The recent trend for reunion tours and solo shows was nowhere more in evidence at blues and roots this year. A host of internationally renowned artists including Buddy Guy, Ray Davies, Sinead O Connor, Don Mclean and John Fogerty joined Eskimo Joe, Gotye and Xavier Rudd to deliver an entertaining weekend to music fans of all ages – although, perhaps balancing out the youth of last year’s line-up, this year was skewed toward a much older demographic.
Breakthrough Band competition winners, Sneaky Weasel Gang kicked off Saturday at 11.15, but their audience was minuscule owing to long waits at the entrance whilst bags were searched, and flustered volunteers searched for prepaid Ticketek tickets. Their infectious music had more than a few people grooving along while they waited to be processed however, perhaps the organisers should send them a gift to thank the Gang for soothing the frayed, impatient tempers in the queue.
Inside, through the car park and over the grassy knoll, and the sounds of Clare Bowditch and the Feeding Set drew many into the big top before they had even got their bearings, or their first drink. Alcohol notwithstanding, at least ten people were ready for a little interpretive dance when they played their single, You Look So Good.
It didn’t take long for the big top to warm up, and by the time Lior took the stage, the crowd was looking decidedly wilted. One look at his audience, and Lior rechristened the tent ‘The Sauna’ which met with a roar of approval, which was outdone only by the response to hits Autumn Flow and Australian favourite, This Old Love. Unfortunately, his set was marred by sound bleed first from O.A.R and then from The Basics, who were like tomato sauce on the delicate blend of flavours Lior had cooked up for the multitudes.
The path between the main stage and The Sauna soon became a tangle of people as they tried to see as much of Lior and not miss Angus and Julia Stone, whose set was due to begin 10 minutes before Lior’s finished. More than a few were heard to grumble about the too frequent crossovers between recently successful artists leading to fans missing part of the set in favour of another artist they wanted to see as well.
Angus and Julia played a divine set, as always, before Keb Mo brought us stomping back to earth with his soul-deep blues. The Cruel Sea were up next, greasing the vocal chords of the crowd who would continue to sing along for the rest of the night. No one seemed to care about the poor sound, happy to help with Better Get a Lawyer and It’s Alright before sprinting back to The Sauna to catch Don McLean and hoping he hadn’t played American Pie yet. He hadn’t. First he ran through the favourites: Castles in the Air, Vincent and a tear jerking cover of Roy Orbison’s Crying The response of the crowd was overwhelming, and even after so many years, he had to be impressed.
KT Tunstall floated out over the dinner eating crowd, saving her hit Suddenly I See till the end of the set. It was timed nicely to remind the crowd they were in the mood for singing, so that when Xavier Rudd arrived, they were ready to give him their all.
For those who had never heard of Xavier, or were perhaps less impressed by his most recent album, there was a totally different flavour in The Sauna, with some funky jazz sax. As if you weren’t already sweating enough, just watching Maceo Parker play was enough to make you run for the nearest water hole.
Those who ran out early on Xavier’s set came back disappointed in *Ian Brown*s lack of performance, but created a decent sized crowd for the beginning of Sinead O’Connor’s set. She too was plagued by sound issues, and distracted her performance by frantically miming sound adjustments to the mixers off stage, but still she managed to entertain, playing a selection of songs largely from her second album, including I Am Stretched On Your Grave, The Emperors New Clothes and of course, the singalong Nothing Compares 2 U
Half way through O’Connor’s set, there was a terrible time table clash between O’ Connor, Gotye and another life-shaping artist, The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin. In what may have turned out to be a poor personal choice, I can only report the opinions of those who saw either Gotye or Jeff Martin. Most came away thoroughly impressed; despite, again, poor sound in the still moist Sauna where Gotye played. For many, Martin was both the surprise and the highlight of the day.
The final timetable clash of the night was The Kinks’ Ray Davies, the legendary-influential-blues-rock-god, Buddy Guy or the less wrinkled, but no less soul-wrenching stylings of The Bellrays on the tiny carpark stage.
Perhaps it was asking too much to expect the man who made the template for the punchy rock song to remain relevant after all this time, or perhaps he has remained relevant to his generation, but judging by the droves leaving early on Saturday night, Davies disappointed more than a few. Even though Lola could be heard from streets away, and many seemed to be enjoying a sing-along still, the night ended with a sort of a nostalgic mourning for that which would never come again.
Stay tuned for the rest of the coverage…
