It’s the 30th anniversary of Bluesfest in 2019.
That’s 30 years of bringing the people of Australia some of the most impressive and fascinating line-ups of any event anywhere in the world.
At what other festival could you see blues greats like James Cotton, RL Burnside or even BB King, alongside cutting-edge artists like Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu and Tash Sultana?
Who else can boast to have hosted punk legends like Patti Smith, Iggy Pop and The Pogues, as well as country legends like Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Keith Urban?
Bluesfest is a special event. A place for people who are serious about music.
To celebrate their massive 30th anniversary, we’re jumping in the van and heading to Bluesfest again in 2019 to bring you all the best action from the festival, whether you’re able to be there or not.
On Friday and Saturday at the festival, our very own Zan Rowe and ABC Radio’s Bern Young will be in conversation with some of the best artists on the bill. You’ll be able to catch intimate conversations with the likes of Jack Johnson, Lukas Nelson, Fantastic Negrito, Caiti Baker, The War & Treaty and more.
If you’re at the festival, drop by the Juke Joint stage to get up close with these amazing artists – from 5pm on Friday and 5.30pm on Saturday. If you’re not, don’t sweat it. We’re putting together our Best of Bluesfest special, which you can hear on Double J from 10am on Sunday 21 April. It’ll also be on ABC Local at the same time around the country, except Western Australia.
Our amazing live music team are jumping in the van as well and will be capturing sets from some of the most exciting artists on the bill, which we will share with you through Live At The Wireless and across Double J after the festival is through.
Forgotten who’s on the bill? Here it is!
The Saboteurs, Iggy Pop, Paul Kelly, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Tash Sultana, Kasey Chambers, Norah Jones, Hozier, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Mavis Staples, Six60, Ocean Alley, Julia Stone, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Meshell Ndegeocello, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Baker Boy, Archie Roach, Yothu Yindi & The Treaty Project, Imelda May, David Gray, Tex Perkins, Gary Clark Jr., Ray LaMontagne, Shakey Graves, Snarky Puppy, Flogging Molly, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Ruthie Foster, St Paul & The Broken Bones, Nahko And Medicine For The People, Tommy Emmanuel, Colin Hay, Arlo Guthrie, Keb' Mo', Allen Stone, Richard Clapton, Russell Morris, Vintage Trouble, The Black Sorrows, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Archie Roach, Fantastic Negrito, Backsliders, Pierce Brothers, The California Honeydrops, Trevor Hall, I'm With Her, Larkin Poe, Irish Mythen, Elephant Sessions, Anderson East, Samantha Fish, Playing for Change, Clarence Bekker Band, The War And Treaty, Mojo Juju, Caiti Baker, The Marcus King Band, Thando, Amaru Tribe, Little Georgia, Benny Walker, Dallas Woods, Deva Mahal, Melody Angel, Hussy Hicks, Dobby, Mission Songs, Brotherhood Of The Blues, Ward Thomas, Glenn Cardier and The Sideshow, Malu Kiai Mura Buai, Rako, Miss Velvet and the Blue Wolf, Māmā Mihirangi & the Māreikura, Lucy Gallant, Sametime, Nocturnal SyndromeTenzin Choegyal, Muggera, Te Kopere Maori Healers, Bundjalung Weavers, Saltwater Dubay and Rockwiz Live
Bluesfest happens at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm from Thursday 18 to Monday 22 April. Tickets are on sale now.