Category Archives: Bluesfest

India.Arie + Joss Stone announce Australian shows – April 2014

jessBluesfest Touring is continuing the momentum only days after announcing Beth Hart’s Bluesfest sideshows with a rare musical double bill with two of the leading ladies of soul… the revitalized and inspirational India.Arie will be uniting with the rebellious and captivating Joss Stone in a series of special shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
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SUZANNE VEGA to play a select series of Bluesfest sideshows – April 2014

SUZANNE VEGA to play a select series of Bluesfest sideshows.

With classics and unforgettable songs such as ‘Luka’, ‘Marlene On The Wall’, ‘Caramel’ (from the movie: ‘Cats and Dogs’), ‘Solitude Standing’, ‘Woman On The Tier ‘(from the movie: ‘Dead Man Walking’),’ Left Of Centre and Blood Makes Noise’, Suzanne Vega is widely regarded as “one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation,” (Biography Magazine)

“Suzanne Vega gave the packed audience exactly what they wanted … perfection !”
Continue reading SUZANNE VEGA to play a select series of Bluesfest sideshows – April 2014

Bluesfest Fourth Announcement 25th Anniversary 2014 – Damn right we got the Blues!

Today Bluesfest Byron Bay, Australia’s multi award winning 5 Day Festival, held over the Easter long weekend (17th – 21st of April) at its home, the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, north of Byron Bay, opens the fourth chapter to its 25th Anniversary special edition and the message coming from the Bluesfest HQ is that there will be at least one more artist release before Christmas – after all the Festival still has many of its artists left to announce.

Reports also say that Bluesfest 2014 Tickets, in particular the 5 day Festival ticket will sell out in the near future.
Continue reading Bluesfest Fourth Announcement 25th Anniversary 2014 – Damn right we got the Blues!

Bluesfest 2013 nominated for an International Pollstar Award

Bluesfest announced it has been nominated for the highly regarded Annual Pollstar Award in the category of the 2013 ‘International Music Festival of the Year’ for the second year running. The 24th Bluesfest was held over the Easter long weekend this year and included headliners Santana, Paul Simon, Robert Plant, Iggy & The Stooges, Ben Harper, Rodriguez, The Lumineers and Australian artists The Cat Empire and Xavier Rudd, among many others.

The 25th Annual Pollstar Awards will be held in February 2014 at the world-famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The nomination marks the fourth time Bluesfest has been nominated for the prestigious award and the 24th Annual Bluesfest has been nominated alongside worldwide heavyweights including the Glastonbury Festival (UK), Lollapalooza Chile (Chile), Rock in Rio (Brazil), Roskilde Festival (Denmark) and Tomorrowland (Belgium).
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KC & The Sunshine Band – Bluesfest 2014 Sideshows


KC and THE SUNSHINE BAND- shakin bootys and selling over 100 million albums since 1973
With their catalogue of dance anthems including Get Down Tonight, That’s The Way (I Like It), Please Don’t Go, Shake Your Booty, Keep It Comin’ Love, Boogie Shoes, Rock Your Baby, I’m Your Boogie Man, (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. KC & The Sunshine Band are still as widely popular today as they were when they first danced into the music scene 40 years ago.
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Jimmie Vaughan with Nikki Hill – Bluesfest 2014 Sideshows Announced

“He’s unbeatable when it comes to the blues. He just plays it like it’s supposed to be played”
– BUDDY GUY

JIMMIE VAUGHAN is far more than just one of the greatest and most respected guitarists in the world of popular music but as Guitar Player magazine notes “He is virtual deity-a living legend”!! He provides a vital link between contemporary music and its proud heritage, as well as being a longtime avatar of retro cool.

Jimmie Vaughan’s style as a player, songwriter and band leader can be thought of as an amalgamation of so many influences. Known for his deceptively simple yet complex attack, his clean uncluttered style capitalizes on conveying the emotion and message within the music.
Continue reading Jimmie Vaughan with Nikki Hill – Bluesfest 2014 Sideshows Announced

Allen Stone – Bluesfest 2014 Sideshows Announced

“…his voice and energy reminds listeners of music legends like Stevie Wonder and Prince” CNN

After making such a huge impression on his first – sold out – Australian Tour, Allen Stone is back and ready to captivate once again. At 26 years old, he hypnotized the entire crowd with his heartfelt lyrics and social morals – get set to be blown away by the extra-ordinary raw soulful talent of Allen Stone.

Continue reading Allen Stone – Bluesfest 2014 Sideshows Announced

Bluesfest 2nd Announcement 25th Anniversary 2014!


Bluesfest Byron Bay, Australia’s multi award winning 5 Day Festival, held over the Easter long weekend (17 – 21st of April) at its home, the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, north of Byron Bay, opens the 2nd chapter to its 25th Anniversary special edition!

After the first announcement focused on headliners John Mayer & powerhouse Dave Matthews Band, as well as compelling contemporary musicians, this is what Bluesfest diehard fans wait for every year. It’s all about Legends, Blues & Roots and a perfect blend of Funk & Reggae.
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Bluesfest Launch 2014 – The very first Announcement for the 25th Anniversary Bluesfest!

Bluesfest Byron Bay, Australia’s multi award winning 5 Day Festival, held over the Easter long weekend (17 – 21st of April) at its dedicated site, the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, north of Byron Bay, opens the first of its many 25th Anniversary presents and it is an exquisite mix of Bluesfest returning favourites and cutting edge contemporary artists.

By announcing 4 weeks sooner than ever before, Bluesfest has broken its own record once again.

If this is only the beginning, Bluesfest 2014 promises to surpass all expectations.

The First Artist Announcement includes:
John Mayer
John Butler Trio
Dave Matthews Band (Two incredible performances)
Erykah Badu
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Iron & Wine
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Devendra Banhart
Morcheeba
Gary Clark Jr
KT Tunstall
Allen Stone
Valerie June
Nikki Hill

and many more to come!

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR PETER NOBLE SAYS:
It’s our 25th Birthday! We are going to be celebrating this one as never before and will deliver you one hell of a line up and mark my words: This is only the beginning”!

Peter Noble adds:

“John Mayer is finally coming back after 7 years to play at Bluesfest again. When it comes to guitar he is undoubtedly to me the most talented of all performing today, simply untouchable and I say that with all humility. I predict his new album ‘Paradise Valley’ – released last week, is going to be at the top of the charts worldwide this week – this is such a coup for us – and I am so proud to be presenting John on our big celebration year.
Continue reading Bluesfest Launch 2014 – The very first Announcement for the 25th Anniversary Bluesfest!

Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 5

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Featured Artists: Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Current Swell, Mavis Staples, Zac Brown Band, Ben Howard, Xavier Rudd, Newton Faulkner
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay – Day 5
Date: 01 April 2013

Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!


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Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 5 Wrap

By DOMINIC FEAIN
Bluesfest Day Five Wrap:

It was a fitting finale to one of the best ever Byron Bluesfests last night as the legendary Paul Simon capped off five days of extraordinary performances by countless artists across six stages.

Actually, that’s seven if you include the busking stage.

The Mojo tent was packed to overflowing with an all-ages crowd that was not only a testament to the enduring legacy of a musical icon, but also the festival organisers for once again staging a truly inclusive, cross-generational event.
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Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 4 Wrap

By DOMINIC FEAIN
Day Four: Bluesfest wrap
The clouds set in for day four of Bluesfest but that didn’t dampen the festival spirit or the crowd numbers.

While yesterday’s line-up lacked the star-studded impact of the first three days, punters still poured in to enjoy the days high-energy bill packed with long-time Bluefest favourites.
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Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 4

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Featured Artists: Rufus Wainwright, Roger Hodgson, Bettye LaVette, Karise Eden, Jon Anderson
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Date: 31 March 2013

More photos to come!

Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!


Continue reading Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 4

Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 3 Wrap

By DOMINIC FEAIN
Day three of Bluesfest.

Perhaps it’s the selective memory but it never ceases to amaze me how quickly one forgets the shear stamina and commitment five day festivals demand – let alone one with six stages and a line-up like this.

Herein lies the crux of the Bluesfest punter’s dilemma – how to choose between the likes of Iggy Pop and Robert Plant; Status Quo and the Beasts of Bourbon; the Dropkick Murphys and Taj Mahal, not to mention Santana and Wanda Jackson; Ben Harper and Chris Isaak; the Counting Crows and Joan Armatrading; Wilco and The Melbourne Ska Orchestra…

Bottom line? Decisiveness is the key. Where there’s no guts there’s no glory. Wavering between stages will only break you down faster and leave you with a gnawing sense of what might have been against a potential epiphany at a consecrated altar of live rock and roll.
Continue reading Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 3 Wrap

Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 3

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Photographer: Stuart Blythe

Featured Artists: Robert Plant, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Dropkick Murphys, Status Quo, Beasts of Bourbon
Venue: Bluesfest Byron Bay
Date: 30 March 2013

More photos to come!

Visit Bluesfest Byron Bay Official Website here!


Continue reading Photos! Bluesfest Byron Bay 2013 – Day 3