ORGANISERS of the Blue Mountain Music Festival sought to redeem themselves on Sunday’s second and final day, following the misfortunes of opening night.

This objective was met in terms of an early start to the show, as patrons who ventured up to the Hollywell National Park enjoyed performances in the daylight hours from the likes of the all-female band Adadze, vocalist Suzanne Couch, the band Persons of Interest, and gospel act Ryan Mark. As dusk fell, and the lights of the Corporate Area twinkled below, it was time for what could have been dubbed the night of the bands.

The five acts which followed were all aggregations — Notis Production, Skygrass, Uprising Roots Band, Rootz Underground and Mystic Revealers. There was also singer Tarrus Riley and his Black Soil Band led by Dean Fraser. This made for a long night as the band changes were, at times, lengthy. It was well after 1:00 am that the final notes of this year’s staging of the festival were struck. Lengthy band changes aside, when they performances did get going, there were some strong sets. It was pleasing to see Mystic Revealers take to the stage.

The Billy Mystic-led outfit dropped favourites including Got to be a Better Way, Religion and their new promarijuana track Herb Must Legalise. The Uprising Roots Band continues to increase their reach with every performance. For Sunday’s event, the band donned full-white costumes and took their music to another level.

Their tracks Wasted Times and Might Can’t Beat Right went over well with the small but appreciative audience which dotted the sloping greens to take in the performances.Australian-based reggae act Nattali Rize backed by Notis Production also earned the respect of the audience with her biting social commentary and infectious sound. Rootz Underground and Skygrass are two band which have a strong following, and on Sunday their supporters were out and witnessed their usual level of showmanship.

Frontmen for both these bands, Stephen Newland of Rootz Underground and Simon Samuel of Skygrass, went all out to entertain their audience and they felt it. The organisers saved Tarrus Riley for their closing act, and although that could not prevent some patrons from leaving prior to his performance, those who stayed were treated to another of his signature entertaining sets. Organiser Roshaun ‘Bay C’ Clarke will have to work hard to protect his event, which has great potential. This year’s staging saw a number of improvements, but has a far way to go to reach its full potential in attracting the numbers and becoming the force it can be among the world’s music festivals.

— Richard Johnson