Katoomba, Blue Mountains
March 16 – 18, 2018 :
The 23rd Annual Blue Mountains Music Festival was again held in Katoomba over the weekend. Three days of great music on eight stages with over 100 performances, as well as songwriters’ and instrumental circles, Heartland Conversations and roaming performers. The sun shone brightly on the revellers (locals and weekenders) and that afternoon mountain breeze was most welcome by all.
Friday nights strong performance from All My Exes Live In Texas set the tone for the weekend, their album When The Sun Comes Up has had two million hits on Spotify. The Sydney quartet of four singer-songwriters – Elana Stone, Katie Wighton, Hannah Crofts and Georgia Mooney – create gorgeous harmonies. Their unique sound is an unusual combination of guitar, ukulele, mandolin and accordion. Hilarious banter too.
Captivating vocalist, phenomenal guitarist, Blair Dunlop has matured remarkably since he was last here in 2014 promoting Blight and Blossom. Then a seemingly shy performer, Blair is now more comfortable with an audience and his singing is much the better for it. With quirky personal numbers to topical songs typical of English folk in his set, he’s keen sense of melody and skill on guitar keep even the simplest songs intriguing.
Multi award winning Kate Miller-Heidke effortlessly traverses the worlds of contemporary pop, folk and opera. Her audience is a real mixed bag but predominantly teenage girls. A tour de force live, leavening her unique musical approach with a wicked sense of humour. Quoting Kate, “Someone said that sounds like Enya on methamphetamine. That’s the sound I’ve been going for my whole career.”
Canada’s Gordie McKeeman and His Rhythm Boys produce western swing, celtic folk, rockabilly, and a Tom Petty tribute. You name it they play it. The act hasn’t changed much since their last visit three years ago and it may be a case of “if it ain’t broke…” McKeeman played fiddle behind his back, step dancing, and climbing onto the side of Thomas Webb’s bass to play a fiddle solo, a true showman.
Saturday night brought the world funk fusion of Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence, a multi-cultural Melbourne band led by Senegal-born Sonko. Given the part-time nature of the band and a constantly changing line-up, they delivered a stunning performance, combining West African music with reggae and funk. They are drum tight and amazing to watch. The crowd were ready to shake their tail feathers and po-go !
Lior on the other hand delivered a crisp performance of luscious ballads in The Big Top accompanied by Paul Grabowsky on piano. His hypnotic presence on stage, showed his gentle, articulate persona and lighter than air delivery to the crowd wanting more. His collaboration with Paul Grabowsky worked remarkably well, with some songs getting a gorgeous jazz arrangement.
Missy Higgins ‘unofficially closed’ the festival on Sunday afternoon with her one-off appearance, fresh from her tour with Ed Sheeran. Missy undoubtedly drew the weekend’s biggest crowd as predicted. Missy played mainly acoustic versions of her extensive back catalogue. Missy revisited her debut album Sound of White with it’s songs of angst and rolled through the years to current single ‘Futon Bed’.
Highlights for me included Lior, All Our Exes Live in Texas, Blair Dunlop, Lamine Sonko’s Melbourne-based Afrobeat band, The Good Lovelies, Vicki Thorn and Missy Higgins.
Reviewer + Photographer : Richard Hedger
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