When Xavier Rudd returns to Australia next month, he will have performed a mammoth 87 shows across 16 countries in 2022, accompanied by his dedicated crew and friends like Bobby Alu.
Xavier will have one final performance on Australian soil before the year's end – at the grand opening of a purpose-built, 1,500 capacity live music venue on the grounds of Bluesfest Byron Bay called The Green Room.Bluesfest promoter Peter Noble OAM says he is "absolutely delighted" that Rudd will be the first artist to perform at The Green Room, which was constructed earlier this year. "People speak of hallowed ground," Pete says, alluding to the area The Green Room was built.
"When it comes to music, The Green Room stands on hallowed ground given the likes of Jack Johnson, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, Bob Dylan, BB King, Jethro Tull, ZZ Top, Gurrumul, Mavis Staples, Kasey Chambers, Cold Chisel, John Fogerty, Crosby Stills and Nash, Earth Wind and Fire, Paul Simon, Robert Plant, Ben Harper, Santana, Iggy & The Stooges, Lionel Richie, Dave Mathews Band, Doobie Brothers, Kendrick Lamar, Tom Jones, Lauryn Hill, Tash Sultana, Sheryl Crow, Morcheeba, Alanis Morissette, Midnight Oil, Crowded House and literally hundreds more who have walked this ground since 2010."
A stalwart of the event, Rudd himself performed at Bluesfest in 2022 and will return again in 2023 – but first, he will perform a relatively intimate show at The Green Room, with special guest Bobby Alu.
How is Europe treating you? It must be nice to be able to perform overseas again after all the lockdowns and border closures.
Yeah, it's beautiful over here. The shows have been fire. It's really made me realise how traumatised Australia is from the COVID pandemic. I haven't even really noticed that it's a thing over here – it's hardly ever mentioned and people are stoked to just be out there living their lives.
When you head home you'll be playing at The Green Room in Byron Bay. What makes this particular venue so special?
I think that the Byron area has needed a new venue for a while now. There are so many great musicians and music that comes through Byron, both local and from afar – so it's exciting that Peter Noble and his crew are opening this new venue. And I'm stoked to launch it!
You have been a stalwart Bluesfest performer for many years now, and would have spent many hours on the land The Green Room is built on. Do you have any particularly fond memories? What would your residual energy be there?
I have plenty of fond memories. It's obviously powerful country all through that area.
A highlight for me at the last Bluesfest (2022) and a highlight for my career was having local mob Josh, Kyle, and Juzzy Slabb come up and join me onstage to perform 'I Am Eagle' off the latest record, on their country, singing their traditional mibin song (eagle), at a time that was significant to them in terms of seasons changing etc.
The show will be your last for 2022, which has been a massive year of touring. How are you feeling about the end of this run?
It's been beautiful, it's been powerful, the world needs music. It's been interesting to be out in the world celebrating connection, love, family, togetherness, post-COVID. It hasn't been without its challenges, but I'm proud of myself and my incredible crew for pulling it off. We've touched the hearts a lot of people this year.
You've got Bobby Alu in Europe with you now and he'll be playing The Green Room show as well. Tell me about your friendship with him.
I love Bobby Alu – he's my brother, and we've shared the stage in so many ways over the past decade or more. I believe he is one of Australia's greatest songwriters/ musicians, and it's always an honour to have him around.
Your stage show is phenomenal, and you have such a large, hardworking crew behind the scenes putting it all together. How did the pandemic affect your crew, given you usually spend so long out on the road?
It was tough on everybody, but my crew seemed to manage to get work locally and everyone in the music industry bonded to pull together and help each other and everyone got through.
It has been 20 years since your studio debut, 'To Let', was released, and your music has been constantly evolving: what have you learned about yourself as an artist during that time?
Too much to mention in a short answer, but we're always learning, we're always growing. I've had an incredible career; I feel so blessed. And as long as I remain open to the spirit that guides me, I'm always learning.
I love that you named the latest album 'Jan Juc Moon', after the area you grew up in. You'd had a fair break, then there were so many new elements in the record – it felt like a homecoming as well as a fresh start. What's your favourite thing about the record?
The way you've structured this question sums it up for me, it's well put.
It did feel like that for me – it feels like a step back in time, but also a step forward. I'm proud of this record; it's a reflective record for me. It's almost like dipping a toe in the pond of all the styles and collaboration I've been lucky enough to explore over the years.
You have grown-up sons and beautiful little Jundi, with another bub on the way. How has fatherhood changed your outlook/ inspired your music? Are you doing anything differently this time around?
The kids are part of the fabric of the music. The kids guide me, teach me, keep me centred. They are the music.
I'm not sure how much I'll tour in the future, like I've done in the past – I'd like to be around more. But the kids have an understanding of what I do and there's a mutual respect.
Last thing – green room related. What are your pre-show rituals? And what's a must-have on your rider?
I like to do a bit of yoga before I play; to stay focused and strong. I'm always happy to see some hummus on the rider, but after this year, we could probably go into business selling it!
Xavier Rudd opens The Green Room (Byron Bay) 26 November. He also plays 2023 Bluesfest, which runs 6-10 April.
Bluesfest 2023 Line-up
19-TwentyAllison Russell
The Barnestormers
Beck
Beth Hart (exclusive)
The Black Sorrows
Bonnie Raitt
Buddy Guy
The Cat Empire
Chain
Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram
Counting Crows
The Doobie Brothers
Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Eric Gales (exclusive)
Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
Gang Of Youths
Greensky Bluegrass (exclusive)
Jackson Browne
Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
Joe Bonamassa (exclusive)
Joe Camilleri presents A Star-Studded Tribute To The Greats Of The Blues
Jon Stevens
Kaleo (exclusive)
Keb' Mo'
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Lachy Doley And The Horns Of Conviction
Larkin Poe
LP
Lucinda Williams
Marcus King
Mavis Staples
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats
Nikki Hill (exclusive)
Robert Glasper
Rockwiz Live
The Soul Rebels & Friends with special guests Talib Kweli, GZA & Big Freedia
Southern Avenue (exclusive)
Spinifex Gum feat. Marliya
St Paul & The Broken Bones
Steve Earle & The Dukes
Tash Sultana
Vintage Trouble
Xavier Rudd
Plus more still to be announced
