Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
featuring Beth Hart – Bonnie Raitt – Coterie – The Cat Empire – Nikki Hill – Trombone Shorty – Michael Franti and Spearhead


Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
featuring Beth Hart – Bonnie Raitt – Coterie – The Cat Empire – Nikki Hill – Trombone Shorty – Michael Franti and Spearhead
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
featuring Bonnie Raitt – Trombone Shorty& Orleans Avenue – The Cat Empire – Mavis Staples – Yirrmal – Michael Franti and Spearhead – Tash Sultana
The final two days of Bluesfest had a bit of a wild west feeling going on, with autumnal tones, dusty grounds and police people riding around on horseback occasionally, looking very relaxed about the state of affairs at the festival. This may have been the calmest Bluesfest I have ever witnessed, well suited to the sweet sounds of Tash Sultana’s voice gracing the air waves on Sunday night. There never seemed to be a hassle lining up for anything or finding a good spot to dance.
Continue reading Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 4 & 5Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
featuring Michael Franti – 19-Twenty – Julz Parker (Hussy Hicks) – Ash Grunwald – Backsliders – Bobby Alu – Chris Cheney – Eugene Hideaway Bridges – Femi Kuti & The Positive Force – Julia Zemiro (Rockwiz) – Nikki Hill – Roshani – Steve Poltz – Tash Sultana – Yirrmal
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
Last night the Crossroads became Buddy Guy’s intimate lounge room for a few hours where the many thousands gathered, were treated to a warm and humorous insight into the world of this 86 year’s young, blues legend. He warned ‘if you don’t like Blues you’re in the wrong fucking house, I’m going to play something so funky you can smell it.’ He played many of his own songs and those of other legends he has influenced, interspersed with cheeky stories. After playing Hoochie Coochie Man he observed how Hip Hop has changed the musical landscape and ‘you can say whatever the fuck you want now’ not holding back on any details with his lyrics and stories. Playing with not just his well worn hands, but his sleeve, overall front, teeth and towards the end walking right out into the the audience, letting kids play his guitar, giving old and new fans the experience of a life time. As he promised at the start of the show ‘I don’t get out here very often, so I’m going to give you the best that I got.’
Continue reading Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 3Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
featuring Adam Duritz – Allison Russell – Buddy Guy – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Clarence Bekker – Eric Gales – Frank Turner – Jackson Browne – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Joe Bonamassa – 19-Twenty – Lisa Hunt – Marcus King – Nikki Hill – Vintage Trouble
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
Good Friday in the fields of Tyagarah had all the feels. An emotional tribute show to Archie Roach was a highlight. Bringing together First Nations artists from around Australia and even Tibet to celebrate this wonderful man who has been moving people to tears at many Bluesfest’s over the years. You know a show is going to be good when festival director Peter Noble comes out to watch it. So great to hear Uncle Archie’s songs living on and well cared for by artists such as Shellie Morris, Tenzin Choegyal, Radical Son and Deline Briscoe who brought us all to our core with her heartfelt version of A Child Was Born Here.
Continue reading Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 2Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
featuring 19-Twenty – Bud Rokesky – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Daniel Champagne – Keb’ Mo’ – Larkin Poe – Marcus King – Paolo Nutini – Ray Beadle – Round Mountain Girls – Steve Earle – Vintage Trouble – Yirrmal
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
My favorite time of year is here again, where no bigger decision needs to be made other than – what band should I go see now? A fantasy life for five days where Bluesfest serves up an irresistible menu of musical treats. With a plethora of choices laid out before me, I just need to wander around and discover music, new and old to love. Lured in by hot organ sounds I found Southern Avenue at the Juke Joint, just in time for a wicked drum solo by Tikyra Jackson. This band has a big Memphis funk sound with vocalist Tierinii Jackson wielding a powerful voice that can do anything. A perfect initiation into what promises to be another soul shaking festival.
Check out the Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 1
Continue reading Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 1Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots
featuring Eric Gales – Nikki Hill – Kaleo – Paolo Nutini – St. Paul and The Broken Bones – Lucinda Williams – Dog Trumpet – LP – The Angels – Frank Sultana – Greensky Bluegrass
Read our Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 1
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 1Eight-time GRAMMY® winner BECK (acoustic) to appear at Bluesfest for the first time ever!
Musical genius BECK will grace the stage for the first-time next year at Bluesfest 2023, making him the 50th artist to be announced for the festival, held over the Easter long weekend in Byron Bay.
BECK will play an intimate and unique acoustic show, which has earned rave reviews from key publications around the world.
Continue reading BLUESFEST 2023: THIRD ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT BECK (acoustic)!!BLUESFEST 2023 – FIRST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT
– OVER 40 ARTISTS WITH MORE TO COME
The 34th Annual Bluesfest’s gates will open for what promises to be the most exciting Bluesfest ever.
Some of the finest contemporary and legendary Blues, Roots, Soul, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, World and Americana music artists (and more) are confirmed to appear for the first original style Bluesfest since the world’s borders re-opened.
Continue reading Bluesfest 2023 – First Artist AnnouncementPhotographer : Ant Ritz
Thursday 14th April 2022
featuring Tanya Trotter of The War and Treaty, Roshani, Tijuana Cartel, Ross Wilson, Felix Riebl – The Cat Empire
Photos by Ant Ritz
By Wanda Hill
https://www.facebook.com/bluesfestbyronbay/
Take three and the 33rd annual Bluesfest actually happened, much to the relief and joy of the entire Bluesfest community. Five days of celebrating some of the world’s finest musicians amongst old and new friends came to an end on Monday night. The festival grounds will be glad to see us gone, the trodden grass can regrow and the wildlife can get some much needed sleep.
Continue reading Live Review : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2022 – Day 5By Wanda Hill
https://www.facebook.com/bluesfestbyronbay/
Crowded House lived up to their name at the Crossroads as they could have filled two big tops with the amount of people trying to get close to the action. Parking sold out early for what was this year’s biggest day at Bluesfest. Pretty much the entire festival patronage gathered to see this much loved band. Despite most people choosing to sing along with Crowded House there was still plenty of awe and devotion for George Benson over at the Mojo,where he was filling the cool night air with romance and nostalgia, perfect for lovers.
Continue reading Live Review : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2022 – Day 4By Wanda Hill
https://www.facebook.com/bluesfestbyronbay/
Well it’s not a dream, it is real and it’s happening again. After so long without festivals it doesn’t seem possible to see live music, five consecutive days in a row. Day three and everything is smooth. The parking and traffic situation has been sorted, the long queues are a thing of yesterday and everything just feels a bit more relaxed. Families are out with their kids, many having their first ever festival experience.
Continue reading Live Review : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2022 – Day 3