A proud "word nerd" since childhood, Jess Martyn studied journalism and advertising at university, and completed countless internships during her degree. She interned at local newspapers and agencies, (slightly desperately) cold-emailed marketing execs in search of opportunities, and finally discovered music journalism. She began writing for AAA Backstage in 2015, progressed from intern to editor within six months, and eventually made the transition to The Music, first as a live reviewer, then as a features writer. Writer by day and musician by night, Jess has also been performing in venues around Brisbane since her early teens, including several regular venues on the northside. She is working on a string of singles and an eventual full-length album under the name ‘Blue Jay’.
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“There’s 8000 people in this motherf*cker, and you guys sold it the hell out.”
The Whitlams Black Stump perfectly captured the essence of The Whitlams' original repertoire and drew a festival crowd in the early hours of a Sunday afternoon.
On the home stretch, but still with a big day of even bigger names ahead....
By the festival’s “hump day", the sun had finally chased away the clouds, and it seemed like there was nothing but blue skies and good vibes.
The Friday line-up was everything a mud-loving punter could have asked for – and it only heightened the appetite for what was still to come.
“Once you stop seeing cowboy hats and boots, probably turn around and walk the other way.”
"There really was no other path – there was no other thing that I was good at my entire life other than doing music."
All the action from the final day of Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023.
Day four of Bluesfest was another massive day of talent punctuated by the classic Bonnie Raitt and the new skool Tash Sultana showing why musicality is transcenent of generations.
Day three saw Counting Crows, Jackson Browne and another complete day of discoveries and favourites at Bluesfest 2023