Music legends and local talent share the spotlight at Mullum Roots Festival

A diverse mix of musicians and music lovers came together for the Mullum Roots Festival last weekend, with performers ranging from Byron High School band Wild Rocket to veteran rockers Mental As Anything.

Wild Rocket in action. Photo: Kurt Petersen.

Festival founder and director Lou Bradley said the event, which also featured Alex Lloyd, Dave Graney and Bill Chambers among others, was a huge success.

Bill Chambers performing with his son Tyler. Photo: Kurt Petersen.

“It was full of good music and music lovers and I couldn’t have asked for anything else,” she said. “All the venues were full.

“It was really great last year as well but last year it was a bit more folksy. This year I wanted to make it a bit more diverse, which really worked.

Alex Lloyd wowed the crowd with his hit song Amazing.

“It’s never going to be a monster like Bluesfest if I have anything to do with it but it’s still really warm and fuzzy. It feels authentic but good quality at the same time.”

The festival’s Battle of the Bands competition was won by Lennox Head band Kitchen in the under-18 category, while Kingscliff band Lorien Layne took out the over-18 division.

Wanita Queen of Honky Tonk performing with Kangaroos with Machine Guns. Photo: Kurt Petersen.

“The judges loved it; they said they were really good,” Bradley said. “We’re going to make it more of a focal point of the festival next year.”

Mullumbimby High School captain Harriet Killips was also a standout performer after being called up to an 8pm Sunday timeslot when soul legend JoJo Smith was forced to cancel her Australian tour due to personal reasons. Killips received an enthusiastic response from the crowd and was called back for an encore.

Singer-songwriter Dave Graney at Mullum Roots. BELOW: Bill Chambers performing with his son Tyler. Photos: Kurt Petersen.

Around 60 per cent of ticket sales were to Northern Rivers residents, while both festival campgrounds were filled with visitors who travelled to attend the event.

Hayley Grace and the Bay Collective brought the funk to the festival. Wanita Queen of Honky Tonk performing with Kangaroos with Machine Guns. Folk, blues and roots performer Bill Jacobi.

Performances were spread across venues throughout Mullumbimby, including the Mullumbimby Civic Memorial Hall, Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club, the Courthouse Hotel (known as the Top Pub) and the Drill Hall Theatre.

Bradley said local businesses had also provided positive feedback, reporting a strong buzz throughout the town during the festival.

Folk, blues and roots performer Bill Jacobi. Photo: Kurt Petersen.

Buskers added to the atmosphere by performing on the streets, with Bradley encouraging one young banjo player in his 20s she encountered to write his first original song.

“He was really inspired,” she said.