While we're not likely to be heading back to BluesFest at Byron Bay in the future, there are a number of associated shows each year, including the Elvis Costello and Tedeschi Trucks Band shows reviewed hereabouts. I'll be watching the announcements re. next year's line up over the Christmas period every year, but there are issues when the announcements are staggered over around three months from December to February and the associated tour dates come out well after the news that so and so are playing Byron.
These shows fall into the week on either side of Easter, which could provide an excuse for a trip that covers some combination of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne with sightseeing and other activities scattered among the concert action.
Then there's the possibilities thrown up when someone I'm really into tours nationally outside the preceding two windows. This one comes with two rather substantial caveats…
First, it has to be someone working in a format that will allow significant setlist variation.
That would rule out multiple Leonard Cohen shows, for example and while I'd be really keen to see Richard Thompson in a band environment he tends not to vary his set list too much when he's working in that setting.
Thompson solo, on the other hand, varies a little more, and if there was a set of circumstances that mirrored the 2007 tour, when he played Byron, Brisbane and Eumundi on successive nights it'd be interesting to see how much variation went on when you can head from show to show by public transport.
On the other hand I'm not sure I'd be doing a Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne bit where RT is concerned. Southeast Queensland offers the opportunity to have a night or two of free accommodation in Southport. 2007 could have had me flying south the day before Byron, overnight in Southport, a night in Byron, another in Brisbane and a third in Eumundi with a further day or two in Southport before flying back. Doable…
With someone who does vary the set list, on the other hand, an Elvis Costello or Bruce Springsteen, the multiple nights scenariot becomes a very real possibility. Both of them have large back catalogues they've been known to trawl through.