The week was plagued with unpredictable weather, but the sun was shining on the Hunter Valley last weekend for the annual Jazz in the Vines festival.

The event celebrated its 20th anniversary, and the weather, line-up, and atmosphere was fitting for such a milestone. I can’t remember the weather being kinder to us; it was perfect under the shade of the trees that border the open spaces near Tyrell’s Winery. The navy’s Royal Australian City Big Band was already warming up the crowds when we arrived. It seems we arrived during rush hour as the queues at food and beverage outlets were a little longer than usual, but the variety of stalls ensured we still weren’t waiting too long. Drinks in hand we settled in to catch the second act on the bill, the Dixie Ticklers.

I can’t remember another international act gracing the Jazz in the Vines stage, but this British band fit right in. Despite hailing from the United Kingdom, the Dixie Ticklers had a real New Orleans vibe that took us back to the roots of jazz. With so many artists from this festival pushing the boundaries of exactly what jazz is, it was refreshing to see a band representing the genre so purely.

Grace Knight strayed from her pop roots and celebrated the standards featured on more recent releases. Like the fine wines we were consuming from the good folks at Tamburlaine, her voice only gets better with age. Her version of “I’m a Woman” was killer, and my inner child loving hearing her bust out her Eurogliders’ hit “Heaven (Must Be There).”
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I expected Jazz in the Vines would be bigger than ever on its 20th anniversary, but I’m blown away at the talent assembled for 2012.

For the first time international acts will grace the stage at the Hunter Valley’s Tyrell Vineyards including New Orleans jazz legend Henry Butler and the United Kingdom’s Dixie Ticklers. They’ll join local heroes including Grace Knight, Tom Burlinson, and festival favourite Lisa Hunt.

More acts will be announced in the coming months, but that’s probably enough to get fans excited about the October 29 festival. Promoters will reward that loyalty by offering discounted early bird tickets Gets yours from the Jazz in the Vines website from March 19.

Image source: Grace Knight website

With the success of the Day on the Green shows and the enduring Jazz in the Vines festival, folks are starting to realize the beauty of getting out of the big city and seeing a show in more intimate, natural surrounds. I know I’ll always choose one of these organic ampitheatres over a cold, impersonal entertainment center so I was thrilled to learn of another event in The Valley.

The Wollombi Music Festival will hit the region on Saturday September 17. Now in its second year, the event has grown to feature a second intimate stage inside its Chai Tent, more bands, and more market stalls. Watussi, Benjalu, Rachael Brady, and local supergroup Wollombi Radio are all part of this year’s eclectic lineup.

You probably won’t be in any hurry to return to the big smoke, so it’s impressive that the entry to the VIP camping area is included with all tickets. They only cost $80 a piece too (or $100 on the day), so you’ll see real value even if you don’t plan on pitching a tent. And if you just don’t want to rough it there are also plenty of hotels and bed and breakfasts in the local area.

There are just 500 tickets available to ensure the event stays intimate and personal, so don’t delay in getting yours from the Wollombi Music Festival website.

Image used with permission from Wollombi Music Festival

On Saturday I made a pilgrimage to the Hunter Valley to attend my third Funk N Grooves Festival. It’s a festival that’s been in a state of flux since I first attended, an event which seems like it’s ever changing in attempts to find its feet. And at its new home next to Tyrell’s Winery, I think it’s getting there.

The new venue gave us all plenty of space to spread out with our picnic lunches and fold-up chairs. It also made it much easier to get a drink. You might remember my complaints last year about the incredible queues, but this time around the organisers got it right. With separate lines for wine and beer/spirits, no one was really left waiting too long. The drink was flowing, but the limits on what we could buy and the ever watchful security staff ensured no one got too obnoxious.

The food too was a marked improvement on last year. I devoured my cumin dusted calamari and the gorgeous chunky chips with rosemary salt. If only all festival food could be this good!

But these kinds of shows are all about the music, and this year the event delivered more than ever before. Bands played on two stages for a good nine hours, several hours longer than in previous years. The kind of music the event hosts is also evolving, perhaps with the involvement of new sponsor Triple J. While earlier festivals focused on blues and roots, now we see more rock and hip hop. I suppose this is what the kids want; there were definitely plenty of enthusiastic fans down by the stage, but I preferred the artists we were served in years gone by.

That’s not to say there wasn’t some brilliant music. I couldn’t wait to see Washington, and she didn’t disappoint. The crowd was attentive when she sang her most poignant of ballads, and rapturous when she treated us with a playful cover of The Divinyls “I Touch Myself.” The singles “Rich Kids” and “Sunday Best” also went down a treat.

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The line-up for this year’s Funk n Grooves festival, which will hit the new site at 1882 Broke Road, Pokolbin on September 11, has been announced.

The bill features an eclectic mix of acts including Spiderbait, Gyroscope, British India, Bertie Blackman, Urthboy, Washington, Resin Dogs, The Bamboos, and Skipping Girl Vinegar. This festival is really finding its own identity as a kind of little sister to Jazz in the Vines. The blend of pop, rock, blues, and soul on the menu this year is really intriguing and should see a solid turnout for the event.

Tickets are available now for $80 plus booking fee from the Funk n Grooves website.

There are certain concerts you know will be great before you even take your seats. The pairing of Carole King and James Taylor, two of the greatest singer-songwriters in musical history, could never deliver anything but sublime entertainment. My expectations were high, but these two very special musicians didn’t disappoint.

Lior warmed up the crowd with his mellow acoustic folk-pop. He was a great match for the largely middle-aged crowd. I educated the older folks in my party about this “young whippersnapper” as we sipped verdehlo and enjoyed his cruisy tunes. I was already a fan, and I have a feeling he may have found some new ones after his subdued set.

But Carole and James were the main attraction. We clapped rapturously as the pair walked out on stage, arm in arm. The chemistry between these two performers is obvious. Their shared history meant they could easily play on one another’s songs for the shows entirety. We were treated to alternate songs from their back catalogue, hit after hit after hit. After so many decades in the business it’s clear that some songs couldn’t make the set list, but I wasn’t left wanting for anything after almost three hours of music.
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Image details: Matchbox Twenty and Alanis Morissette in Concert at Staples served by picapp.com

There are very few bands I’d stand out in the rain to see. But last night I did it for Matchbox Twenty, and I’d happily do it again.

Honestly, I was thrilled the concert went ahead at all. When I awoke in the morning to see rain falling steadily I convinced myself it’d be called off. But it all seemed to clear during the day, and I began to breathe a little easier. That is, until we arrived at Tempus Two to see the ominous black clouds.

The heavens opened up before Thirsty Merc even took the stage. My husband and I donned rain coats and draped plastic over out legs in attempts to stay relatively dry. It was all a little bit futile. Our raincoats didn’t have hoods, so the rain dripped down our noses and spattered our glasses so we could barely see.

Thankfully Thirsty Merc delivered one of the best performances I’ve seen them give in some time. I became an early fan of these guys when I saw them support Maroon 5 way back when, but somewhere along the way their live sets became a little lacklustre. Last night though it was almost like they felt they needed to give back to the poor soggy crowd, to make it worth our while. I was a little disappointed by the Slideshows-heavy set list, but I suppose it was to be expected. But they played those songs with gusto, and for a while it made us forget just how miserable it was to be outside.

Then it was time for the main event. I’ll warn you now, I can’t really talk about a Matchbox Twenty show objectively. I’ve followed them devotedly for the last 12 years, and they simply mean more to me than any other band does. Some might say that they mean more to me than any band should.

So when they started up with “How Far We’ve Come” I was simply overwhelmed. That song was a great big loud energetic blur of emotion for me. I couldn’t help but think exactly how far we have come. When I started to see this band I was an angsty 16-year-old attending high school and working a Coles checkout to make some extra cash. Now I’m a writer, a wife, an aunty. So much has changed, yet this band has been this amazing constant in my life. How far we’ve come indeed.

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Image details: Society Of Singers Presents 14th Annual Ella Award To Elton John – Show served by picapp.com

Last night I joined my parents at the first concert of k.d. lang’s Watershed tour in the Hunter Valley. It was a beautiful night, pleasantly cool and clear, the weather kind to the thousands of devoted fans who made their way to the natural amphitheatre of Tempus Two Winery.

The night opened with King Curly, a strange but compelling band. I don’t recall ever seeing a quartet with a big double bass and trombone, but it somehow worked. Their harmonies were sublime, but the dark lyrics about avenging zombies and homeless bumblebees were unusual to say the least! I lapped up their half hour set which was over far too quickly.

Next up was Slava Grigoryan. He’s such a talented classical guitarist, but this wasn’t the right venue for him. His introverted personality couldn’t fill the large open space, and it was a great shame. It was technically brilliant, but ultimately boring.

Sunrise co-host Melissa Doyle came out to introduce k.d., telling us that her latest album Watershed had just gone to number one. This happy news ultimately set the tone for the evening, one of celebration of one of the world’s greatest vocalists.

I’ve never been a massive k.d. lang fan. I’ve happily listened to her records while visiting my parents, but I’ve never gone out to buy the CDs or see her live before. But I remember catching a concert on the ABC a few years ago and being utterly compelled by her performance. I’m thrilled to say that entrancing presence I saw on the television was just as strong in person.

I was in awe as she delivered heartfelt performances of her originals and famous covers. Her smoky, husky voice just soars, and it’s amazing to behold. “Hallelujah” was such a highlight, but I also loved the vulnerability she brought to “Helpless” and the bittersweet yearning of “Constant Craving.”

k.d. has an amazing ability to inhabit a song. There were plenty of tracks I didn’t know, but her presence is so strong that matters little. She forces you to listen to the lyrics, to hear the stories, and to glory in the music.

What a performer, what a concert. Australian k.d. fans are in for a real treat as she makes her way around the country.

On Saturday I made the trek to the Hunter Valley’s Tempus Two Winery to see rock music royalty, Sir Elton John.

Young soul singer Eran James kicked off the event with songs from his new album, Ten Songs About Love. It blows my mind that this kid is just 18 years old. He’s got such a strong emotive voice, and the simple acoustic guitar backing let these songs really shine. But this wasn’t the venue for Eran. The punters were a lot more interested in chatting amongst themselves and sampling the winery’s goods than listening to this talented young singer. It’s a shame, because he really was very good.

The most startling thing is that the throng didn’t settle down for the main event. The rowdy drunks behind us loudly sang the wrong songs, or the wrong lyrics. The chain-smoking couple in front of us also put a dampener on my concert experience. I might suggest that I just got bad seats, but looking around I saw so many people getting up and moving around during the show that it staggered me. For the life of me I’ll never understand why people spend good money on a concert if they’re going to be disruptive or get so drunk they won’t remember it.

Again, it’s unfortunate because Elton did everything right. He strikes such a commanding figure at the piano, with his masterful playing and dazzling sequined jacket. Other artists may need a band to provide such a rich sound, but Elton does it effortlessly alone. He took us on a journey through his catalogue, opening with his first hit “Your Song.” The set was peppered with monster hits, and a few more obscure songs from the die-hard fans.

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