Today was a late start for us after the car park came to halt last night (the usual too many people leaving at once and bottlenecks) and not arriving back to our accommodation until very late. A sleep in was needed.
With many repeats throughout the festival, today could be a day to be taking it easy. My first stop was at Crossroads to make sure I watched the full set for Allison Russell.
While Allison Russell was being introduced, the MC thanked everyone for coming and confirmed there would be another Bluesfest next year.
Russell introduced the band telling us where they were from and who they were, then eased into a funky number with that beautiful clarinet woven throughout, interchanging with the vocals.
Russell spoke of their Grammy win then played the song they won for, a rollicking song that got a few people up dancing. Then they spoke of their heroes like Joni Mitchell and Annie Lennox (who collaborated on the next song) and then spoke of safety for all people, in particular trans people who are having their rights stripped in the US and hoped it wasn’t going to happen here.
Allison Russell – Bluesfest – photos by Clea-marie Thorne
I went to Jambalaya stage next to watch Ash Grunwald – the place was packed right out of the tent. I stayed and listened on the path for a bit but with the Blues kids tent there as well, it was hard to hear. So I went up to Mojo to watch BJ the Chicago Kid.
BJ the Chicago Kid delivered some smooth R&B and some inflections of neo-soul – most people here were kicking back and taking it easy. BJ finished up with telling the audience that he didn’t fly all this way to not tell us he loved us.
BJ the Chicago Kid – Bluesfest – photos by Clea-marie Thorne
Next up on Mojo was the Melbourne Ska Orchestra – I had been to and fro on whether to catch them here at the festival but wanting to stay at Mojo knowing it will fill up quick for Gary Clark Jr made for a quick decision here.
The people who have been clustered around the perimeter of the tent in their personal chairs were told to move as “there was a BIG dance band coming on” the Melbourne Ska Orchestra came on with a fanfare of horns (a ska band that can legitimately say they have a horn section not just one or two up the back).
After encouraging the crowd to cheer back after one lacklustre attempt there were many more great roars of appreciation and then launched into ‘Good Days Bad Days’ which has a drum vs audience clapping section. There was so much dancing for this band!
We got a story about their other singer who started as their bus driver and someone said they can sing so he got the job, and a song called ‘Busdriver’.
There was so much crowd interaction it’s no wonder people found them and came to dance and have a great time. To end the set the Melbourne Ska Orchestra led us through the history of ska, The Specials, Millie ‘My Boy Lollipop’, Bob Marley and back to The Specials .
Now waiting for Gary Clark Jr – determined to get to see him this time with no timetable clashes!
GC fuses blues, beats and everything he has together – including activism. The first song was ‘Catfish Blues’, an increasing intensity building then stop. Clark has appeared at Bluesfest before and has created a loyal following in Australia and amongst festival goers.
Gary Clark Jr – Bluesfest – photos by Clea-marie Thorne
A multi- instrumentalist, Clark played a mean slide style on his guitar while delivering staccato vocals morphing to a smoother vocal on the chorus – people were singing along and cheering before the song had even finished.
As with most big name acts this year, unless you are already there and have staked a claim well before they start, there’s no way you’re getting anywhere close. Add to that Saturday’s sold out status and of course the crowd for Vance Joy was mammoth. Joy did a ripping cover of Kiss ‘I Was Made For Loving You’ which sent the crowd into punter choir mode (so much so I thought the set had ended and the music was through the PA) and of course the song that introduced Vance Joy to everyone, ‘Riptide’.
Vance Joy – Bluesfest – photos by Clea-marie Thorne
Crowded House – yes it was. While trying to get through the crowd it was a joke that was made often, with nearly the entire festival crowd sardining into the Crossroads stage.
Crowded House kicked off with ‘When You Come’ and then they played ‘Mean to Me’ and the crowd loved it – the sing-along was loud and joyful and almost drowned out the band! There is so much love for the first self-titled Crowded House album that when they played ‘World Where You Live’ the punter choir was in full force again.
Crowded House – Bluesfest – photos by Clea-marie Thorne
The Crowded House set was a run through all their classics and the crowd knew them all, ‘Pineapple Head’, ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’, ‘Four Seasons In One Day’, and the Split Enz classic ‘I Got You’. There was a bit of back and forth with the crowd and the crowd loved it. The set wrapped up with ‘Weather With You’ and of course the obligatory crowd sing-along to take the set to an end.
Bluesfest day three was the sold-out day of the weekend, a testament to the line-up of Australian bands and artists that we hold so close. Leaving the festival after Crowded House for a much needed earlier night we encountered a joyful spectacle of punters playing Crowded House loudly in the line of cars leaving the site, two ladies jumped out of their car and entertained the waiting line of cars with an interpretive dance to ‘Weather With You’. People clapped and cheered and filmed the spectacle and yet again another lovely end to a full festival day.
Highlights day 3
