Getting into the festival on Sunday was a painless process. It was simply a matter of showing the wristband and being wished a good day by the friendly gate attendants. It boded well for the rest of the festival.
Ivan Zar served up steel-blue guitar on toast for breakfast and getting the early-birds revved up for another day full of music that means something. Despite having only about 30 people in his audience, Zar played as if there were hundreds, thanking them for their applause, commenting that it was kind of us to keep time for him.
Much of the morning was characterised by people wandering about, sampling a little of this artist, and a little of that. Lesser known acts like Seasick Steve, Vusi Mahlasela, Lee Ritenour and Worldfly had a chance to reach a larger audience, and keep them if they could. Worldfly told their audience of seventeen that they had flown in from Darwin especially for the gig, and one of the members had even flown back from Germany for the show. They caught the attention of many late-comers however, so that their audience had swollen to about 300, plus those reclining on couches in the micro brewery by the end of the set.
Anyone without their finger on the pulse of recent Perth music began digging around for their programs to find out what was going on in The Sauna, as the spell slowly woven by Worldfly’s plaintive lyrics and cello was shattered by howling, heartbroken-country-chick rock. Abbe May grabbed the stragglers by their throats and dragged them inside to watch her and The Rockin’ Pneumonia show why they recently won a WAMI for most promising new act. In case you were wondering: a Rockin’ Pneumonia is not like a galloping consumption, it is a homage to Chuck Berry’s Roll Over Beethoven. Blues fans understand.
The Audreys were up next in the car park, and were as entertaining and beautiful, as always. The Upstager, Tristan Goodall (banjo/guitar) entertained the crowd immensely. His camera-hogging-strut up and down the stage was present, along with a record beating guitar change mid-song when he encountered technical difficulties with the lead connection. No one, not even the band, thought he was going to make it, and a roar of applause from the crowd when he got it together just in time was rewarded with one of his infectious, un-self conscious grins. They have a new album out next month, and if the roars from the sizable crowd were anything to go by, it is eagerly awaited by all. They’ll be touring it later in the year. If you missed them at the festival, get in fast – they always sell out.
The Beautiful Girls provided the lunch music, wafting clearly over the front half of Fremantle Esplanade, with the screens either side of the stage ensuring everyone could grab a patch of lawn and not miss a second of them. Unless, of course you wanted to see Jurassic 5’s Chali 2NA play with Galactic in The Sauna – in which case you had to gobble your lunch and run. They played a high energy set full of political commentary. Seemingly impressed with the size of the crowd, 2NA introduced his ‘little’ brother, and showed him how to get a crowd jumping.
Kasey Chambers was up next, a late addition to the line-up, wailing, as usual, about not being pretty enough. Then, thankfully, the next timetable clash took us to see Cat Power in the Sauna, who, impatient with the sound-check, began the set before it was finished. Hopefully they learned a valuable lesson in the process, since the sound was so muddy and crackling many who had been looking forward to seeing the set left early to get a good position for Eskimo Joe.
Lucky for them that they did – for the Eskies began their set early. They provided an amusing scene for the front row, as hoards of photographers sprinted for the pit trailing lenses and bags, not wanting to miss the chance to get their shots of one of the most anticipated sets of the day. The boys from Freo lived up to expectations, despite the terrible sound. The addition of the orchestra was a welcome addition to the mix. They played through the usual favourites; from Black Fingernails, London Bombs and a cover of Crowded House’s Weather With You. Still there was no sign of owning up to their earliest hit, Sweater.
In a very distinct change of pace, Jools Holland wheeled out the piano. With his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, he serenaded the crowd, giving them a much needed breather before the intensity of the final acts of the night.
Of course, it was John Fogerty who won the clash of the timetables for most of the crowd. The man even had his very own merch stall, packed with all kinds of Fogerty Revival paraphernalia. On stage he was exuberant, and a consummate showman playing a set fit to revive his old album sales as well as support the new one. Bad Mood Rising, Looking Out My Back Door and of course, Proud Mary were just some of the reasons that the crowd went to work hoarse on Monday. Fogerty loved every minute of it.
While Fogerty entertained the Fogeys outside, the intensely political Ozomatli (and friends) offered their finest work to the under-25-dripping-jumping-screaming crowd in The Sauna. They played an international, experimental mish-mash of brassy-funk, dub, hip hop and soul that really defies categorisation. Chali 2NA, G Love and Special Sauce and Salmonella Dub all stuck around and were invited to the stage and “get on something”. They did – and the resulting mess was the highlight of the day.
Once again, the West Coast Blues and Roots Festival was an awesome experience. The crowd was chilled, relaxed and despite the diversity and the freely flowing alcohol, there was no agro. All festival-goers got into the green spirit, leaving the grounds clean and undamaged after the two-day festival. It is another testament to Sunset Events’ organisational ability, and their unsurpassed ability to learn from past experiences, that makes every Sunset Event better than the last one.
