Right on cue, the clouds parted over Tyagarah for day 1 of Bluesfest 2023. Another epic lineup of musicians from around the world included Southern Avenue bringing their take on Tennessee to the Juke Joint and Dog Trumpet, looking right at home in the big Mojo tent with their homespun trans-Tasman classics.
Over at Delta, Greensky Bluegrass shook up the genre with mics for everyone and dobro (wah wah and all) replacing the traditional fiddle. The set built to a powerful conclusion with Pink Floyd’s Time, put through the bluegrass wringer.
Steve Earle was in powerful solo mode at Bluesfest yesterday, which he described as his favourite festival in the world. His set ranged from a number of Guitar Town era favourites up to his recent Jerry Jeff Walker album, including Mr Bojangles, which he said he’d been playing since he was 14. He spoke movingly about the last moments of his son Justin Townes Earle, cut down far too early by fentanyl.
Steve was back on stage at times for the following long-awaited set by Lucinda Williams and her extraordinary band Buick 6. It was a very moving performance, covering familiar territory of love, loss and lust. The world is very lucky to still have Lucinda singing her songs since her stroke.
LP was astounding with an incredible vocal and other sounds, range – people might not quite understand how difficult it is to whistle into a microphone without causing ear–splitting feedback!
Clearly a crowd favourite her performance was stellar leaving anyone in the audience who knows singing, wondering if her warm-down takes twice as long as her warm-up.
One of the real highlights was the group of young women from Cairns who make up the group Spinifex Gum.
This troupe of around 20 singers, all in their teens or younger, gave the type of performance you would expect from veteran artists after many years on the road.
Their show was clear, concise and cosmic and if you are at Tyagarah today, you’d be wise to get to this show.
The Black Sorrows were a no show later that night (Tex Perkins gallantly stepped in), with Joe Camilleri having injured his back, forcing a rare cancellation. Another disappearing headliner was Elvis Costello, who has had to postpone his entire Australian tour at very late notice when a band member came down with COVID.
Making up for these disappointments was the barnstorming return to Bluesfest of favourites Larkin Poe and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. The sisters from Nashville brought plenty of power and tradition to the Juke Joint, with a highlight being Son House’s ‘Preachin’ Blues’.
Over at the Crossroads, Mr Rateliff’s big soulful sound electrified the crowd, who will all be back for more bluesy goodness today, from lunchtime.
My 8th time to see Earle, drove the whole way from cooma, he was fantastic, worth the trip,