The blues are a universal language. Globetrotting Fiona Boyes kicked off the annual four-day conversation in style.
The Deep South Roots & Blues Festival is in its fourth year and is organised by the Adelaide Roots and Blues Association, which is a tightknit community of music lovers. Given this, it is apt the festival got underway in the front room of the Governor Hindmarsh; perhaps the most community-orientated room in South Australian music.
Image © Stephen von der BorchWhile the big name touring acts grace the main stage of The Gov, in the front room every night of the week is devoted to local music: open mic night, the ukulele collective and a blues jam every Thursday night. Internationally renowned blues musician Fiona Boyes maintained the tradition, inviting local stalwarts Snooks La Vie and Billy Bob Rankin on stage to improvise harmonica and guitar solos as part of her 'Box & Dice' CD launch.
With Boyes, every song seems to have been written in a different exotic location, which is no surprise given she divides her time living in both hemispheres. She has a vocal rasp that can only be created through diligent whiskey and tobacco consumption.
She even integrated whiskey bottles and cigar boxes into her live performance; a standout track was a solo rendition of 'Baby Please Don't Go' on a four-string cigar box guitar with whiskey bottle slide.
Image © Stephen von der BorchShe is such a captivating storyteller, so it was a bit of a shame that her microphone was not pumping out sufficient volume to drown out the chatter of the audience that was loitering at the back. It was only really possible to fully appreciate her performance when you squeezed into the one of the few dozen chairs near the front of the stage.
