Bluesfest plays host to the icons on days three, four and five

Days three, four and five of Bluesfest mixed the legendary with the virtuosic, headlined by the impressive double header of Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello.

With Bluesfest’s bill featuring the likes of Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello at the backend of the long weekend, the preceding days seemed to exist as a tentative waiting period. Where the eagerness for the return of Dylan to Australian shores dominated festival banter, days three and four were rife with virtuosic soul, blues and folk.

Day three in particular belonged to the virtuoso; with internationally recognised local Jeff Lang, slide guitar legend Robert Randolph and Trombone Shorty’s inspired horn work all impressing with their mastery of their instruments. Derek Trucks (accompanying Susan Tedeschi) was another addition to the list of virtuoso’s, his lauded fret work restrained in order to prevent the domination of Tedeschi’s soulful croon.

But it wasn’t just instrumental mastery which set a theme for the mid-section of Bluesfest. New Orleans royalty Irma Thomas led with one of the weekend’s most powerful voices, challenged by the guest appearance of Aaron Neville in his appearance with Gospel staples, The Blind Boys of Alabama who were themselves a true festival highlight.

Virtuosity and collaboration were two key themes of Blues. One of Chicago’s most prominent live voices in Mavis Staples was joined briefly for a tantalising taste of Elvis Costello, while regular collaborator Ruthie Foster joined one of the modern-blues most successful artists in Eric Bibb. Lapsteel sensation Robert Randolph joined the Blind Boys while T-Bone Burnett’s latest signatories The Secret Sisters joined Elvis Costello for spirited country backing vocals for A Slow Drag With Josephine.

It was Monday night’s double feature of Dylan and Costello which attracted the weekend’s anticipation. With the Mojo tent pushing its capacity in a Bob Dylan campout through Warren Haynes’ brand of uninspired southern rock, a growing impatience pilfered the Monday evening. Dylan’s arrival and first notes of Gonna Change My Way of Thinking were met with a booming reception, his band’s blues-country arrangements invigorating his sparsely recorded originals. Dylan played a cross-section of new and old, dichotomising his audience in a way that only Bob Dylan can. Lyrics were grumbled, old favourites were altered and there was more than a handful of departures, but those who stayed were rewarded with stunning versions of Highway 61 Revisited and Like a Rolling Stone. It was a set that required a degree of effort and understanding to enjoy, existing for many as an opportunity solely to tick off the Bob Dylan box, and for others as one of Bluesfest’s most talked about acts.

Where the night belonged to Dylan for those with the inclination, it was Elvis Costello’s triumphant set of Attractions hits and later solo work which was unequivocally appreciated. Costello dove into his set with Pump It Up, sneaking in a verse and tribute to Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues. With his band The Imposters, Costello’s set was an exhilarating foray into faithful versions of the songs which made him from Oliver’s Army to I Don’t Wanna Go to Chelsea. His vocal quirks, haunting voice (only occasionally faultering) and characteristic 80’s rock star personality all flavoured his nostalgia-filled set and, with the closing Peace, Love and Understanding, left Bluesfest exhilarated.