Grace Woodroofe Stuns With Long-Awaited Single “Beginning”

If you caught one of Grace Woodroofe’s recent sets supporting Ben Harper, you probably want to know more about her. And if you didn’t, you’re going to wish you had after hearing her new single “Beginning.”

While its title suggests this is the start of Grace’s career, it’s more of a rebirth. This is her first single in eight years, a welcome return to the music scene. With stunning simplicity it explores the beginning of the end of an abusive relationship, those moments when the love is still so powerful and palpable that it helps you overlook the deep flaws.

“I had written many resentment songs when I first began the process of writing this album. They were the easiest to write about and sit with. When I sat down to write ‘Beginning’, I knew it was time to depict the stages that came before the anger,” Grace explained. “The bargaining, denial and desperation I had to keep things going was an important phase in the story, and a key part in grief. Holding onto key memories, moments and feelings, in order to divert the pain.”

With a new album in the works, we should hear a lot more from Grace in 2023.

Image used with permission from beehive; credit: Jody Pachniuk

Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, and More Join Bluesfest

Thought the Byron Bay Bluesfest lineup couldn’t get any bigger? Think again. The organisers have just announced a fresh crop of incredible international and local artists.

The most exciting for me is the coming together of Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite. These blues icons have just recorded a new album together called Get Up which they’ll showcase with their set. It seems meant to be as they actually met Bluesfest way back in 1996.

After Zac Brown Band were announced as Jason Mraz’s support act, I suspected they’d soon announce a Bluesfest show. It seems my hunch was correct; they’ll play on Easter Monday.

It’ll also be great to see the oldies from The Music Maker Blues Revue, including Ironing Board Sam and Major Handy, showing the young things how it’s done.

Music lovers will also enjoy sets from Leonardo’s Bride, Skipping Girl Vinegar, and Kim Churchill. And that’s along with everyone else we already knew about, including Robert Plant, Santana, Paul Simon, and Bonnie Raitt!

Bluesfest hits Byron Bay on the Easter long weekend, from March 28 to April 1. There are still some tickets left but I wouldn’t wait too long to get yours. This announcement should encourage a few more folks to indulge!

Ben Harper @ Opera House, Sydney – 12 November 2012

I knew I’d be in for a special night when Ben Harper brought his acoustic show to the Sydney Opera House. The combination of stripped back music from one of my favourite performers in one of Australia’s most beloved venues was always going to impress. But I wasn’t prepared for just how much Ben would give us.

There was no support act, no backing band, no intermission: just Ben Harper and an enthralled Sydney crowd coming together for close to four hours. Never before have I witnessed an artist giving an audience so much of themselves and their time. He remarked a few times on the quality of the sound in the Opera House, the best he’d ever experienced he said, and it seemed he wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible.

The show wasn’t quite the acoustic evening we were promised. Ben didn’t mind plugging in his electric guitar for a blistering rendition of “Please Bleed” that morphed into “Something in the Way.” But no one cared if Ben played strictly by the rules. I was delighted to see him moving easily from instrument to instrument, delivering a number on his slide guitar, then taking up a ukulele, before sitting down at the piano. We even heard a bit of xylophone!

The set list was stellar, with many fan favourites and exciting reworkings of some of his biggest hits. I loved the bluegrass flavour he brought to “Steal My Kisses,” and the original lullaby stylings of “With My Own Two Hands.” I was particularly thrilled to hear my personal favourites “Walk Away” and “Waiting on an Angel” performed so beautifully.

The show was as much about connecting with words as much as music though. Ben seemed genuinely happy to interact with the crowd as they yelled out quips and requests between songs. He also shared so much of himself, stories about his family, his childhood, and the people he’s met. I was particularly moved to hear of the time he met Jeff Buckley at a French Music Festival, and when Heath Ledger gifted him his grand piano. These personal tales were made even more poignant when accompanied with “Hallelujah,” a Leonard Cohen song Jeff famously covered, and “Morning Yearning,” a song that saw Heath Ledger playing music video director.

After two generous encores, Ben closed the evening in true acoustic style. He sat at the front of the stage while he serenaded us with “Suzie Blue.” Without even a microphone to amplify his voice or ukulele, the crowd were hushed to hear. It was a stunning end to a spectacular night of music.

Image source: own photos

Pearl Jam and Ben Harper Team Up for Australian Tour

Pearl Jam and Ben Harper are both regular visitors to our shows, so it’s probably not so surprising that these supremely talented West Coasters will join forces in November for a massive Australian tour.

Pearl Jam will visit on the back of their ninth studio album Backspacer, which will hit stores in September. Meanwhile Ben Harper is visiting with his new outfit, Relentless7. They’ll be ably supported on all dates by none other than Liam Finn.

Tickets go on sale Monday August 17.

14 November 2009 – Members Equity Stadium, Perth
17 November 2009 – Adelaide Oval
20 November 2009 – Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
22 November 2009 – Sydney Football Stadium
25 November 2009 – QSAC Stadium, Brisbane

Image source: Newscom