Byron Bay Bluesfest has made its first artist announcement for the 36th and final festival, which is happening over Easter 2025.
The first 20 artists to be announced are: Crowded House, Vance Joy, Ocean Alley, Tones and I, Gary Clark Jr, Rag’n’Bone Man, RY X, Allison Russell, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram,
Brad Cox, Here Come The Mummies (exclusive), The California Honeydrops (exclusive), Marc Broussard, Pierce Brothers, Taj Farrant (exclusive), Fanny Lumsden, 19-Twenty, WILSN, Cimafunk (exclusive), Neal Francis (exclusive).
Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM, said, ‘As we prepare for the final chapter of Bluesfest in 2025, I am profoundly moved by the outpouring of support from thousands in our community, along with the many artists and their management eager to be part of our farewell edition. Thank you all for your heartfelt messages and expressions of solidarity.
‘We’re thrilled to unveil the first wave of artists for our grand finale,’ said Mr Noble.
‘This lineup, meticulously curated to honour Bluesfest’s rich legacy, features a dynamic mix of legendary and cutting-edge performers. This announcement marks just the beginning.
‘Our second lineup is well and truly in the works and the reveal is on the horizon, promising to further enhance what is set to be an epic farewell.
‘Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Let’s make the final Bluesfest one for the ages!’
Artists
Bluesfest says it’s thrilled to welcome back Crowded House. Neil Finn and his bandmates are known for timeless hits like ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ and ‘Weather With You’. Their recent album, Gravity Stairs, debuted on the Australian albums charts at No. 1, and their live shows continue to draw large crowds.
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. Bluesfest says it’s honoured to have him for the final festival.
Ocean Alley is another 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.
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’s promised to put on the show of the year.
Gary Clark Jr. is 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.
Bluesfest 2025 will also feature 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 many requests, festival organisers say they’re thrilled to welcome back two very popular artists from Bluesfest 2024.
Here Come The Mummies, the high-energy eight-piece funk-rock band, and Taj Farrant, the 15-year-old guitar prodigy who took Bluesfest by storm last year. 19-Twenty also returns after their electrifying performances in 2024, along with Pierce Brothers and WILSN, who were both standout performers in 2024.
Marc Broussard 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 Honeydropswill 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 bring her distinct storytelling and vibrant performances to the final Bluesfest, along with Neal Francis, whose intoxicating blend of funk, soul, and rock has solidified his status as a modern soul icon.
More artists will be announced soon.
The final Bluesfest will be held at Tyagarah between 17-20 April 2025.
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