The already ginormous lineup for Bluesfest 2024 has blown up with the addition of twelve new acts, topped by Ben Harper and his band The Innocent Criminals playing a Bluesfest-exclusive set, and supergroup Infectious Grooves featuring recently-ousted Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg on drums, alongside Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Suicidal Tendencies members Mike Muirm and Dean Pleasants, together with Velvet Revolver guitarist Dave Kushner.
The fresh crop of acts also include Australian folk heroes The Waifs, LA hard rock rising stars Dirty Honey coming down under for the very first time, Georgian-British singer-songwriter Katie Melua on her first Australian tour in 20 years, and more.
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – ‘Call It What It Is’
“It’s our 35th birthday coming at Bluesfest, and it’s gonna be hot! ” Bluesfest boss Peter Noble OAM said in a press statement.
“Not only is Bluesfest the most highly awarded festival in Australia, but it is also the only Australian festival to be nominated 9 times in the ‘Best International Music Festival’ category, Pollstar Awards (USA). Bluesfest is Australia’s most awarded music festival and has been recognised as one of the TOP 10 Festivals of the Decade worldwide by industry bible Pollstar in 2021.”
He continued: “For those of you who don’t already know, Bluesfest is not just a Blues music festival. Yes, it has Blues at its heart, but a little like the Woodford Folk Festival, it stretches the genre into (anything that fits).”
The latest bundle of acts joins the likes of Jack Johnson (exclusive to Bluesfest), Tom Jones, The Teskey Brothers, Matt Corby, L.A.B, Elvis Costello & The Imposters and Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos on the 2024 Bluesfest lineup, as well as Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Cruel Sea, Tim Finn, Taj Mahal (exclusive to Bluesfest), Ian Moss, Rickie Lee Jones and more.
Bluesfest 2024 will be taking place at the usual spot this year, Byron Bay’s Events Farm in Tyagarah, running from Thursday, 28th March to Monday, 1st April.
More artist announcements are likely, but for now, you can peep the full 2024 lineup so far down below.
Bluesfest 2024
- Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
- Infectious Grooves’
- Katie Melua
- The Waifs
- Brad Cox
- Yirrimal
- Dirty Honey
- Jerome Williams
- Ben Swissa
- eMDee
- Perry Street Park
- Da Manager
Joining…
- Portugal. The Man
- Ziggy Alberts
- Snarky Puppy
- The Blind Boys of Alabama
- Meshell Ndegeocello
- Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers
- The Turner Brown Band
- Pierce Brothers
- Velvet Trip
- ROSHANI
- Sweet Talk
Joining…
- Tedeschi Trucks Band
- The Cruel Sea
- Tim Finn
- Taj Mahal (Exclusive)
- Ian Moss
- Rickie Lee Jones
- Dan Sultan
- The Whitlams Black Stump Band
- Coterie
- Playing For Change
- Lisa Hunt’s ‘Forever Soul’
- Wilsn
- Caravãna Sun
- Women of Soul Collective
- Jackie Venson (Exclusive)
Joining…
- Jack Johnson (Exclusive)
- Tom Jones
- The Teskey Brothers
- Matt Corby
- L.A.B
- Elvis Costello & The Imposters
- Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos
- Tommy Emmanuel
- The Dead South
- The Paper Kites
- Drive-by Truckers
- Newton Faulkner
- Steve Poltz
- 19-Twenty
- Taj Farrant
- Erja Lyytinen
- Harry Manx
- Here Come The Mummies
- Clayton Doley’s Bayou Billabong
- Little Quirks
- Hussy Hicks
- Blues Arcadia
- RocKwiz Live
Dates & Venue
- Thursday, 28th March to Monday, 1st April – Byron Events Farm, Tyagarah NSW
Tickets on sale now
Further Reading
Bluesfest Sideshows 2024: Snarky Puppy, Meshell Ndegeocello, The Blind Boys Of Alabama
Bluesfest Adds More Artists to 2024 Lineup: Portugal. The Man, Ziggy Alberts, Snarky Puppy + More
PJ Morton, The Allman Betts Band Announce 2024 Australian Tours