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 Photo: Justin Edwards
First stop isthe elaborate welcome performed by the Arakwal Dancers, who represent the traditional owners of this picturesque coastal region within the wider Bundgalung Nation. This year’s Bluesfest goes even further to involve the land’s traditional owners by devoting the First Nation (Bumbaline) Stage to Indigenous performers from all around Australia and the surrounding Islands.
Celebrating a birthday of their own on the Mojo Stage are repeat Bluesfest performers Ozomatli, who turn in a lively opening-night set while featuring tracks from the stellar Street Signs release amongst new tunes from Fire Away. Saturday Night is – as always – a highpoint, before the LA Latin funksters descend from the stage with their drums and whistles to party with the buzzing crowd.
Other major Thursday (Local Night) highlights include a dazzling up-tempo performance from Malta’s Tribali on the Jambalaya Stage, and a diabolical guitar display from The Martinez Trio at the always-bulging Apra Stage.
The first point of business for Jewish reggae artist Matisyahu is to dive off stage into a slightly confused crowd. The ensuing set sees the well-known tracks Time Of Your Song and King Without A Crown drawn out into long hypnotic trances, punctuated by the occasional rapping of Orthodox values and perpetuated by the singer’s consistently deadpan expression.
Heralded as the “present of the blues”, US guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamassa proceeds to establish he means business. Playing to a packed Crossroads tent, his never-ending fretboard antics reveal a performer without an off button when it comes to soloing. As the result, Bonamassa’s set becomes somewhat of a chops overkill.
 Photo: Justin Edwards An easy, sophisticated sound wafts from the Mojo Stage as North Carolina band The Avett Brothers play their smooth brand of folk rock. The dulcet tones of hit track I And Love And You is a treat to the ear, and the group’s classy sound has a glowing crowd humming.
I’ve heard some very good/interesting things about Poor Man’s Whiskey and my expectations are high as I wander to the Caba Caba Ray Stage. The group is renowned for their Dark Side Of The Moonshine performances – a bluegrass interpretation of Pink Floyd album, Dark Side Of The Moon. It’s good to hear the classic tracks again – Money, Breathe, Time – but I can’t help feeling the light-hearted take borders on sacrilege. Slightly disappointing.
 Photo: Justin Edwards Piano, bass and drums equal a great time as piano-annihilating firebrand Jon Cleary summons the New Orleans street party spirit at the all-dancing Jambalaya tent. Sending the intoxicating Louisiana rhythms left, right and centre, the Englishman may very well be the funkiest white dude alive and backed by a groove-tastic rhythm section to boot.
In their second and final set of this year’s Bluesfest, the much-celebrated Cuban jazz collective Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club take on a decidedly younger look for this year's festival, after the death of bassist Orlando ‘Cachaíto’ López early last year. Regardless, this latest 13-piece line-up doesn’t disappoint at the Mojo Stage as they play many of the tracks featured in the popular documentary, including the now iconic Chan Chan.
 Photo: Justin Edwards In one of the most culturally significant performances of this year’s Bluesfest, legendary Indigenous singer and activist Kev Carmody welcomes a number of friends to the Mojo Stage in a memorable set spanning decades. Opening with Thou Shalt Not Steal, as covered by John Butler on the Cannot Buy My Soul tribute album, he plays On The Wire with Troy Cassar-Daly & Laurel Edwards and a touching song of hope with Blue King Brown called Freedom. Dan Sultan and all of the other artists rush the stage for a rousing rendition of From Little Things, Big Things Grow in a fittingly euphoric climax.
 Photo: Justin Edwards Though the vocals lack a bit of punch, English group 10cc seem to have lost none of the sultry-pop sound that made them so successful during the 1970s. The band obviously enjoy themselves and delight the Crossroads Stage crowd with hit after hit, including The Wall Street Shuffle, I’m Not In Love, Good Morning Judge and Dreadlock Holiday.
 Photo: Justin Edwards Closing the day at Jambalaya, New York gypsy-punkers Gogol Bordello go off like dynamite – or perhaps more like protons in the Hadron Collider. The heavily moustachioed, shirtless Eugene Hütz is an unbelievable frontman, revving up the wildly moshing crowd like there’s no tomorrow as he commands the most energetic show seen so far.
The highlight and lowlight of Monday come together as a blistering set from The Fumes finishes on the Apra Stage right before one of the cages on the Ferris Wheel comes tumbling down. Three teenage girls survive the fall but are taken to hospital with minor injuries.
As festival winds to a close, we bid the five days of diverse, oft-astounding music a fond adieu and hit the motorway. Thank you again, Byron Bay.
MEG COLLIS, TIM RETROT, DENIS SEMCHENKO, JAMES STAFFORD
1. Written by James, on 14-04-2010 16:58
For the nerds: DUB TRIO were Matisyahu's backing band. Half the tracks played were Dub Trio tracks; they owned the MOJO. |
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