Comprising both contemporary talents and seasoned Aussie music veterans, the announcement sees the likes of Tash Sultana, Kev Carmody, Ian Moss, Hiatus Kaiyote, Russell Morris, Briggs, Kim Churchill, Mama Kin Spender, All Our Exes Live In Texas and Ziggy Alberts join the lineup, which already features Bon Iver, Jimmy Barnes, Patti Smith and George Benson.
Perhaps of note, Tash Sultana has announced that Byron Bay Bluesfest will be their only East Coast festival show for 2021, and will also mark the debut of a new live-set that sees the multi-talented looping dynamo joined onstage with a band for the first time.
“I’ve got to a point where the music I’ve written is beyond the capabilities of looping so I’ve decided to get a backing band to play the written parts live and I’m looking forward to performing them at Bluesfest next Easter,” Tash said in a statement circulated today.
The festival has also revealed that Ian Moss will be taking the stage directly before Jimmy Barnes’ headline set, surely promising for the legendary duo to link up and treat Bluesfest punters to a bit of Chisel magic.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Bluesfest Director Peter Noble OAM has also announced that it’s likely the 2021 festival will run at a limited capacity in outdoor environments in order to fit COVID-19 health regulations.
“There’s a number of all Australian line up announcements to come that includes ‘real’ headliners, Indigenous artists and Blues n Roots artists,” Noble said.
“We are setting ourselves up to put on another great Bluesfest albeit in a brand new way, There will be challenges, and we expect to be presenting a festival with a lower capacity and potentially outdoors in order to have a safe event. It is sad for us to see that a number of festivals will not go ahead.
“However, we are working with Government to present a safe event and be part of the return of ‘live’ music in this country. Whilst it is disheartening to hear that Woodford and Port Fairy Folk Festivals feel that the challenge of presenting is something they don’t want to take on right now, and which is totally understandable, it doesn’t mean that events cannot return, and I believe it is important for Bluesfest to be a part of that return and to help lead the way.”
You can check out the the Bluesfest 2021 lineup as it stands below, and grab your tickets here.
BYRON BAY BLUESFEST 2021
1 – 5 April 2021, Byron Bay
BON IVER | TASH SULTANA | JIMMY BARNES
GEORGE BENSON | PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND
ZIGGY ALBERTS| THE TESKEY BROTHERS
JOHN BUTLER | XAVIER RUDD | THE CAT EMPIRE
KEV CARMODY | TROY CASSAR-DALEY | BRIGGS
IAN MOSS | RUSSELL MORRIS
KOOL & THE GANG | THE GIPSY KINGS
KASEY CHAMBERS | THE WAIFS | HIATUS KAIYOTE
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD
WEDDINGS PARTIES ANYTHING | NATHAN CAVALERI
LP | MORCHEEBA | THE BLACK SORROWS
MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA | CHAIN | BACKSLIDERS
TORI KELLY | BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE
THE WAILERS PERFORM SONGS FROM ‘LEGEND’
JIMMIE VAUGHAN | JOHN MAYALL
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE
THE MARCUS KING BAND | CHRISTONE ‘KINGFISH’ INGRAM
LARKIN POE | HARTS PLAYS HENDRIX | ASH GRUNWALD
KIM CHURCHILL | MAMA KIN SPENDER
WALTER TROUT | THE BAMBOOS
ALL OUR EXES LIVE IN TEXAS | THE WAR & TREATY
CORY HENRY & THE FUNK APOSTLES
MICK THOMAS’ ROVING COMMISSION | DAMI IM
PIERCE BROTHERS | EMILY WURRAMARA
ROSHANI | RAY BEADLE | HENRY WAGONS
HUSSY HICKS | PACEY, KING & DOLEY
DANIEL CHAMPAGNE | LITTLE GEORGIA
BUSKING COMPETITION & WINNERS
THE AUSTRALIAN AMERICANA MUSIC HONOURS
Find out more about Byron Bay Bluesfest’s 2021 event here.