Bluesfest has dropped the first line-up for its 36th and final festival. Crowded House will headline the event, with their classic hit Don’t Dream It’s Over no doubt set to be hailed as a bittersweet moment among festival goers following news the iconic event will be axed after its 36th year. The band, formed in Melbourne, previously rocked the 2022 Bluesfest, and released a brand new album, Gravity Stairs, in May.
Vance Joy, whose hit Riptide released more than 10 years ago continues to chart in the ARIAs, is also set to take to the Bluesfest stage. The two acts will be joined by indie rock band Ocean Alley following their first Bluesfest performance in 2019, while Tones and I will also hit the stage. The Aussie singer-songwriter (whose full name is Toni Watson) is set to perform at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion and Newcastle’s Entertainment Centre later this week.
The Bluesfest line-up also features a string of other Aussie talents including RY X, Brad Cox, Pierce Brothers, Fanny Lumsden, 19-Twenty, WILSN, and Taj Farrant, a 15-year-old blues guitarist who played Bluesfest last year and most recently performed at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Farrant was reportedly one of two artists who were most requested to return to Bluesfest following the 2024 festival, along with eight-piece funk rock band Here Come The Mummies. Both acts will play exclusively at the festival along with The California Honeydrops, Cimafunk and Neal Francis.
Gary Clark Jr, Rag’n’Bone Man, Allison Rus.