21 Aug 2024

Byron Bay Bluesfest 36th and Final Festival 2025: First Artist Announcement

Bluesfest Byron Bay, Australia’s iconic as well as most highly awarded music festival ever, is excited to announce the first wave of artists who will perform at the final Bluesfest in 2025. With the second announcement already in the works.

This lineup is bound to continue being stacked with some of Australia’s and the world’s best talent.

As Australia’s premier and most awarded music festival, we see it as our pleasure to showcase some of the country’s finest talent, and we are delivering in absolute spades with our four headline artists in this announcement. As we prepare to close this legendary chapter, we are bringing together an extraordinary lineup of artists in what we believe is at the core a REAL Bluesfest lineup, showcasing the best of Blues, Roots music, and Beyond. We’re going all out with a lineup that reflects the spirit of what Bluesfest has always been about: world-class music, unforgettable performances, and a community that loves and supports live music.

Leading this extraordinary lineup, we’re thrilled to welcome back Crowded House. Neil Finn and his bandmates are nothing short of legends in the worldwide music scene, known for timeless hits like "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Weather With You." Crowded House has played at Bluesfest before, delivering some of the most memorable performances in our history. Their recent album, Gravity Stairs, debuted on the Australian albums charts at No. 1, and their live shows continue to draw massive crowds. We can’t wait to see them take the stage at the final Bluesfest.

One of Australia’s biggest stars, Vance Joy, returns to Australia to join Bluesfest for the first time after captivating audiences worldwide since his breakout hit "Riptide." With over 5 billion streams and hits like "Mess is Mine" and "Lay It On Me," Vance Joy has established himself as one of Australia’s most beloved singer-songwriters. We’re honoured to have him for the final festival.

Ocean Alley is another incredible Australian band that has taken the world by storm. Known for their smooth grooves and psychedelic rock sound, they’ve become a staple in the music scene with hits like "Confidence," which has gone 6x Platinum. They first played Bluesfest in 2019, and boy have they grown in stature since then, becoming one of Australia’s biggest bands both at home and around the world. Their live performances are simply unforgettable, and we're excited to see them return to our stage.

Breaking through as a busker (including the Bluesfest Busking Competition) and now a global sensation selling out stadiums around Australia, Tones and I has rewritten the rules of pop music with her hit "Dance Monkey," which became the most streamed song of all time by an Australian female artist and has over 12 billion streams. This will be her debut on the Bluesfest main stage, and she has promised to put on the show of the year—we cannot wait! She was recently special guest on Pink’s record breaking tour, the highest grossing tour of 2024 and is now selling arenas.

And then there's Gary Clark Jr.— a modern-day Bluesman whose extraordinary talent has transcended genres, blending his roots in Blues with Rock, Soul, and even Hip-hop.  While his searing guitar work and soulful voice have earned him multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance. Gary last played Bluesfest in 2019, delivering one of the most powerful sets we’ve ever seen. His ability to blend Blues, rock, and soul makes him a standout artist of our time, and we're ecstatic to have him return to Bluesfest.

We also have UK Neo-Blues soul superstar Rag’n’Bone Man, known for his hit "Human," which became a global anthem; Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, the young Blues sensation who’s already won a Grammy; and RY X, a native of North Coast NSW who grew up on Woodford Island and is now an international star selling out venues like Royal Albert Hall, whose deeply emotional performances have earned him global acclaim.

Joining them are Allison Russell, the Grammy-winning storyteller whose powerful music has captivated audiences worldwide; Brad Cox, one of Australia’s most celebrated country artists, known for his chart-topping albums and electrifying live shows.

After being inundated with requests, we’re thrilled to welcome back the two most requested artists to return from  from their 2024 Bluesfest performances. Here Come The Mummies, the high-energy eight-piece funk-rock band. Taj Farrant, the 15-year-old guitar prodigy who took Bluesfest by storm last year, returns as well. His incredible talent has made him a rising star in the music world. 19-Twenty also returns after their electrifying performances in 2024 left fans wanting more. Not forgetting Pierce Brothers and WILSN, who were both standout performers at this year’s festival.

Marc Broussard, whose powerful vocals and soulful performances have captivated fans worldwide, is set to bring his unique blend of rock, Blues, and R&B to the Bluesfest stage. Cimafunk, the Cuban sensation blending funk, soul, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, is making his Bluesfest debut, while The California Honeydrops will deliver their infectious retro-soul and spontaneous live energy to the festival.

Fanny Lumsden, one of Australia’s most esteemed country artists, known for her ARIA Award-winning albums and energetic live shows, will also grace the stage, bringing her distinct storytelling and vibrant performances to the final Bluesfest. Neal Francis, whose intoxicating blend of funk, soul, and rock has solidified his status as a modern soul icon.

This is just the beginning of an absolutely stacked lineup. We’re announcing these incredible artists today, but there’s so much more to come, as we are already finalising our second artist announcement. Join us for the final Bluesfest—this is going to be a festival that will be remembered for decades to come.

Bluesfest is supported proudly by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

About Bluesfest Byron Bay

Bluesfest Byron Bay has been Australia’s premier contemporary Blues, Roots, and Beyond music festival since 1990. What started as a humble celebration of Blues & Roots music has grown into one of the most significant music festivals in the world. Of our many awards being recognized in the top 10 music festivals of the world from Pollstar, demonstrates the significance of this festival not just locally but around the world.

Over the years, the festival has hosted an incredible array of iconic artists, including Blues legends like BB King and Buddy Guy, music legends such as Santana, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Mavis Staples, Paul Simon, Bonnie Rait and Robert Plant, and contemporary greats like Dave Matthews Band, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, John Mayer, Mary J Blige, and Kendrick Lamar, who made his first festival appearance in Australia at Bluesfest. Let’s not forget the amazing Australian artists that have played such as Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, Kasey Chambers and Crowded House and so many more.

The final Bluesfest will be a four-day event, offering a power-packed experience that will close the curtain on this legendary institution. Held over the Easter long weekend from April 17 to 20, 2025, at the beautiful 300-acre Byron Events Farm, just 11km north of Byron Bay, the festival will continue to uphold its commitment to quality, featuring multiple stages and a diverse lineup that spans the best in Blues, Roots Music, and Beyond.

This final edition is not just the end of an era; it’s a celebration of everything that Bluesfest has stood for over the past 35 plus years – music, community, and unforgettable experiences.

Recognised globally for its excellence, Bluesfest has earned numerous accolades, making it the most awarded music festival in the Australian entertainment industry.

Awards include:

• 1 WIN at the Keeping the Blues Alive Award Memphis for Bluesfest Director Peter Noble
• 9 WINS at the NSW Tourism Awards for Major Festivals and Events - (6 Gold, 3 Silver)
• Induction into the NSW Tourism Awards Hall of Fame in 2019 for three wins a row.
• 8 WINS at the North Coast Tourism Awards for Major Festivals & Events  
• 4 WINS at the Helpmann Awards for Best Contemporary Music Festival (Ceremony for Australia's most talented and celebrated performers and industry)
• 1 WIN at the Helpmann Awards for Best International Contemporary Concert
• 8 WINS at the Australian Event Awards for  Best Cultural & Music and Event of The Year
• 6 NOMINATIONS for NSW for Major Festivals & Events at the Australian Tourism Awards (2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 10 NOMINATIONS at the Pollstar Awards (USA) for International Festival of the Year  (No other Australian Festival nominated in this or last decade)
• 1 WIN at the Pollstar Awards (USA) for International Festival of the Decade with a top 10 finish in 2021.
• 1 WIN at the first Variety Awards for Festival of the Year

Contact Information

Peter Noble will be available for interviews

Bluesfest Publicist - Gaynor Crawford
Mob: +61 409 250 510
Email: gaynor@gaynorcrawford.com
Bluesfest 2024 Photo Gallery
Approved Artist Images