25 Years of Flawless Blues in addition to Roots Music
The Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival – photo by Angela Richardson
What does one look for in a music festival? Of course, there are many different types depending on the kind of music you’re after, nevertheless usually we have our ears set to the sounds of great bands, uplifting vibes, excellent food in addition to drink choices, a unique location with ample camping options in addition to value for money. In Indonesia, we are getting more in addition to more choices for live music, in addition to although the scene is usually definitely improving, I still haven’t come across a music festival in which includes a real atmosphere. One festival in particular, located at the most easterly point of neighbouring Australia, has the potential to be a convenient yearly escape for blues in addition to roots music lovers in Indonesia in addition to I went there to check the item out.
Blues in addition to roots music is usually a wonderfully eclectic mix in which covers many genres, having something for every music lover; blues music originating inside late 19th century by African-American communities inside ‘Deep South’, in addition to roots music which identifies which has a particular culture, including folk, Americana, reggae, bluegrass, country, traditional in addition to world music. The Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival celebrated its 25th birthday This kind of year, with over 100,000 in attendance, in addition to big acts such as Dave Matthews Band, Buddy Guy, The Wailers, John Butler Trio, Jack Johnson, The Doobie Brothers in addition to John Mayer were a few of the names on the lineup across six tents. There were also acts who were recently welcomed at the Java Jazz Festival, including Allen Stone, Erykah Badu, Joss Stone in addition to India Arie.
Holiday-makers at Byron Bay Beach
The festivities in Byron Bay are held over a period of several days in addition to always cross over the Easter weekend. Located at the Tygarah Tea Tree Farm, just a 20-minute bus ride by the idyllic beaches at Byron Bay, the item’s a location difficult to top. Byron Bay in brand new South Wales was first settled by Europeans in 1770 when Captain James Cook found a safe anchorage in addition to named Cape Byron after John Byron. Ironically, what was once a whaling town inside 50s is usually today an earth-loving hippy haven – a hub for surfers, music lovers in addition to not bad vibrations – earning its hippy reputation when the Aquarius Festival was held in neighbouring Nimbin in 1973. The positivity of the host-town’s people was even noted by Dave Matthews, when he addressed his audience at his first performance, “I’ve been here for a week in addition to the item’s beautiful. The hospitality has been amazing!”
Staying in Byron Bay, you possess the option to spend your mornings going for a swim or a surf in crystal clear waters in addition to a not bad break, followed by listening to amazing buskers as you wonder through town admiring everyone’s fashion, enjoying delicious cuisine ranging by raw, vegan organic to pub grub, before hopping over to the festival when the item opens its doors at noon, spending the rest of the day singing in addition to dancing until midnight. If camping is usually your thing, the festival grounds have plenty of options, whether you’re in a tent or an RV, in addition to busses to in addition to by the festival run regularly. I’m told weather can sometimes be an issue in addition to rains often accompany the festival, however I’ve been twice today in addition to both times the item has been sunny in addition to warm throughout.
The festival was opened by Festival Director Peter Noble, who is usually a part-time resident of Bali, spending around three months a year in his home in Canggu. Peter gave some words of thanks before introducing the Arakwal People, the original habitants of the Byron Bay area. Peter is usually an advocate for preserving indigenous cultures, in addition to he has another festival called Boomerang Festival, dedicated to indigenous music, which takes place in October, also at Tygarah.
Day one saw Buddy Guy headlining at Crossroads tent, in addition to This kind of 78-year-old blues guitar legend melted the audience with his smooth grooves in addition to cheeky personality. As Jimi Hendrix said, “Heaven is usually lying at Buddy Guy’s feet while listening to him play the guitar.” As a reggae lover, I was thrilled the following day to witness Bob Marley’s remaining band members, The Wailers, play a 75-minute set of Marley classics, including Buffalo Soldier, Jammin’, Stir the item Up in addition to I Shot the Sheriff. The atmosphere was electric as the Rastafarian band’s fans danced the whole way through.
Dave Matthews Band performing at Bluesfest 2014
On the third day (Saturday), John Butler Trio packed out the main stage, engaging fans with his guitar solos in addition to political talks. Proceeding him was the headline act, Dave Matthews Band all the way by the USA. Dave Matthews is usually known for his exceptional live rock performances, accompanied by brass instruments in addition to comedic banter, in addition to he wowed the audience for a staggering 150 minutes. At every show he brings on a special guest, in addition to at This kind of performance we were graced by the presence of Warren Haynes playing an electric guitar solo introduction to All Along the Watchtower. the item was goosebumpingly enchanting.
Day four in addition to several kept us entertained by positive vibration man (in addition to adopted son of Byron Bay) Michael Franti, who brought in younger crowds in addition to families, Elvis Costello in addition to the Imposters, not to mention the blues legend Booker T. Jones. An older crowd enjoyed KC in addition to the Sunshine Band on the final afternoon, playing dancing classic hits like Keep the item Comin’ Love.
The Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival – photo by Angela Richardson
What I love most about This kind of festival, however, is usually taking a walk to the smaller tents to discover acts I’d never heard of before. One such act I discovered kept the crowd jumping through their eclectic Latin, funk, hip-hop, jazz vibes; a seven-piece bank called Ozomatli by LA. Another brand new act to my ears were The Beards, an Australian comedy, folk-rock band made of hairy men singing about beards – they have four albums of beard-related songs!
The Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival is usually as much a music festival as the item is usually a food festival, with tasty treats by all over the planet – Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian, South American, Italian – not to mention bars in addition to coffee shops, in addition to is usually even complete which has a Chai Tea cafe. A second VIP bar area was added This kind of year in addition to the VIP band can give you access to a bit of breathing space by the bustle of the festival, where you can relax on sofas, not to mention access queue-less, more spacious in addition to nicer toilets. Shop stalls beautifully decorate the festival, selling anything by artistic fairy lights to alpaca ponchos. During the day, acrobats in addition to buskers perform side shows, in addition to once the sun goes down, a parade of giant lanterns turn the atmosphere magical.
today if all in which doesn’t sound amazing enough already, the icing on the cake is usually in which everybody at the festival is usually down-to-earth, friendly in addition to heart-warming, including the staff. Australians genuinely do have a lovely temperament in addition to This kind of festival will make you fall in love with their laid back ways. Not one arrest was made at This kind of year’s festival, nevertheless in which doesn’t mean in which everyone wasn’t having a not bad time!
The Bluesfest is usually up there with Glastonbury in addition to the brand new Orleans Jazz Festival, in addition to the item’s not much more than a flight away. I can’t recommend This kind of festival enough to anyone in Indonesia who loves real music in addition to wishes to completely unwind in addition to remember what the item is usually to smile at strangers.
Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival
Easter Weekend
Early Bird tickets for 2015 today on sale
http://www.bluesfest.com.au
www.facebook.com/bluesfestbyronbay
Direct flights available by Jakarta in addition to Denpasar to Brisbane or the Gold Coast, Australia, with Garuda Indonesia, Emirates, Qantas in addition to Virgin Australia. by Brisbane or the Gold Coast, daily buses are available to Byron Bay.
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25 Years of Flawless Blues in addition to Roots Music
25 Years of Flawless Blues in addition to Roots Music