Official Blues Fest Report

So we've just gotten back from the Byron Bay Blues festival. As you can see by the photo's Jake has posted below, it is a festival steeped in culture, with a very communal vibe.

My highlights musically were 'Ozamatli' (which had a kind of spanish hip-hop/blues thing going), the 'Sunshiners' (some polynesian and french guys who played 80's songs reggae style with ukelelees), and 'The Fumes' (an Australian 2 piece blues band with driving steel guitar and a drummer).

Lee Scratch Perry was pretty scarey, what with his loosley cast voodoo and hobo demeanor. Jake was the only one who made it to Kasey Chambers so feel free to mention that to him. And ask him how 'The Fumes' were too. He missed them because I wanted to go for a swim at Woodlawn. Hahhahahha. C.W. Stone King and the Kill Devil Hills are both worth looking up and are sure to tour to your neck of the woods as they live on the road.

My social highlights were getting to knock around with Jake each day and soak in the atmosphere (see the photos again below), hitting the dancefloor at a reggae show with Andrew and Rowan and almost finding spiritual and emotional enlightenment, and sharing a beer with Ash and Keith and Bryce at the end of the night in front of the cricket on the big screen.

Thanks to Leo for pouring me and Jake into the car each night and getting us home, thanks to Glenn and Sue for having us and providing breakfast every day, and thanks to Kelly and Lachie for lending us Jake for a few days.

My only regrets were dragging Andrew away from some gorgeous girls who wanted to chill with him and taking him to Paul Kelly (he got there and said' f%$* Paul Kelly and left after 5 minutes... but by then the other stage was packed and he couldn't reach the girls), dropping the 2000 Shiraz I brought for Glenn in the loading bay at Woodlawn (mopping up wine and glass at 2am was a great way to end a day that featured 8 hours of solo driving on 3 hours sleep, and 12 hours at the festival), and not getting enough time with Lachlan, Kelly, and Glenn and Sue. But all up a great time was had. There is no better place in the world to stay than Woodlawn.