Bringing With Her The Old, The New, And The Long Guitar Solo

When Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge touches base with The Music she's in the midst of a solo tour of the States — a mode she's not usually synonymous with, but one she seems to genuinely enjoy.

"It's funny because when I play solo it makes me really appreciate the band, and then when I play with the band it makes me really appreciate playing solo," she laughs. "When I play solo I get to work on the things that I get to showcase, and it's fun because I get to get better and then I get to really blow it out when I play with the band."

Which is perfect, because Etheridge will be in band mode when she comes down to Australia next year for Bluesfest. Something of a festival veteran — having played everywhere from Coachella to Pinkpop — she's looking forward to the Byron Bay experience immensely.

"When I come down to Australia I lean heavily upon the first couple of albums because that's the golden time of my music down there."

"I've never been there, but from what I've heard it will be the perfect place," she enthuses. "That's exactly the type of festivals I like to play — festivals that are really focused on real live music. The musicians, The guitar playing. It's where I can do a big long guitar solo and I don't have to worry that people will lose interest — it's kinda what they're there for. I love those sort of festivals."

Etheridge is forthright about her love for Australia, and one of the reasons is that we were early adopters of her music.

"From the very beginning you Aussies were into me long before anybody else — you guys knew it first," she smiles. "When I come down to Australia I lean heavily upon the first couple of albums because that's the golden time of my music down there. I don't get down there very often, and I want that experience to be that they came down to hear me play: I played their favourite song, we sang it at the top of our lungs, we loved it — that's where I'm at. I'll throw in a new song and it will be fun, but it's about playing the songs that we know and having a good time of it."

Does it feel strange focusing on those early years given how much acclaim she's experienced since?

"No, anywhere I start the song Bring Me Some Water is a celebration, so I will always play that song and I will always love to play that song," she admits. "And I will always love to play Like The Way I Do — they're fun and I love it.

"Back then when I put my [1988 eponymous debut] album out I remember when I heard, 'Oh, actually your album's doing really well in Australia,' I thought, 'Australia?' I hadn't put that together in my head that were people who would want to hear my music in Australia. I was a Kansas girl — I grew up in the Midwest, what did I know about the world? And it's just been such a wonderful experience sharing my music down there, and being so far away but feeling so close to everyone."