David Harris
Updated: Oct 16, 2019
Byron Bay, 16 Oct 2019: The wait is over! Following our best first announcement ever including Dave Matthews Band, Crowded House, Patti Smith and Her Band and so many more, we are exhilarated to now reveal more incredible artists to join us for the 31st chapter of Bluesfest Byron Bay this Easter. Just added:
LENNY KRAVITZ
JIMMIE VAUGHAN (exclusive)
THE WATERBOYS (exclusive)
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL
ANI DIFRANCO
AMADOU & MARIAM
THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND
ZUCCHERO (exclusive)
CORY HENRY & THE FUNK APOSTLES
YOLA
TAL WILKENFELD
JOACHIM COODER (exclusive)
STEVE ‘N’ SEAGULLS (exclusive)
Commenting on the announcement, Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM said “As the Bluesfest lineup is organically building, I am delighted to welcome Lenny Kravitz as a headliner. Lenny has often been described as ‘the last of the great rock stars’ and anyone who has seen him live will know why! I am thrilled to welcome him to Bluesfest 2020, dreams do come true!
With this announcement, we have scored some fantastic exclusive performances from Jimmie Vaughan, The Waterboys, Ry Cooder’s son - Joachim Cooder and all the way from the North Pole – Steve ‘n’ Seagulls! There just isn’t any other band quite like them. When you live that remotely, you need to do something serious to get your message out and boy have they ever!
We love guitar at Bluesfest. This year is fast becoming the year of the guitar! With Jimmie Vaughan and The Allman Betts Band added to the previously announced George Benson, Marcus King Band, Larkin Poe, John Butler, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, Walter Trout, Carolyn Wonderland playing with John Mayall and Dave Matthews Band – Bluesfest 2020 is going to be guitar heaven! And, let’s not forget the bass players! Aussie wunderkind Tal Wilkenfeld has been the anchor for some of the greatest guitar players to tread the boards including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Prince and Herbie Hancock who all hired her for her bass skills. Now it’s our turn to hear our home girl’s many talents. We’ve so many artists making their Bluesfest debut in 2020 in this announcement alone! Tal Wilkenfeld, Joachim Cooder, Ani DiFranco, The Allman Betts Band, Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles and Yola, to name just a few. It’s SO exciting! Now we are getting the build-up. With many more announcements to come, I’ve plenty of surprises up my sleeve! Bluesfest 2020 is going to be the best yet! Oh and did we say, Crowded House exclusive, they’re playing their first Australian show in five years!”
The Bluesfest 2020 First Artist Lineup:
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
CROWDED HOUSE (exclusive Australian performance)
PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND
GEORGE BENSON
BRANDI CARLILE
JOHN BUTLER
XAVIER RUDD
THE CAT EMPIRE
MORCHEEBA
JOHN PRINE
JENNY LEWIS
FRANK TURNER
JOHN MAYALL
BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE
THE MARCUS KING BAND
WALTER TROUT
CHRISTONE "KINGFISH" INGRAM (exclusive)
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS
LARKIN POE
THE WAR & TREATY
For further information on the lineup or artists please see here.
Bluesfest 2020 is being held from 9 – 13 April 2020. Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix.