Humpday at the 2015 Bluesfest saw yet another series of stellar performances from across the globe and Blues couture go all placky poncho.
Both the main stages and smaller arenas had enough honey to keep any busy Bluesfest bee happy and though the heavens opened, festival goers were aplenty and took the opportunity to get up close and personal as they squeezed ever inwards in their efforts to stay dry.
One of the highly anticipated performances was delivered by The Waterboys who after more than 30 years still have what it takes to get thousands of people on their feet and screaming for more. The band played an incredible set to new and old fans and had the Crossroads stage pumping.
Highlights of the day were the second performance by Alabama Shakes and Hozier, (who still had girls and guys swooning with his lilting tones). Paolo Nutini got everyone pumping with his second outing at this year’s Blues and as per usual, the Melbourne Ska Orchestra were the axis of awesome on the Mojo stage.
Dispatch played an electric set on the Jambalaya stage which looked so much more like fun than work for the band.
During the set fans paid tribute to band member Brad ‘Braddigan’ Corrigan’s charity ‘Love, Light and Melody’ when they held up photos of the face of the charity, Ileana, a little girl who grew up in a trash dump community in Managua, Nicaragua, and who as a child was forced into prostitution, and who later contracted HIV and passed away in 2011 – ( see more at lovelightandmelody.org ).
The sentimental favourite for humpday was definitely David Gray, who for weeks has had people asking the question, ‘Are you going to see David Gray at Blues?’
Gray was in fine voice and had fans pressing forward to get a closer glimpse and bathe in his little bit of Bluesfest magic on the Crossroads stage.
Today local lads Xavier Rudd and Ash Grunwald will grace the Mojo and Crossroads stages respectively. Rudd will showcase his new album Nanna and his super group backing band The United Nations, with the likes of ‘Uncle’ Tio Moloantoa on bass and Bobby Alu playing drums.
Grunwald will also have some super folk on stage with Danni Carr and Lisa Candy on BVs and the Living End’s ace of bass Scott Owen.
~ Photos Tree Faerie
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