Saturday afternoons don’t get much better than this – sunshine, liquid refreshments, the smell of BBQ food and a musical menu to please anyone’s palette!!
It was a picture perfect day alongside the Murray River at the Ravenswood Hotel, as Starr Special Events celebrated 10 years of hosting the wonderful Rave Blues & Roots Festival, and celebrate they did with a fabulous sold out event and a perfect line-up, blending local & national talent throughout the afternoon & evening, with enough diversity to click your boots and shake a tail feather to in what turned out to be an unmissable day.
Our WA artists were allowed to shine brightly throughout the afternoon, with Beth Chia starting the day off on the main stage with her beautiful Gretsch guitar and grungy folky tones. The Balingup-based singer songwriter has been busy of late with festival appearances and key supports and will be joining Ash Grunwald at Indian Ocean Hotel on Sunday March 2.
Claudia Tripp kicked things off on the second stage with the first of two sets, bringing with her her foot-tappingly catchy country bluesy pop vibes. Tripp has been working hard on her craft, producing a constant flow of new music and gracing stages & festivals across the country. It hasn’t gone unnoticed with Claudia being named Female Artist of The Year at the West Australian Country Music Awards. Head to Claudia’s Facebook page to find out where you can catch her playing.
The amazing thing about the Ravo Blues & Roots Festival is the quality of the line-up year after year, and I was excited to see that Dallas Frasca was joining the merry throng this year, after The Rockpit reviewed one of her Melbourne shows late in 2024. With striking purple & crimson hair and a powerful voice, Dallas joins us on the back of 2024 release ‘Force of Nature’ (#2 ARIA chart) and ahead of this year’s Red Hot Summer appearances alongside The Living End, Baby Animals, Rose Tattoo and US legends ZZ Top & George Thorogood. Frasca delivered a powerhouse performance showcasing her talents on both electric and acoustic guitars with her skilful looping.
The Lachy Doley Group is a band that have been on my musical radar for a long while, so I was excited to see Doley named on an already impressive line-up. The ever-busy Jackie Barnes (interview coming soon) sat on the riser like King Arthur conveying over in his court while Lachy performed almost wizard-like on the Hammond organ and his incredible Hohner whammy clavinet.
This is Blues played with funk, energy, passion and emotion. His contorted facial expressions show just how much he puts into his craft, as the mesmerised crowd stood transfixed to the trios powerful performance – a show highlight! If you were at the bar when he launched into ‘Woman’, you would have been mistaken if you had thought a guest guitarist had taken to the stage – the magic of that whammy clav! And don’t get me started with his version of ‘Voodoo Chile’ – mind blowing! Please don’t leave it another 7 years to visit us in WA, Lachy!
Perth local Jason Ayres has a big year ahead and his blend of folk, country & rock with lyrics that are heartfelt and thought provoking always make him a crowd favourite. Jason teased to me some of his plans for this year as he releases new music and has some major touring announcements soon to drop. Stepping out from his ‘solo’ performances, Jason now pulls much bigger punches musically with his band behind him and once again he showed why he is held in so high regard with his catchy and memorable melodies.
If the crowd felt the energy from Doley, then they hadn’t see anything yet as the Pierce Brothers took it to another level. Celebrating ten years since the release of their debut EP ‘The Night Tree’, twins Jack & Patrick have been building a loyal following across the country with their physically draining set, as they dodged their way around a vast collection of instruments to deliver a collection of fast paced and catchy compositions. Accompanied by the super talented Dara Munnis on keys, the Pierce Brothers made the most of their Ravo Blues & Roots debut with a frantic journey through their 40-minute slot, barely given themselves, and more importantly us, any time to draw breath.
This isn’t just about the music, it’s about the connection and this afternoon I’m guessing they connected with a whole new bunch of new PB fans. They deliver their music in a way that uplifts and brings a wave of smiles across all the faces in the audience, as they perform with a playful energy, encourage crowd engagement and throw in a few cartwheels for good measure – it’s music that makes you happy and soothes your soul and was my set of the day!
For those who haven’t experienced the force of nature that is Blue Shaddy – they were in for a shock. Blue Shaddy has been a top performing band for years in the Australian Blues scene and once again they showed why they are so endeared. Another solid performance from one of WA’s best and most loved Blues bands, showing why they are an always welcomed addition to any festival.
Perth Blues-rockers Art of Dysfunction have had a bit of a transformation of late, with a reshuffle and dropping to a trio I was worried something may have got lost being a man down. But I shouldn’t have had any concerns. These guys have been one of my “ones to watch” since they burst on the scene a few years back.
Musically tight, Michael Menna is a guitar player you hate to take you eyes off. Captivating and meticulous with his playing you can see in his face that every note has a purpose. Catching up with the band after their set, I found out they have plenty of new music and live shows in the pipeline, so check them out on their socials.
If we hadn’t had enough blood sweat and energy thrust upon us on the main stage already, stelyp forward crowd favourites 19-Twenty. Always a welcomed addition, not just at the Ravo Blues & Roots Festival but at musters and music gatherings countrywide, 19-Twenty kick some serious fun-time arse, with their fast paced songs and the odd historical memorable riff thrown in for good measure just to keep us on our toes.
Opening with crowd pleasing covers which match their energy, frontman Kane Dennelly springs them into their originals, and by the reaction of the crowd you’d think they played here every week, with sing-a-longs a plenty and jeers of encouragement, John Gwilliam lifts and spins his double bass with ease.
Their pedigree speaks for itself with appearances at Byron Bay Bluesfest, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Blues on Broadbeach and 70+ other festivals nationally. Their country rock inspired arrangement of Dead or Alive’s 1985 classic ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)‘ is one of many to send the baying crowd into a frenzy. Always a band to hang at the merch desk for a chat and a yarn, 19-Twenty deliver time and time again and never fail to hit the spot! Outstanding once more!
Multi-ARIA nominated Ash Grunwald has always been able to transport me back to the Roots of it all. His almost spiritual vibes are soulful, his playing is raw and meaningful and his vocal just pulls it all together perfectly. Tonight he sat centre stage surrounded by a few of his favourite guitars delivering warmth with his endearing smile.
A perfect addition to the line-up this year, and a total contrast to the spring loaded, jumping jack performances from earlier in the day, Grunwald played with feel and a hypnotic delivery. Spellbinding! Catch him while you still can while he is in WA, with a handful of shows still to play before he heads off to continue his extensive countrywide tour. New single ‘Glide’ is an absolute belter too!
What is there to say about Dave Hole that hasn’t already been said, not just one of Australia’s but one of the world’s finest slide players and one who transfixes me each and every time I see him play. Always a real honour to watch a player like this up close and thanks to the organisers we got to see it again at the Ravenswood Hotel on Saturday night.
A Ravo favourite and Blues & Roots Festival regular, Hole still manages to draw in the attentions of each and every punter where ever he plays and tonight he delivered as exciting a set as when I first saw him in 1993 at the Bindoon Rock Festival.
You can always tell a damn fine festival – the lack of patrons making a beeline for the exit before the end of a very long day shows that each and every person has been captivated by the event, ticking the boxes for the age old saying “something for everyone” and tonight the peak and pinnacle of an already outstanding day was The Black Sorrows, lead by the evergreen Joe Camilleri.
I got to talk to Joe earlier in the evening about his recruitment to The Fabulous Caprettos for their next chapter (we joked that he must have passed his audition last year during his two WA guest appearances) and it is so refreshing when an artist who really has done it all is still as excited about music as when it all began for them.
Decked out in beige suit and matching truckers cap, this was never going to be a colourless performance as Camilleri patrolled the stage, lapping up every minute and drawing applause at every opportunity, with red sax in hand. The Black Sorrows delivered like a headline band should, a diamond on the top of a jewel encrusted cake that we had all been lucky to share in.
How do to close a night off after a day of such high quality? Bring in party favourites Proud Mary with their wonderful and timeless Creedance Clearwater Revival back catalogue. In Ragdoll frontman Ryan Rafferty, we are blessed with one of Perth’s finest vocalists (even when not firing on all cylinders with illness), and with a rhythm engine comprising of former Baby Animals legends Frank Celenza and Eddie Parise and joined by ever present guitarist Paul Cushing, these guys now how to close out an all day party.
It’s a songbook filled with classics and was a fitting end to such an immense day.
With thanks to Starr Special Events for the media access, to the Starr door girls for their laughter, smiles & welcome and to the staff at the Ravenswood Hotel for their hospitality.
Photos by Linda Dunjey Photography and Left Eye Photography (Proud Mary & Art of Dysfunction)
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