Australia’s premier festival, Bluesfest Byron Bay has unveiled an incredible, and diverse lineup of artists in their first artist announcement, with over 40 acts named to appear at the 34th iteration of this classic event which will be held across Easter 2023.
Buddy Guy (in his final tour of Australia), Elvis Costello & The Imposters, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Beth Hart and Mavis Staples head an impressive international contingent in a return to the days of pre-Covid scheduling.
Festival director, Peter Noble, has stated that there will be a special focus on guitar slingers who play the blues, as well as Americana artists… and the naming of Marcus King, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, Chain (Phil Manning), Larkin Poe, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Steve Earle & The Dukes and Lucinda Williams sees the beginning of this promise.
Other festival favourites, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Nikki Hill, Cat Empire, Rockwiz Live, Xavier Rudd, 19-Twenty and Greensky Bluegrass will ensure the party atmosphere is kept pumping throughout the full 5 days, while contemporary artists such as Gang of Youths, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Tash Sultana, Big Freedia, Talib Kweli, GZA, The Soul Rebels and Robert Glasper should provide plenty of entertainment (and possibly some collaborations) for the younger generation of festival goers.
2016 surprise packet, Kaleo, make their long-awaited return, and will compliment The Black Sorrows, Jon Stevens, LP, Keb Mo, Femi Kuti, Lachy Doley & The Horns of Conviction, Southern Avenue and Spinifex Gum.
…..and there are a couple of surprises for festival-goers, with Joe Camilleri presenting a star-studded tribute to the greats of the blues, while Jimmy Barnes will be bringing a brand new band which will be making their world premiere performance at Bluesfest 2023!
Following on from the cancelled 2020 & 2021 events and the predominantly Australian-led 2022 festival, and with more artist announcements to come, the 2023 extravaganza is promising to be one of the finest yet.
Tickets for Bluesfest 2023 are available via Moshtix here.
