 more days of music, the sun is out, and tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

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

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal