Benz World Blog » Guitar

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.

Velvet Trip

Jason Benz — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 00:56:44 +0000

Frontman, Zeppelin Hamilton with Velvet Trip on the Jambalaya stage at the 2024 Bluesfest in Byron Bay. The following day Zeppelin did an overlapping set on the Delta stage with Dan Sultan on the far side of the festival site. Thanks to an efficient backstage shuttle service, he did both sets without any problems. Bluesfest has a global reputation for running like clockwork. Regulars are used to artists onstage the exact time they are listed. In 10 years the only delay I remember was the Prime Minister who delayed Jimmy Barns by 2 minutes to give an election pitch. No politician will risk that again as the boo’s made the news.

If you like the French bands “Air” and “Daft Punk” but prefer your psychedelics home-grown “Velvet Trip” is for you. They are part of a growing psychedelic pop scene in Australia along with “Tame Impala”, “Parcels” and “Pond”. Maybe there is something in the water? Velvet Trip is a good description of this retro-chill-pop band. Dreamy reverb vocals, guitar jams and a sprinkle of synths. Imagine “Pink Floyd” without the deafening crescendos.

The last frontman to do earnings and tattoos with this much style was Prince, and even Prince did not show off his tatts like Aussies do. Few have the confidence to make such a bold fashion choice, but when you have a name like Zeppelin, anything is possible, so the gold chain and shades are essential to turn the Rockstar look up to 11.

Velvet Trip have been confirmed for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest at 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.

Ash Grunwald

Jason Benz — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:26:58 +0000

Aussie blues legend Ash Grunwald on the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2022. No blues festival would be complete without a performance from this prince of the pentatonic. He is from the southern hemisphere’s biggest music cauldron, Melbourne, although he saw the light in 2010 when he relocated to Byron Bay.

Ash has an amazing body of work, with a dozen studio albums over two decades. My favourite is his 2019 album “Mojo” for its raw blues energy, and a guitar tone so fat it is at risk of diabetes. The album also has a powerfully dark duet with Kasey Chambers which reminded me of the haunting duet between Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue, if you replaced the orchestra with a blues guitar.

I love it when musicians collaborate to create something new and unexpected. Bluesfest is designed to make this happen. Along with the latest acts and the international headliners, there is a core of Australian bands, like Ash and Kasey, who Bluesfest supports year after year. This makes Bluesfest its own music scene.

Ash Grunwald and Kasey Chambers 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.

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

Susan Tedeschi

Jason Benz — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 12:59:49 +0000

This is the Tedeschi Trucks Band headlining the Mojo stage on day 3 of Bluesfest 2024 in Byron Bay, Australia. Susan Tedeschi pictured singing, although she was not alone, by the end of the set almost half the band had been lead singer, including Mike Mattison who originally sang in The Derek Trucks Band before they fused with Susan’s band to form Tedeschi Trucks. 2 more days of music, ticket available via the Bluesfest Website.

The Waifs

Jason Benz — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 07:00:35 +0000

This is Josh Cunningham from The Waifs on the Mojo stage at the historic Bluesfest 2022.

Imagine mixing the music of Sonny Boy Williamson and The Corrs, then leaving it to bake in the West Australian sun until you can smell the spinifex.

In the lead track “Fisherman’s Daughter” of their breakthrough 4th album “Up All Night” the singer describes herself as Folk, which is true, although that track has more than a few hints of Country music until the harmonica gets in high gear, then it is pure Blues.

The rest of the album also walks the line between genres with a wide array of guitar picking, which I should have guessed, as the core of this band is 3 guitar players.

Blues, Folk and Country music are centred around the most unifying of Australian traditions—that of storytelling. Many Aussies live their whole lives without visiting Western Australia, which is why you should take any opportunity to hear their best troubadours when they tour. WA stories are always a treat.

In 11 years the Waifs went from strumming a few Bob Dylan covers at their local pub in Albany to opening for Bob Dylan on tour.

Even more impressive is for the first 5 years, as they travelled around Australia doing gigs, they all fitted in one Kombi van.

They are set to return to the festival on the 1st of April 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: 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

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

David Le’aupepe

Jason Benz — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 13:59:12 +0000

This is Gang of Youths stealing the show on the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2023, in Byron Bay, Australia. The energy from frontman and songwriter David Le’aupepe was unmatched. His command of the stage was balanced by a self-deprecating nature and wit which connected him to the audience. He was sporting a big beard, so try to imagine a mix of Jason Momoa and Costa Georgiadis with the moves of Jarvis Cocker. The latter may be no accident as their Brit-pop influences can be heard in the synth sounds and driving rhythms which work so well in a music festival atmosphere. If you ever wondered what Indie Brit-pop evolved into, Gang of Youths has the best answer to that question.

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

Christone Ingram

Jason Benz — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 04:45:25 +0000

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram effortlessly channelled the original grandfathers of the Blues on the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2022.

Kingfish’s respect for the old masters is evident when you hear him play. He draws his inspiration from the earliest days of electric Blues.

With over 100 acts at Bluesfest, you can expect lovers of the original form to be well-catered for. The Byron Bay festival in Australia has a long history of attracting world-class Blues musicians from America’s Deep South. Kingfish is a great example, coming from Clarksdale, Mississippi, The heart of the Blues story. If you ever wondered what it would be like to go back in time and listen to Robert Johnson, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Muddy Waters and B.B. King craft the foundation of the Blues. A live performance from Kingfish can take you on that journey. (image download here)

Kingfish 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.