It’s been a wonderful run up to the 2023 Bluesfest – the festival folk have been really great lining up awesome artists to be interviewed for our entertainment pages.
If you go to our online edition they are all there: Steve ’n’ Seagulls, The Angels, Ash Grunwald, Felix Riebl, Chain, The Doobie Brothers, Gang of Youths, Jon Stevens, Marcus King, Michael Franti, Nikki Hill, Tierinii Jackson from Southern Avenue (can’t wait to see her – what a bloody firecracker) and my round two with the adorable Steve Earle.
The one I left get away
The one interview I did, but that you didn’t get to see, was with the really wonderful Nathaniel Rateliff. To be honest, I hadn’t heard of him before the day we spoke, but I did some research before the call – the guy is freakin’ awesome! A huge talent. HUGE!
After looking him up and watching some clips I was super excited about chatting with him. In fact, I was so excited I am pretty sure I kept calling him Daniel (WTF!) and to cap off the perfect interview – and it was a really good one, he’s a terrific bloke – after we said our goodbyes and hung up, I looked down to see that my recording hadn’t worked.
D’oh! D’OH! D’OH!! D’OH!!!
So this is my open apology, Nathaniel Rateliff: for getting your name wrong; for not taking notes like a proper journalist*; and for stuffing up the recording.
It’s also my apology to Echo readers because you won’t get to hear from me that Rateliff is probably going to be one of the coolest acts at Bluesfest – he has talent through the roof, his crew are so ‘on point’ it’s actually not funny, and if you miss his show you will literally, not figuratively, kick yourself!
*I actually did take a couple of notes – they look like this:
It was a squeeze at the Tiny Desk concert on YouTube.
Being sober can be a challenge – being the only person not drinking can feel weird.
Third time in Australia
It’s snowing today at his place – septic system froze. Been a hard winter but he got away to Hawaii for a bit – likes the cold, likes the snow.
Lineup is the much the same – revolving horn section for a while.
Solo tour affected by covid, was planning something big.
Alcohol does not help with communications.
Therapy has helped him with speaking to the band, communicating ideas about what he wants more clearly.
Feels inspired by very big things and very small things…
You can catch catch Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow night at Bluesfest.
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