Benz World Blog » Jambalaya

Lachy Doley

Jason Benz — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:52:17 +0000

This is Lachy Doley on the Jambalaya stage on the second day of Byron Bay Bluesfest. He has been called the Jimi Hendrix of the Keyboard, and when you see him live, there is no better description. It is like a wild guitarist is fighting to get out when he bends notes on his Whammy Clavinet. Keyboard players typically don’t have much ability to move compared to other musicians, but this does not stop Lachy from putting on a dynamic performance. He was like a golden retriever who ate the instant coffee when he sprinted around the stage between songs. The Lachy Doley Group has a second set on Sunday. All tickets have now sold out on 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.

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.

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.

Mavis Staples

Jason Benz — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 23:00:32 +0000

This is Mavis Staples with guitarist Rick Holmstrom on the Jambalaya stage at Bluesfest 2017. I found this image in the archive because she will be returning to Australia for Bluesfest 2023 next easter.

The opportunity to see the last great matriarch of music should not be missed. Mavis Staples is woven into the fabric of music history in America’s deep south and her rich golden voice has been heard all over the world.

Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Jake Shimabukuro

Jason Benz — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 23:56:48 +0000

This is Jake Shimabukuro playing on the Jambalaya stage at Bluesfest 2017. Jake is a Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso who gained international notoriety by being the subject of one of the first ever viral videos. In 2006 unknown to him someone posted a video of him playing “While my guitar gently weeps” on a new website called YouTube. He was flooded with offers and has been making music all over the World ever since.

This image is available for download here.

Taj Mahal

Jason Benz — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 11:49:07 +0000

This is multi-instrumentalist, prolific recording artist and blender of the Blues, Taj Mahal, who pushes the envelope of what Blues is. Here in his favourite type of gig, a festival where people are free to dance, broadcasting his own brand of Blues on the Jambalaya stage at the 2016 Bluesfest in New South Wales, Australia.

Image download here.

UPDATE: Taj will be back at the festival in 2024, Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.