All good things must come to an end, and so it was as Bluesfest wound its’ way into the final day. There is an air of disappointment surrounding the fact that the festival is soon to end for the year, mixed in with a feeling of elation around what has been before, and what is to come for the rest of the day.
…..and for those who have been there for the entirety, there is also the inevitable feeling of exhaustion that comes from three and a half days of festival beforehand – and that included me. However, I had to battle my way through this to make sure I was able to get to the acts I had either missed on previous days, or acts who were only performing on this day.
To kick off with, I caught the talented independent roots singer-songwriter, Kim Churchill, who had impressively drawn a sizeable crowd for an early act on the final day.
Following on was the interesting mix of funk, soul and psychedelia of LA singer-songwriter/keyboard player, Neal Frances and his band in their debut performances at Bluesfest.
Barnstorming independent roots-rockers, 19-Twenty were up next, and once again proved why they are the rising festival favourites with their as-ever, fun-filled, dynamic performance drawing another full crowd, which has happened virtually every time they have played since their first appearance a few years ago.
The last day was replete with a number of artists that have become Bluesfest royalty due to their regular appearances and popularity with the crowds, with none more so than the much loved Kasey Chambers, our next artist.
The sublime performances from the girls continues with the amazing Allison Russell and her hugely talented ensemble group, Rainbow Coalition Band, giving us another exhilarating performance. Allison is one of those artists that I will always endeavour to see, having been smitten since first seeing her at Bluesfest back in 2023.
More funk was to follow with the cool tones of Grammy-nominated Cuban, Erik Alejandro Iglesias Rodríguez aka Cimafunk and his band, La Tribu (The Tribe), before more Bluesfest royalty hit the stage in the form of John Butler, this time with his new band in tow. This was a performance with a lot of passion and anger, with the current state of politics, the environment and the difficult social and economic times being the main subjects.
Aussie darling, Missy Higgins, along with her touring band was next to perform to a packed tent of adoring fans, with her wistful, and at times introspective and personal songs being lapped up by all and sundry.
The artistry didn’t stop there, however, with one of my most anticipated artists of the festival, Rodrigo y Gabriela up next. This amazing duop provided a powerhouse performance, with their incredible virtuosity making their flamenco-inspired rock an experience to behold.
Far from petering out as the night drew towards its’ end, the amazing funk and soul of the bandaged band from the US, Here Come The Mummies, exploded onto stage as they had the crowds swinging their hips and dancing along to their wonderfully choreographed moves and highly polished musicianship.
Rounding out the night for me (and finally succumbing to the fatigue of another long day) was the marvelous baritone voice of the multi-award winning UK, neo-soul/blues/pop artist, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, and artist I first saw back in 2018 at Bluesfest around the time of his international smash hit, ‘Human’.
Kim Churchill Gallery:
Neal Francis Gallery:
19-Twenty Gallery:
Kasey Chambers Gallery:
Allison Russell Gallery:
Cimafunk Gallery:
John Butler Gallery:
Missy Higgins Gallery:
Rodrigo Y Gabriela Gallery:
Here Come The Mummies Gallery:
Rag ‘N’ Bone Man Gallery:
All images: ©fullonrockphotography/Andrew Fuller
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