Just returned from a magnificent day at the 30th Waterfront Blues Festival in the city. The 4th of July is like Australia Day except black people are invited. This was the last day of 5 that the festival runs and the aim is to raise $1m for the Portland Foodbank. Pleased to say that they hit $1.2m today.

We started the day at a local hip café. We devoured egg and bacon sandwiches and lattes in cups the size of buckets, whilst sitting amongst a myriad of Apple Macs, tattoos, and beards. From there it was a 15 min bus ride to town and we were soon welcomed into the reality of the city when an ice addict came on the bus with no money. He sat down refusing to move, so the bus driver read him some form of statutory rights and kept going. An old lady and I offered him money to pay the fare but he was too far gone. The lady tried lecturing him about getting a job and how she raised 3 kids as a single mom but to no avail. We got out at the same spot as the addict and walked below a bridge to get to the river walk and onto the festival when we found ourselves in what can only be described a homeless epicenter. The homeless situation in Melbourne is a huge indictment on our society but this was hardcore. Bodies everywhere and the smell of urine was overwhelming. There was a large refuge nearby that was shut for the public holiday so perhaps that explains it.

The festival is held on the Willamette River right next to the iconic Hawthorne Bridge. It was a perfect day around 30 degrees and the atmosphere was one of pure joy and expressionism. The locals are exactly as portrayed in “Portlandia”, vibrant and easy going. We met some fantastic people today. Jim a 64 YO former heroin addict who now partakes in grass only. The addiction cost him his teeth and relationships and we bumped into him 3 times during the day and got his life story. Josh, a surfer who took on a “tow in wave” off the coast only the once before realising how idiotic it was. Both guys hideously stoned but really friendly. Then there was Kafka a 60 YO mother of 3 with Hepatitis C volunteering her time to advise others to have the free blood check at the marquee provided. Fortunately, in Australia we don’t have the level of blood transfusion stuff ups that they have in the US or drug needle usage for that matter, so because the Festival attracts heaps of “baby boomers” it’s the perfect opportunity to get people tested. A very interesting and fit lady who is also a surfer and spent time in Australia.

The performers today were wide and varied. Highlights for me was a 21 YO called Jontavious Willis who was channeling Robert Johnson and had the hair on the back of your neck stand up and the Kings of Boogie themselves, Canned Heat entering their 50th year together. As soon as they started you could hear the sitar and harmonica entrance to “On the Road Again” and every 60 YO+ was on their feet dancing. Quite a sight given most of the men were shirtless. The day finished with a large band, almost an orchestra called Marchfourth. Primarily a big sounding funk/rock band they did a funk version of The Doors “Roadhouse Blues” more as a gesture to the organisers but it was brilliant nonetheless. They were wild and incorporated circus acts into the show that were perfectly in harmony with the music. There must be so many bands like these guys floating around the country that are just eking out a living, despite being together for 14 years apparently.

After Marchfourth came the national anthem and then 30 minutes of fireworks. One thing Americans do well is blow things up and there was no expense spared here. Our thoughts went to the homeless camped under the bridges getting the best view in the house while the government blew a quick $1m on pyrotechnics. Then it was off over the Hawthorne Bridge and off to God knows where! We knew our address but had no Google Maps so found a bus stop and another wonderful local gave us all the info we needed and even blue-toothed the map over to Lynda’s phone. All the way home there are fireworks going off. Really loud and scary ones too. Vietnam Vets are heading for cover and I was just jumpy given the warm and fuzzy relationship Americans have with guns. Interestingly everyone we spoke to today hates Trump and said they never voted for him. As soon as you mention him their heads drop in the same way we do when Pauline Hanson gets a call-up. Every artist we saw today didn’t actually mention his name but they were all very much “glass half full”. Stay positive, it’s all a bad dream and it will go away soon. Sadly I don’t think so.

Below are some photos from today: