It may seem like John Butler and his wandering trio minstrels are forever on the road travelling from one festival gig to another.
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Butler says they take regular breaks. “It’s important to take time out with the family and refresh.”
But if you check the trio’s website you can see since 2015, they have bounced from Australia to the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kindgdom and back again with only a couple of months here and there to recover.
And no sooner will they step off the SummerSalt stage on Westport Park, Port Macquarie, than they skip across the pond to New Zealand and then it’s off again to the US and Canada.
You can only be invited to many of the festivals Butler and the lads perform at and the invitations are based on audience reaction, excellence and an ever-growing reputation as one of the best live blues and roots acts around.
Perhaps the most epic of the festivals they have played is the amazing Red Rocks. The resulting album Live at Red Rocks was the fourth live album of The John Butler Trio. It was recorded on June 4, 2010 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and was streamed live to fans around the world at Livestream. It featured Butler’s vocals, and virtuoso guitar work on acoustic, electric, 12-string, lap steel, and banjo; Bryon Luiters on electric and double bass, didgeridoo, and vocals; Nicky Bomba on drums, percussion, steel drums, and vocals.
At the time it was their largest ever headline ticketed show in front of about 10,000 people. The album was released in Australia in July 2011.
Butler’s thoughtful and thought-provoking lyrics and ethereal voice are matched by his philanthropic efforts to stop fracking, advance the standards of Indigenous education, and to provide seed funding for others to realise their artistic aspirations. More recently the song Bully has illustrated his stand against bullying in all its forms.
SummerSalt includes green initiatives to minimise the concert’s impact on the venue, market stalls, mobile food options and activities to bring culture and community together. There is also a ticketed 18+ VIP Lounge for laid back enjoyment of the show.
On the bill with JBT is San Cisco – Jordi, Josh, Scarlett and Nick – who got together in Fremantle after graduating high school. Fast forward to 2017, with the foursome dropping their third album and a tour schedule that includes the US, UK and Europe.
Also on board are Mama Kin Spender, Oh Pep! and popular local band Barrel House.