Bimbadgen Blues, Now with Added Roots, Funk and Grooves!

Jazz in the Vines isn’t the only hot music festival hitting the Hunter this year. If you prefer your sounds a little bluesier, I suggest checking out the revamped Bimbadgen Blues show on September 12.

To celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary it’s back with a brand new attitude. Now known as Bimbadgen Blues Roots Funk n Grooves the festival toasts some of the country’s best talent. To coincide with the fresh new image comes a fantastic line-up, featuring The Panics, Blue King Brown, Kram, Ash Grunwald, Bluejuice, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Dialectrix, and Here Come the Birds.

“I felt it was time to reinvigorate the festival and the 10th anniversary seems like the right time to do it” said event producer Grant Smith. “We are trying to create something memorable and a little bit different to the other concerts and festivals in the Hunter Valley – there are going to be a few surprises on the day and we have a lot of ideas to implement as the event grows.”

What was once a day-time show will now kick on after the sun goes down, with some of the best music, food, and wine around. What could be better than that?

Tickets cost $65 and are available from all the regular outlets from May 11.

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Bimbadgen Blues @ Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley – 6 September 2008

I had been looking forward to Sunday’s Bimbadgen Blues concert for months. I’ve long been a fan of this amazing winery and the relaxed vibe of the concerts it hosts. Yet as the big day approached, my excitement turned to dread. Anyone who lives anywhere close by knows why. The weather was atrocious, with the rain relentless.

As I drove to Newcastle to meet my father, it was no exception. In fact, I didn’t feel comfortable pushing my little Festiva above 90 kays! We both considered not making the trip to the Hunter, but our eternally optimistic natures convinced us to make the trip. I’m so glad we did.

As we approached our Cessnock, the clear skies brightened our moods. It was still a grey dreary and freezing cold morning, but it was at least dry!

Bimbadgen Blues is a different beast than the Day on the Green concerts I’m used to attending at the winery. The obvious contrast is the two stages. It’s a smart move for a concert with such a crowded bill. It allowed us to see full lengths sets of all the artists, rather than only a couple of songs from the lesser known performers. The sets were staggered, so punters could walk between the stages and experience non-stop music. While one band was setting up, there was always another show not too far away.

My dad and I were a little too lazy for that, and we were happy to set up camp at the main stage. The rain had scared away many people, but the enthusiasm of those left made up for it. The wine flowed freely as it always does at these winery shows, but everyone was so well behaved. They danced, they sang, and they had a fantastic time. So too did the performers, who clearly appreciated the fans braving the cold and intermittent rain.

We arrived midway through Mojo Webb’s set. I’d never heard of him before, but this buzzing blues artist has a way of drawing you in. The eclectic tunes were brilliant, with elements of jazz, funk, jungle beats, and even a little bluegrass thrown in. Mojo is a real showman, even stepping down off the stage at one point to get a little closer to the appreciative audience.

Dallas Frasca provided a real change of pace with her bright red dreadlocks, vibrant green dress, and earthy blues sound. Her raspy vocals bear an uncanny resemblance to Janis Joplin, and she’s got the wild stage persona to match. In fact, as fans discarded their shoes to dance in the mud it was easy to imagine we were at Woodstock. Dallas’ voice was amazing and her larger than life personality matched it, but there wasn’t a lot of variety to her set. I’d have loved to hear her belt out something a little more melodic. Perhaps a few Janis classics?

The occasional showers turned to steady rain as Josh Pyke took the stage. But I’d been waiting all day to see this Australian singer-songwriter, and I wasn’t going to let a little rain spoil my fun. He gave everything to the patient and soggy crowd, producing an amazing set filled with old favourites and some exciting new tracks. His poetic lyrics and natural warmth were all the sunshine I needed for that hour and a half.

When Josh left the stage though, I was just wet. Sadly, the rain was getting worse. My father and I tried to wait it out, reasoning that you can’t get any wetter than wet, but it was just far too unpleasant to persevere. Like many, we decided to count our losses and skip out Australian blues legends Chain. I didn’t want to miss their set, but it just wasn’t worth braving the storm any longer.

Bad weather conditions are just the luck of the draw, and it’s a shame that they had to end my Bimbadgen Blues experience prematurely. But as unpleasant as the rain was, I still had an amazing time. The crowd was beautiful. The performers were top notch, and gave us everything they had. The day ran so smoothly despite the terrible weather. The wine was pretty fantastic too. I’ll definitely be back next year. I just hope the sun is shining!

Image source: own photo

Big Names and Blues at Aussie Wineries

Winter weather tends to make me a little stir-crazy. I love the cold, but my concert calendar always looks a little threadbare. But with the announcement of the first Day of the Green concert of the year, I’m reminded that summer isn’t too far away.

The season kicks off with a massive double bill: John Mellencamp (I believe he’s dropped the Cougar again) and Sheryl Crow. This is the sort of show where you will literally know every song, and have a mighty fine time singing along.

If you don’t live near one of the wineries, you can probably catch the show at your local ent cent. The indoor gigs have the added bonus of Aussie troubadour Shane Nicholson, but they will lose out on atmosphere. If there’s any way you can get yourself to one of the Day on the Green events, I strongly advise it.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 7 July for the following shows:

15 November 2008 – Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley
19 November 2008 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
21 November 2008 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
22 November 2008 – Rochford’s Eyton Winery, Yarra Valley
25 November 2008 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
28 November 2008 – Acer Arena, Sydney
29 November 2008 – Bimbadgen Estate, Hunter Valley

If November seems a little far away, why not consider heading to the Hunter Valley for the annual Bimbadgen Blues Festival? The amazing line-up brings you Australia’s finest blues musicians including Josh Pyke, Chain, Dallas Frasca and her Gentleman, Mojo Webb, Paul Greene, and heaps more.

Two stages will keep the entertainment coming thick and fast. You can also indulge in a gourmet picnic hamper from the award winning Esca restaurant, not to mention all that lovely Bimbadgen wine! Tickets are priced at $55, which isn’t bad value at all for six hours of fantastic music.

“What better way to kick off spring, and our festival season, than to relax with a selection of Bimbadgen reds and whites while enjoying the sounds of the blues?” asks Bimbadgen Estate General Manager John Quirk. What better way indeed!

Bimbadgen Blues is on at Bimbadgen Estate on Saturday 6 September. Check the website for further details and tickets.

Image source: Symbiosis @ Flickr