Superhero audiences and superhero performances keep Byron Bay Bluesfest humming

CROWDS at this year’s 28th annual Byron Bay Bluesfest were so spoiled for choice, it’s unlikely they had time to lament the absence of headline drawcards and late scratchings Neil Young and Barry Gibb

NEIL what? Young who?

Punters at this year’s 28th annual Byron Bay Bluesfest were so spoiled for choice, it’s unlikely they had time to lament the absence of headline drawcards and late scratchings Neil Young and Barry Gibb.

The breadth and depth of talent on the bill’s super serving of returning and first-time Bluesfest performers ensured they weren’t missed, with 85 bands comprised of 670 artists delivering 185 outstanding performances.

“I think everybody that came this year will tell you that this has been one of the great Bluesfests, and in my opinion certainly within our top three,” festival director Peter Noble said.

“I will always be asked who are my favourite artists and who are the great success stories in terms of artists playing for the first time, there are almost too many to mention.

“From Laura Mvula, Nikki Hill and Melody Angel to Mary J. Blige and the incomparable Eric Gales there is a never ending list and if you were actually here at Bluesfest you would know what I’m talking about.

“The emerging artists are now known artists, the returning artists have cemented their careers even more strongly and every single legend shone.”

Mary J. Blige at Byron Bay Bluesfest. Picture: David Harris.

While 2017 was the year of superstar guests — everyone from Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky to Jason Momoa and Matt Damon were there — the real superstars were the more than 200 artists who performed throughout the weekend and their adoring audiences.

Bluesfest debutant Eric Gales and artists including his great mate Beth Hart, Godfather Carlos Santana, 80-year-old showman extraordinaire Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Vintage Trouble, Tony Joe White, Mavis Staples, Melody Angel, Blind Boy Paxton, Jeff Lang, Niki Hill, Billy Bragg (the artist who attracted the longest queue of the weekend at the signing tent), Mud Morganfield, St Paul and The Broken Bones and Booker T ensured this year’s Bluesfest was one of the bluesiest in recent memory.

Santana’s super Sunday night sway-in drew the weekend’s biggest crowd, the Mexican maestro leading a supremely talented band that included his wife, Cindy Blackman Santana, on drums.

Crowds at the Byron Bay Bluesfest. Picture Nigel Hallett.

Kasey Chambers and Neil Finn helped put some new bums on Bluesfest seats for Monday night’s all-in singalong finale in the Crossroads Tent, with Sophie Monk and A-list local Elsa Pataky in Chambers’ corner as Bernard Fanning joined her for a duet.

British band Madness received mixed reviews for their Sunday night Bluesfest debut while Zac Brown Band’s Americana songbook earned them plenty of new fans.

While the now 28-year-old Bluesfest is firmly entrenched on the to-do lists of music lovers (and big brands) around the world, the independent celebration of music and its power to unite has for now, resisted numerous invitations to sell its soul.

Bonnie Raitt rates it “one of the world class, great festivals of all time”.

The Doobie Brothers were blown away by crowds “singing louder than the PA” and Nikki Hill was in her element backstage in “rock n roll fantasy camp — especially seeing such a female presence around”.

2017 Bluesfest Busking Competition winner Tay Oskee. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Australian.

While music the event’s beating heart, the on-site camping festival has become so much more since moving into its permanent home at Tyagarah..

Bluesfest’s cashed-up older crowd and five-day format have seen its market stalls evolve into a shopping destination in their own right.

Everything from homewares to customised Levis jackets (the performers all got to customise themselves one) and a Maui Jim sunglasses’ festival pop-up shop — the brand’s first stand-alone retail outlet in Australia — joined this year’s expanded mix.

Stallholders said many patrons paid for items and collected them on their way home once the festival wrapped, while campers snapped up throws, solar lights, pillows and rugs.

While hipsters now outnumber hippies at Tyagarah, style hasn’t overthrown substance.

Bluesfest and the people who staff it have helped it evolve into a musical village with a welcoming vibe that makes patrons feel happily hosted.

“In the end the biggest stars in the sky at Bluesfest were our audience,” Mr Noble said.

“They are simply astonishingly wonderful. And all our team who work so hard to put this show on I’m sure would say we did it for you, and you do it for us.”

The introduction of RFID wristbands this year came with expected teething problems but should dramatically reduce the number of people finding their way through the gates for free.

Mr Noble will hopefully take a leaf out of Patti Smith’s book (the US star donated $10,000 to the local flood recovery effort) and forward any unclaimed RFID drink funds to the relief effort on our behalf too.

He can start with the balance left on my band. Here’s cheers!