Is it just us or does Byron Bay have more than their fair share of amazing festival action going on? All the more reason to keep heading back, and we’ll definitely be catching you there for Byron Bay Bluesfest 2014, as well as taking in all of the sweet sideshows being announced.
With acts like Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, and Elvis Costello, this is set to be the biggest Bluesfest yet. Music Feeds readers can stay up to date with all of the latest Bluesfest 2014 news at our special Feed right here, and all of the action surrounding Bluesfest sideshows right here.
Booker T. Jones and Valerie June Tour Dates
He’s been held responsible for setting the cast for modern soul – no biggie, right? The legendary Booker T. Jones produced Bill Withers‘ classic album Just As I Am, recorded with Sam and Dave, Bob Dylan and Neil Young, and is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Now the soul mastermind is bringing his tenth album, Sound The Alarm to two very special headlining shows.
Jones will be joined by up-and-coming Tennessee songstress Valerie June, who’s been attracting attention with her new album Pushin’ Against A Stone, which features collaborations with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and of course, Booker T. Jones.
Friday, 25th April
The Corner, Melbourne
Tix: Bluesfest Touring
Saturday, 26th April
The Factory, Sydney
Tix: Bluesfest Touring
Suzanne Vega And Seth Lakeman Tour Dates
Suzanne Vega needs no introduction – the singer-songwriter behind classics like Luka, Tom’s Diner and Marlene On The Wall has been rocking the contemporary folk revival since the early ’80s and has a new album slated for release next February.
Seth Lakeman is not just a talented folk singer-songwriter but a virtuoso fiddler too, with the Devon-born musician heading to Australia off the back of his seventh album, Word Of Mouth, also set for a February 2014 release. He’ll be joining Suzanne Vega at her Sydney show only.
UPDATE 04/12/13: Vega has announced a new show in Brisbane, meaning lucky Queenslanders now get two headlining dates.
Friday, 11th April
Astor Theatre, Perth
Tix: Show Ticketing
Sunday, 13th April
Cairns Civic Theatre, Cairns
Tix: Ticket Link
Monday, 14th April
Powerhouse, Brisbane –
Tix: Via Brisbane Powerhouse
w/ Seth Lakeman
Saturday, 19th April
Recital Centre, Melbourne
Tix: Recital Centre
Sunday, 20th April
The Factory, Sydney (with Seth Lakeman)
Tix: Factory Theatre
North Mississippi Allstars Tour Dates
There’s something pretty special going on with modern Mississippi country blues right now and Luther and Cody Dickinson are heading back Down Under to show us exactly why, with the brotherly act touring their aptly-named seventh full-length studio effort, World Boogie Is Coming.
They’ve won the affections of John Butler, toured extensively with Led Zeppelin‘s Robert Plant and hit the road with Ian Siegal as part of The Mississippi Mudbloodshave, exploring the traditions of blues while simultaneously managing to break new ground in country music.
Sunday, 20th April
The Corner, Melbourne
Tix: Bluesfest Touring
Tuesday, 22nd April
The Basement, Sydney
Tix: Bluesfest Touring
Robben Ford and Walter Trout Tour Dates
Guitar legend Robben Ford is a five time Grammy nominee that any blues aficionado will be itching to catch in the flesh. Ford taught himself to play the guitar at age 13 and has gone on to have an illustrious career, performing with the likes of Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis and George Harrison.
Walter Trout has released 22 studio albums and racked up an array of awards, including being named the world’s greatest rock guitarist in legendary DJ Bob Harris’s autobiography The Whispering Years, and now the master of blues guitar is finally bringing his show Down Under to show us what we’ve been missing.
Thursday, 17th April
The Factory, Sydney
Tix: Bluesfest Touring
Friday, 18th April
The Corner, Melbourne
Tix: Bluesfest Touring
The Soul Rebels Tour Dates
A New Orleans style brass marching band interpretation of the kind of songs you hear on pop radio? That’s exactly what percussionists Derrick Moss and Lumar LeBlanc do with their eight piece band as The Soul Rebels, and now they’re bringing their unique combination of groove and musicianship to Sydney and Melbourne for a pair of headlining shows.
Tuesday, 15th April
Recital Centre, Melbourne
Tix: Recital Centre
Wednesday, 16th April
The Basement, Sydney
Tix: Bluesfest Touring
