Category Archives: Bluesfest

Live Review: Byron Bay Bluesfest 2025 – Day 3 and 4

Review by Wanda Hill

Miss Kaninna

Shake up your juju, power up your mojo, get your stars aligned and come for the ride that is Bluesfest 2025. Saturday and Sunday were full tilt jammed up with people loving the weekend offerings. What a way to spend a precious few days of holiday being surrounded by artists who have found their voice, internal fire and instruments of choice with which to share their insights for all to be grooved and enlightened by. Thousands came to have their hearts soothed, vibes raised, joints loosened and greased by this musical manna for the body and soul.

Continue reading Live Review: Byron Bay Bluesfest 2025 – Day 3 and 4

Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2025 – Sunday 20 April 2025

Photography by Ant Ritz Photography

Featuring 19-Twenty, Allison Russell, Bill Chambers, BJ The Chicago Kid, Chaka Khan, Cimafunk, Hussy Hicks, John Butler, Kasey Chambers, Kim Churchill, Missy Higgins, Miss Kaninna, Neal Francis, Rag’n’Bone Man, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Roshani, WILSN

https://www.bluesfest.com.au/

Allison Russell
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2025 – Sunday 20 April 2025

Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2025 – Saturday 19 April 2025

Photography by Ant Ritz

Featuring Allison Russell, BJ The Chicago Kid, C.W. Stoneking, Clarence Bekker, Gary Clark Jr., Marc Broussard, Melody Angel, RY X, The Cat Empire, The Memphis Three – Fiona Boyes, The Memphis Three – Frank Sultana, The Memphis Three – Jimi Hocking, Vance Joy, WILSN, Xavier Rudd

https://www.bluesfest.com.au/

C.W. Stoneking
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2025 – Saturday 19 April 2025

Photo Gallery: Byron Bay Bluesfest 2025 – Friday 18 April 2025

Photography by Ant Ritz

Featuring Ash Grunwald, Brad Cox, Budjerah, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Christopher Cross, Fanny Lumsden, Gary Clark Jr., George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Maoli, Marc Broussard, Melody Angel, Taj Farrant, The Beards, Pierce Brothers, Tom Morello, Toto

https://www.bluesfest.com.au/

Fanny Lumsden
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Byron Bay Bluesfest 2025 – Friday 18 April 2025

Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 5

Photos by Ant Ritz Photography/Rock Shots

featuring Beth Hart – Bonnie Raitt – Coterie – The Cat Empire – Nikki Hill – Trombone Shorty – Michael Franti and Spearhead

Bonnie Raitt at Bluesfest – 10th April 2023
Beth Hart at Bluesfest – 10th April 2023
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 5

Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 4 & 5

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 & 5

Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 4

Photos 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

Yirrmal at Bluesfest – 9th April 2023
Tash Sultana at Bluesfest – 9th April 2023
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 4

Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 3

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 3

Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 3

Photos 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

Buddy Guy at Bluesfest – Sat 8th April 2023
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 3

Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 2

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 2

Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 2

Photos 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

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram at Bluesfest Byron Bay – 7th April 2023
Continue reading Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 2

Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 1

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 1

Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 1

Photos 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

Eric Gales at Bluesfest Byron Bay – 6th April 2023

Read our Live Review: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 1

Continue reading Photo Gallery: Bluesfest Byron Bay 2023 – Day 1

BLUESFEST 2023: THIRD ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT BECK (acoustic)!!

Eight-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.

www.bluesfest.com.au

Continue reading BLUESFEST 2023: THIRD ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT BECK (acoustic)!!

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats With St Paul & The Broken Bones – Australian Tour Dates – 2023

It took Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats less than five years to become one of the most recognizable new forces in contemporary rock ‘n’ roll. Since 2015, Rateliff has led his denim-clad, horn-flanked Night Sweats, supplying the zeal of a whiskey-chugging Pentecostal preacher to songs about this world’s shared woes.

Continue reading Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats With St Paul & The Broken Bones – Australian Tour Dates – 2023