Page 50 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2013

Blues
Xavier Rudd performs indigenous music DOWNUNDER
Photo by GreyRose

By GreyRose

Road trips are a great way to discover Australian music festivals Gurrumul, an aboriginal artist, has recently embraced his
and we have festivals at any time of year. Diversity is our speciality acclaim. The crowds are transfi xed by his hauntingly beautiful
-- we have Medieval Festivals, Body Art, SupaNova, Folk, Beanie voice as he introduces them to his Arhnem Land stories and sounds.
and Blues festivals. Xavier Rudd’s unique world music sounds also never fail to get the
At all of these festivals there will be music. At times our roads crowds dancing as he stomps out his beat, barefoot throughout
can look like a convoy of Juicy, Wicked and Hippie campers with Australian festivals. He even warns the seated that the time to move
people from around the world journeying to discover how Australia has come.
parties and to sample our music – including the blues. The weather often determines the dress at festivals. Having said
I am not a musician; I am a fan of the blues. There is awe in that, there is no guarantee of what the weather will do. A “she’ll be
most everything I see and to quote Ruthie Foster, “Everywhere I go, right” attitude prevails and at times can explain the unique styles
being worn. The heat often calls for unique hats or delicate sarongs
there is music...” The sound of piercing harps, the sight of grimacing draped over ladies’ heads to protect from the blistering sun.
guitarists, the shiver of the music down my spine, the thud of the bass Footwear is another trademark; thongs (fl ip-fl ops - not G-strings) and
with voices that range from angelic to devilish, inspire me. gummies (gumboots) are standard. When it rains, the thongs are
Listening to blues radio, a connection is made between the worn around the ankles until the sun comes out. Traditionally worn
cultural diversity of Australia and the roots of the blues. As a nation on farms, gumboots are now styled for the discerning festie.
we embrace this difference in festivals. We respect the music and its Festival food is like a world feast. Hungarian Langos (a
origins and adapt it to fi t our perception and lifestyle. must-have at least once) is a unique, deep-fried, pizza-style
When you go to a festival in Australia it is a mish-mash of bread topped with sour cream, chili con carne and salsa. South
cultures, colors and sounds. Stages have indigenous music, the blues East Asian curries refresh the taste buds with coriander and
and a variety of other music genres and cultures. lemongrass. These are a northern specialty. Down south it seems
there is a more European infl uence with spaghetti or paella tents.
Every festival is opened by the traditional owners of A German kransky (sausage) with mustard, sauerkraut and onion
the land. This is done through “Welcome to Country” has crowds lining the streets. For the die-hards, Aussie’s bacon
where local elders speak. A dance or a fire ceremony and egg rolls are a must to get the day started or for those with
may be performed depending on the rites in the area. a sweet tooth, there’s tiny Dutch profi tjes (pancakes) with local

48 Blues Festival Guide 2013