Australian Blues & Roots Airplay Charts

Day 1 Thursday: 

It was like opening day Bluesfest of old...fewer numbers, catching up with friends and locals, and plenty of rain and muddy feet! 

Yes, there was Rain and a bit of mud…well it is Easter. Bring your wet weather gear and wax up them boots - enough said...we are here for the music!!!

 
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real are a high energy, southern rock band with the occasional twist to their music. The band lived up to its reputation from their last Bluesfest appearance two years ago which we didn’t get to witness. We can hear why Neil Young has them as his backing band at the moment. A very talented troupe of musicians, with lots of on stage acrobatics and a genuine appreciation of the punters. They were somewhat perplexed by the vacant set of seats at front of stage. They are obviously used to their crowd being front & centre. A surprise inclusion to their set was a wonderful cover of the Paul Simon track Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes. They are playing another three times over the weekend so get along and check them if you like a bit of southern rock stylings to your music.

Bluesfest is well known as a festival that allows artists from various acts up on stage together...it started on opening night when Lukas Nelson (this is a start of something this weekend for him) got up for a version of Neil Young's Southern Man with jam band Gov't Mule. Let's see what unfolds over the weekend in terms of collaborations!

Rag ‘n’ Bone man. Hearing him first time on the Mojo stage he sings “he’s no prophet or messiah” but close to it, such a beautifully powerful voice.

Shaun Kirk plays his one-man band gig with a new looking setup of acoustic percussion instruments at his feet. Currently Touring the new single Howlin’ at the Moon…which we didn’t get to see last night as the sky was dark and stormy…enough of the rain already! Shaun had to drag the crowd kicking and screaming to shout out their support of Byron…maybe their spirits where a bit damp! I spoke to him afterwards and he was surprised at how hard he had to work the crowd…are festival crowds getting a bit tougher tpo please of late or is festival apathy creeping in?

Gomez played the entire Bring It On album celebrating its 20 years with only a short detour to sing Happy birthday to Dave, their sound guy, who has been with them at every single gig. Admittedly we are Gomez “tragics” - can’t wait ‘til today’s set which will be in their own words, "peppered with many different tracks". A big call but they were as great if not better than in the earlier days, Mary’s day 1 hands down best set.

The Original Blues Brothers Band start with Steve "The Colonel" Cropper (yes, all members of the band MUST have a nickname) and Leon "The Lion" Pendarvis, the keyboard player, laying down some smooth grooves as the crowd starts to call out for the show to start …as they move through the first few tracks more of the band enter the stage and the full 10-piece band are all set up for their rendition of Miami and Katy. By this stage the crowd where up and dancing. Certainly a fun set…the two lead singers Tommy "Pipes" McDonnell and Rob "The Honeydripper" Paparozzi doing a fine job singing, dancing and playing harmonica and as replacements for the original Belushi and Aykroyd. 

Joe Louis Walker mentions his music is owing the Delta’s great guitarists. With a wonderfully long set of over one and a half hours. The super polished group of musicians, it shows the months and years they have spent on stage together. Certainly, a must-see act - Joe Louis Walker and band play again today at 9 on the Juke Joint stage.

Dumpstaphunk were the last act as we walked out to the car knowing there will be another day to catch a set from this wonderful NOLA group of musicians.

Hipster alert… A sign of the times, there is a men’s barber onsite in case of urgent need of new look or a bit of a “touch up” on the ‘do’. We know one photographer (no, not me) who had such an emergency, looked good too…there’s never enough hours in the day for a haircut when you're busy shooting!