Bluesfest

“[D’Angelo’s debut album] Brown Sugar changed my life in ways I never thought possible”, said Dallas Green as City and Colour took the Mojo stage through a fan-pleasing set on Good Friday, hyping up the Saturday headline slot from the neo-soul pioneer even more. This resulted in D’Angelo’s scheduled two-hour performance being delivered to a…

The energy was different in the air for Day Two of the 27th annual Bluesfest; compared to the festival’s first night, the crowd was much more relaxed, more in-line with a traditional Bluesfest audience, arguably because those who were only there to see Kendrick Lamar on the Thursday hadn’t returned for more. That or everyone…

The epic five-day music adventure that is Bluesfest began in a big way this year, welcoming punters both new and old onto the spacious Tyagarah Tea Farm for the festival’s 27th year, boasting one of it’s most diverse programs to date. Compton emcee Kendrick Lamar was the Thursday headliner and all eyes were on him…

My ideal D’Angelo concert would be about four or five hours long; he would perform every single song he has ever recorded, all full versions, he would bring out Erykah Badu for their stunning cover of “Your Precious Love”, The Roots for the OG “Break You Off”, “The ‘Notic” and “Geto Heaven” with Common on…

Since speaking to Cold War Kids before their Falls Festival set in late 2014, they’ve copped their first number one single in “First”, dropped EP Five Quick Cuts and heavily toured the international festival circuit. Now with their return to Australia for Bluesfest and accompanying sideshows nigh, we spoke to lead man Nathan Willett about…

Every year, Easter in Australia means one thing for music fans: Bluesfest. The annual Byron Bay festival bringing some of the finest acts from around Australia and the world to the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm just outside of Byron – and this year the lineup is without question their finest in years. From the contemporary…

The 27th Bluesfest Byron Bay has gotten bigger… again! Held over Easter (Thursday 24th March – Monday 28th March 2016), the festival has released another lineup chock full of artists that give precedence to its name: they are here to help represent the Blues! Added to the line-up is The “Original” Blues Brothers Band, Don…

As if the line-up for the 27th Bluesfest Byron Bay wasn’t big enough, today the promoters have announced that joining headliners Kendrick Lamar, Brian Wilson, and Tom Jones will be none other than neo-soul icon D’Angelo, who will be in full-band mode with supergroup The Vanguard. Oh, and he’s playing on the same night as…

The last time Australia saw Kendrick Lamar, the irrepressible Compton emcee was playing stadiums across the country in support of Eminem at Rapture Festival. This time, the To Pimp a Butterfly genius will be headlining arenas on a two-show (so far) tour in addition to a headline slot at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016. Little needs…

Following the news that he’ll be returning to our shores next year for Bluesfest, we had a chat with Frank Turner about touring Australia, Tape Deck Heart, and his upcoming new record. You’re in the midst of a UK tour at the moment, how is that going? It’s going great thanks, yeah. It’s funny, obviously…

Ahead of his appearance at Byron Bay Bluesfest in April and a short promotional tour we caught up with award-winning and Mercury Prize nominated English Folk musician Seth Lakeman to have a chat about his latest album Word of Mouth, his experiences touring Australia, and his involvement in the award-winning collaborative project The Full English….

Ahead of their upcoming tour of Australia as part of Bluesfest, we caught up with Wilco’s long term bassist John Stirratt to discuss the bands most recent album The Whole Love, as well as the secret to the bands longevity, the weather and whether or not work has begun on a follow up. I suppose a…