This Thursday we celebrate the launch of the 21st annual Byron Bay Bluefest – one of Australias most loved music festivals. We’ll be there covering the event, but before we do, I wanted to take us back to 2006 – I was 18 and it was my first ever Bluesfest. I wrote a blog about the adventure, and here was my entry about the first day. As you can see, my writing skills have vastly improved since then, but I thought it might be a nice trip down memory lane… and give you a bit of an idea as to what the festival is all about. Enjoy!
Not only was this was my first time to Bluesfest, but it was also my first time to Byron – and basically it is what the Gold Coast would be like if it didn’t suck… it’s just nice here. The people are cool, weed is being smoked everywhere (and no one cares) and especially at this time of year, the whole vibe is pretty sweet.
It really was relaxing to be there (although physically exhausting) and it took me away from reality for a few long days. But anywho, I began my first day of Bluesfest at the Beach Hotel- a pretty swanky pub on the beach (naturally). And it was surprisingly decent in prices- the coronas there were actually $2.10 cheaper than they were at the seedy BACKPACKERS BAR.
After the beers we decided it would be a good idea to pick up our wristbands from the festival grounds, which were a quick bus trip away. So we did that, but then had to walk back into town which took almost an hour, before heading back in around 5 to start the festival off with a bang.
First I saw the band Slightly Stoopid, who were actually pretty cool. Hilltop Hoods followed shortly after and really got the party started… the crowd was into it, as they would be with most of the concerts over the next 5 days. I mean this was, without a doubt, one of the best crowds I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of. Sure it’s probably because there is so much weed (and then the resulting 2nd hand smoke), that most people are on cloud 9 anyway. But having that sort of vibe is electrifying, making the festival the attraction that it is. An attraction far better, albeit different, than the Big Day Out.
Slightly Stoopid
Also important to note is the Sound that was featured at this festival. The speakers ROCKED the house down. Apparently it was the most expensive speaker system ever utilised at a music festival in Australia. The quality showed through… you never had any echo problems, and the sound was crisp and clear from the front all the way to the back. The organisers really should be commended for that one. The food was also superb, which one mightn’t expect. Everything I ate there was of pretty damn good quality, and nothing made me feel sick (like what usually happens at BDO). I was even able to try a bunch of new things which was an added bonus (although probably one of the reasons I spent way too much money up there haha).
India.Arie
After Hilltop Hoods, I caught a bit of Bernard Fanning who was pretty damn boring, so I went over and saw India.Arie. Now THIS is a girl who can belt out a tune, and do it with a grace that fills up the whole stage and the whole tent. She really is quite the talent, even if I’m not a fan of the music. We then moved over and saw some of Keb’Mo, who was basically what Bo Diddley would have been like 20 years ago when he didn’t have to sit down for the whole show. Very entertaining.
Despite the high quality speakers, however, the show wasn’t without its technical issues. After getting some food after Keb, we went over to get up the front for Sigur Ros, with whom I planned to see 45 minutes of, and then run over and see half an hour of The Black Keys, and then come back for the finale of SR, which is always incredible. So we SORT of did that. The problem was that Sigur Ros took FOREVER to start performing, and they were hit with technical difficulty after technical difficulty. And with the lead singer being the perfectionist he is, I felt so bad for him because you could tell how frustrated he was getting. Most people I talk to though said they didn’t notice it until the last song, but I guess because I listen to them so much and have seen them live before, I know when a guitar isn’t coming through on the speakers etc.
So after about 30 minutes we went over and saw The Black Keys who were awesome, and just before they were about to do the encore we ran back over to catch the end of Sigur Ros, who were just starting “Starálfur”, probably my favourite of their songs, especially due to its use in The Life Aquatic. They then launched into another song and had to end it early because of technical problems, but launched into the breathtaking “Untitled #8”, which they finished out their Enmore Theatre set with back in August.
Halfway through the song though the guitar stopped coming through on the speakers and the set ended with Jonsi (lead singer/guitarist) throwing the guitar on the ground in frustration. Man I felt so bad for the guy. I just read this from the tour diary on the official SR website (kept by the bands manager i believe):
“… the show when it came was frantic beyond belief in its crazy 20 minute changeover from india arie (who had gone over 20 minutes, eating into our set time). everyone on the crew did their best (and we were one man down since guitar tech dan got a nasty ear infection), but the gods were against us and everyone had pretty much the worst time on stage in living memory.
i listened out front and it sounded adequate at best, but i could tell the band were hating the set and wondering how to get through it. in the end we had to lose two songs from the show to make up for lost time or risk incurring a 3,000 dollar fine for playing past midnight curfew. so, no svefn g englar and no hafsol. in the end i was glad it was short. and if nothing else it taught us that heysatan is not the sort of song to drop in the middle of a loud, inattentive festival crowd.
jonsi said it was just so disappointing to come halfway round the world to play for people and then to suck like amateurs. hes being hard on himself and the band, but his point is valid. fingers crossed tonight at a second festival in sydney is better for everyone sake.”
…. no svefn g englar and no hafsol …. AHHH!!! they were ACTUALLY going to play svefn g englar!?!?! They That makes Larry a sad panda. They did play it at the Enmore though… but at least they played Starálfur this time 😀
Man I feel bad for Jonsi.
Jonsi of Sigur Ros
After they finished, just before midnight, we left the venue and were greeted with a massive line for the bus and rain. So we walked back to town… a painful hour walk let me tell you… and on the way back there were these 11-14 yo ‘hoodlums’ walking around picking fights with people. We avoided any trouble but I mean fucking hell… THIS is the crime problem people were talking aboubt!? 11 to 14 year olds!? Why the fuck aren’t these kids at home?? Suffice it to say, we caught the bus back after that night- but not because of the ‘hoodlums’, but because my legs were sore and I was wet. winge winge winge. But none of this mattered, the pain was worth it – as the rest of the festival got better and better …
We’ll see you at the 2010 Byron Bay Bluesfest later this week. We promise the content will be much, ahem, better.
