For 50 years, I lived in a wide range of places around the world before finding my corner of paradise in Australia. I spent decades in the UK saving up for travel. I worked every holiday and weekend except one. No matter how broke I got, I could always hitchhike. Every year, like a dodgy pilgrim, I would jump the fence at the Glastonbury festival and escape into the biggest city of music on earth. I saw amazing things while simultaneously getting a first-hand experience of trench foot.

For 30 years, my hobbies turned into full-time jobs, first music, then poker, then photography. For the last 10 years, Bluesfest has allowed me to combine music and photography. When I am backstage, it feels like home, because I have walked in the shoes of everyone who makes the festival happen. If not in the crowd, I have been the sound engineer, promoter, roadie and booking agent. I have even been the poser on stage!

There is something inherently human about gathering around music at special times to celebrate life, but it goes deeper than us, Australia is where music began, songbirds evolved here and have been singing to the morning light long before humans existed anywhere on this planet… it sounds like I am coming out as a hippy for my 50th!.. why not? my pronouns are “hayman” and “dude”

Peace and Love.

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.

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.

As sure as Canucks like hockey, Allison is the most I have listened to a Canadian since Alanis Morissette, …which was… 30 years ago!  Yikes,  now I feel old. I didn’t realise until Bluesfest that Allison had launched a solo album. I was still listening to the outstanding third “Birds of Chicago” studio album “Love in Wartime” which I have played more than any other music in the last few years.

It turns out “Birds of Chicago” is on “indefinite hiatus” I feared this might be a euphemism for the swan song of my favourite pigeon pair. What would the Canada warbler sound like without the swift grackle and chickadee of JT Nero’s guitar sounds? The loss of their perfect blend of harmony, melody, texture and rhythm could be a jagged little pill to swallow wren my favourite song sparrow turns a new leaf.

I got hold of Allison Russell’s first solo album “Outside Child”

The lyrics tell very personal stories. I was happy to discover musically the album is an evolution from “Birds of Chicago” rather than a complete break. JT Nero is listed as one of the writers and sings a charming duet with his wife called “Joyful Motherfuckers” The music is like “Birds of Chicago” at a relaxed pace with a greater focus on Allison’s powerfully emotive voice and her transcendence from her early life.

“Birds of Ontario” may be closer, JT Nero’s midwestern tones are largely absent and in more than half the songs Allison taps into her inner maple syrup sipper when she slips in and out of French as she sings. I can’t wait to hear that beautiful voice one more time, while she also leads the charge to make clarinet music cool again. Allison Russell has 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.

They formed in Oakland, California, which is similar to Byron Bay. They are both next to subtropical bays that stick out into the Pacific Ocean. Given the chance, festivals and nature thrive at these comfortable, holiday weather, latitudes. In turn, the local music is influenced by hippies and surfers.

Both areas have seen historic migrations of beatniks. The Summer of Love in 1967 saw the largest migration of young people in the history of America. In Australia, the 1973 Aquarius Festival had an enduring effect on the culture of the Northern Rivers region. The local dairy industry was in terminal decline because the UK’s price to join Europe was to cut Australia loose. Some festival-goers pooled resources and bought a 1,200-acre property, this became one of many communes which started after the festival. They formed a hippie economy which continues to this day.

There is a theory: music gets more chill the hotter the climate. That is why reggae came from Jamaica and Scandinavia is full of metal bands. Maybe the mosh pit is how Vikings kept warm? As for The California Honeydrops, you can hear the sunshine in their music.

Their website calls them retro-soul, which gives you an idea. I watched some videos that had hints of Motown, gospel and skiffle. Then I listened to their 2013 album, “Like You Mean It,” which had a mellow jazz swing. Honeydrops are a good description as the music is smooth and sweet.

The California Honeydrops 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.

Imagine Wolverine learnt double bass, then drank all the crazy juice. To call his performance dynamic would not do it justice. You never know what will happen next. One minute he has lifted the whole double bass in the air while playing it behind his head like Buddy Guy, the next moment one of the Little Quirks has climbed on top of the bass and is singing up high, while he donks out the rhythm below. The show is a spectacle of physics defying controlled chaos created by a tight rock and roll groove machine set to overdrive.

19-Twenty is Australia’s answer to Jools Holland. They are both known to bring musicians together. This is encouraged at Bluesfest, the range of music lends itself to jamming. Peter Nobel (the guy who picks the artists at Bluesfest) once told me he chooses bands that make music with people, not computers. You will not find lip-syncing and backing tracks at Bluesfest. You will find a whole lotta people celebrating the raw energy of live music. 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

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: 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. Taj Farrant will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

Maybe it’s the tall palm trees and low-rise federation-style buildings on the wide open streets filled with quirky boutiques, organic cafes and head shops, or maybe the Northern Rivers‘ mild subtropical atmosphere in this pocket of paradise gives Mullumbimby its super chill vibe. This festival was the perfect excuse to stop in Mullumbimby and it did not disappoint.

It began with a flash mob of ukulele players in sombreros playing “Dance the Night Away” appearing in the town’s centre crossroad which had been reclaimed for people on foot. They then broke into “Jamaica Farewell” as they walked down the street to a stage set up on the road where Bunny Racket put on a great performance of fun/kid/rock. Then I turned around and saw these colourful street artists spreading smiles to the kid’s faces.

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

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