Bluesfest is thrilled to announce Australia’s most popular contemporary artist, the incredible Tash Sultana will close their main stage on Thursday March 29. She joins Gomez, The Original Blues Brothers Band, Leon Bridges, Jason Isbell, Rag ‘n’ Bone Manand many more in what is one of the most impressive opening days the festival has seen.
Continue reading Tash Sultana Adds Another Bluesfest Performance
Singer-songwriter JACKSON BROWNE has added a second and final Sydney show on Tuesday March 20 at the State Theatre.
Continue reading TOUR UPDATE: JACKSON BROWNE Second & Final Sydney Show Announced
Bluesfest is thrilled to announce that Ms. Lauryn Hill, one of the most influential artists in the history of R&B will play an exclusive set at their 2018 festival, on Easter Friday in Byron Bay.
Continue reading Ready or not…. Ms. Lauryn Hill joins the Bluesfest 2018 line up!
Bluesfest Touring, FBi Radio and RRR are proud to announce that Benjamin Booker will play Sydney and Melbourne around his highly anticipated Bluesfest appearances. Based in New Orleans Booker draws his influence from post-War electric Blues, and garage punk. In 2017 he released ‘Witness’ an album that he created in response to the racial tensions facing America in 2017. The title track features civil rights icon and Bluesfest favourite Mavis Staples and is an anthem which demands listeners to answer the question: “Am I going to be a Witness?” and in today’s world, “Is that enough?” Booker creates powerful music, that is as exhilarating and well-crafted as it is significant.
Continue reading Benjamin Booker announces Sydney and Melbourne Bluesfest sideshows
TEG LIVE is proud to announce two of the most successful female American singer/songwriters, Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge, will perform in a double headlining tour across Australia in 2018. Tickets on will go on sale 10.00am, Monday, 18 December through Ticketek. In a worldwide exclusive, this is the first time the two will tour together and share the stage in a powerhouse show that will showcase all the biggest hits from these two amazing women.
Continue reading Tour News : Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge Australian Tour – April 2018
Bluesfest Touring welcomes Gomez back to Australia for their first tour in 6 years and the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album ‘Bring It On’ that featured the hits “78 Stone Wobble” and “Get Myself Arrested”. With so much to celebrate their Perth, Sydney and Melbourne sideshows are not to be missed. The group stood apart from other bands in the Brit-Pop era in their attitude and sound. Typical of this was the comment from the panel of judges for the Mercury Music Prize who described the album as “an intriguing blend of swamp blues, bar-room rock and eerie power.”
Continue reading Gomez – Australian headline shows announced for 2018 (Bluesfest Touring)
BLUESFEST DELIVERS ANOTHER 16 WORLD CLASS ARTISTS FOR THEIR 2018 FESTIVAL
YOUSSOU N’DOUR
SEAL
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD
JACKSON BROWNE
JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT
GOMEZ
RAG ‘N’ BONE MAN
THE ORIGINAL BLUES BROTHERS BAND
JIMMY CLIFF
THE WAILERS
BENJAMIN BOOKER
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF
CANNED HEAT
WALTER TROUT
ANDRÉ CYMONE
THE TESKEY BROTHERS
Continue reading BLUESFEST DELIVERS ANOTHER 16 WORLD CLASS ARTISTS FOR THEIR 2018 FESTIVAL
All photos (except Patti Smith) – Photo credit : Ant Ritz
Patti Smith – Photo credit : Nathan David Kelly
Photographer: Ant Ritz
Continue reading Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2017 (Wrap up – Part 1)
Photographer: Peter Coates
Review by Peter Coates
The Pierce Brothers are an Aussie duo of brothers Jack and Pat Pierce, offering a set of guitar and percussion country-folk delivered with punch and self-deprecating humour. Both brothers have strong and soulful voices, and most of the songs have a strong beat and some rabble-rousing choruses – opener It’s My Fault and Only One as examples, which all combined to bring the crowd alive……”we’re totally professional……done venues like this 100 times…….at home!”
Continue reading Live Review : Zac Brown Band with support The Pierce Bros – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne – 19 April 2017
Photographer: Peter Coates
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe
Five consecutive days in the sunshine was a rare treat for Bluesfest regulars who have endured years of mud to listen to the incredible artists invited to perform at this world class festival. Day five felt very relaxed as the big crowds had thinned and lining up for a bite to eat or something to drink seemed almost instant in comparison to previous days. Weary stall holders still served customers with smiles and delicious concoctions but understandably they were looking forward to the event drawing to a close.
Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2017 – Day Five
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe + Ant Ritz
Everybody loves Santana. I hope the other bands with a 7.30pm time slot had an audience because it felt like the entire festival population was trying to get as close as possible to Carlos Santana and the incredible line up of singers and musicians on tour with him at the moment. It is amazing what we can put up with if the music is sooo brilliant that being pushed, crushed and having a variety of drinks spilled on you is all taken with good nature and shared understanding of I just need to be as close as possible to this magnificence.
Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2017 – Day Four
Review and photos by Peter Coates
Santana have made it over to Australia for Bluesfest, and have arranged an arena tour around their weekend headline show at the festival – and brought The Doobie Brothers along to open the night with a generally familiar set of songs – not all of the greatest hits, but a decent selection of them.
Continue reading Live Review : Santana + The Doobie Brothers at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney – 13 April 2017
Review by Wanda Hill
Photos by Stuart Blythe + Ant Ritz
One of the great things about Bluesfest is that the musicians who travel a long way from around the globe to get here have a brilliant time and enjoy the opportunity to see acts they have never seen, and to meet and collaborate with artists that inspire them. Backstage they are treated to unique Byron/Bluesfest hospitality and have a chance to learn about Australia’s Indigenous peoples through magnificent artworks placed throughout the greenroom. Being such a friendly festival it is not unusual to see guest artists out in the crowd enjoying the atmosphere.
Continue reading Live Review + Photo Gallery : Bluesfest Byron Bay 2017 – Day Three
