By Eva Roberts

The Cairns Blues Festival is back! Returning for its second instalment, this newest festival on the Australian festival calendar is set to be bigger and better than ever before!  After a very successful 2009 launch, with more than 2000 festival goer’s part of the action, the organisers have decided to turn the festival into a two-day event, instead of just one!

 “Reports during the past year from audience members, volunteers, stall holders, industry workers, and musicians confirmed that Cairns was well and truly ready for a blues festival, and they want more of it,” says Festival Organiser Pauline Langley.

It seems Cairns has really got its ‘blues’ back, after the closure of the iconic Johnno’s Blues Bar; this festival has put Cairns back on the blues music map! Langley says last year’s event was a great social occasion for patrons and musicians alike.  Many of the performers and patrons had not seen each other since the days of Johnno’s Blues Bar.

It was also clear the Cairns Blues Festival was a day of entertainment for everyone - 2009’s audience was made up of children still in prams, teenagers, their grandparents, and everyone in between; this is as inclusive as it gets! Even the children this year, have their own tent, with puppet shows, a jumping castle and performances by Mission Beach local Dave Bromley.

Another crowd pleaser to return is the Cairns Motorcycle Restorers Club’s display; these gentlemen go to amazing lengths to ensure that their pride and joys are in tip top condition! With the beautiful tropical outdoor setting, and a stellar line up of solid blues artists, the 2010 Cairns Blues Festival will continue to cement itself on the Australian festival calendar.

The line-up…

This year also sees the first international artist to grace the stage at the Cairns Blues Festival!  Bex Marshall is flying in from the UK to perform her gutsy style of blues, with a voice that stands the test of time; she is making big waves in the blues music scene in the UK. 

Once again, some of Australia’s essential blues artists will entertain the crowds, with an impressive line up including The Backsliders, who are leaders and virtual pioneers in their own genre – ‘delta–blues wall of sound’. 

As a three piece, they can lift the roof off any venue – moving from straight ahead, in your face, ‘amped up’ original blues – ‘Blues ’not ‘Roots’ that is – to ‘all–acoustic’ unplugged ‘way down south’ delta blues.  These guys have been writing, recording & performing acoustic–based blues for 20 years – even before ‘roots and blues’ became a catch–phrase with bands across the country.  Multi–media celebrity, Doug Mulray describes them as ‘the best acoustic blues band in the country’.

The Backsliders have made numerous television appearances in Australia and are regular headliners at major Australian festivals – most recently the Melbourne International Music & Blues Festival (alongside Bob Dylan, Ray Charles & Tony Joe White).

The band has headlined at various festivals over the years, having played in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide and are regular favourites at the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival (at which the band has featured for 13 years).

Chris Wilson, will also be taking to the stage.  He has been an essential part of the Australian blues and rock music scene since performing with the Sole Twisters twenty years ago.  Stints with Harum Scarum and Paul Kelly followed, and by the end of the 80’s, Wilson was considered one of Australia’s finest blues vocalists. His instrumental gifts have been utilised on recordings by the likes of James Reyne, Archie Roach and Deborah Conway. 

Also on this incredible line up is Geoff Achison and the Souldiggers, The Mason Rack Band, Fiona Boyes, Louis King and The Liars Klub and the Blues Preachers. Brother John & Captain Bluetongue (aka The Blues Preachers) perform a fusion of good old blues, rags, gospel and hillbilly folk. The powerful simplicity of driving finger-style and slide-guitar combined with the sounds of tasteful harmonica and old-school vocal harmonies create a traditional and untarnished Blues Preachers sound that will have you on the edge of your seats.

This is just the beginning (or the end!), there are many more artists to satisfy your blues taste buds - this really is one for the music lovers!

With over twenty performers set to take the stage, there will be something for everybody, including plenty of crowd pleasers, such as 2009’s favourite, Dallas Frasca, who embodies blues, heavy rock, metal & soul, combining them all with a powerful performance.  By 18, she was on the road, displaying a sass & irreverence onstage that stands out among her contemporaries. 

Reminiscent of Chrissie Amphlett or Suzie DeMarchi, she taught herself to play the guitar, inspired by players such as Duane Allman, Bob Brozman & Mississippi Fred Middwell.  Other crowd favourites include the thrilling blues man, 8 Ball Aitkin.

So come on!  Join in and be a part of the 2010 Cairns Blues Festival.  It is going to be unforgettable!  Soak up the gorgeous tropical setting and listen to the blues!

Early bird tickets are on sale from March 1 (until April 3).  Early bird tickets prices for the full weekend are $100 (adults), $95 (concession) and $85 (youth).  One day ticket prices are $70 (adults), $65 (concession) and $50 (youth). Second release tickets will be announced from April 5.