UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest this year, It’s future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for next year are being sold during the festival via this link.

There have been 70 mummies in the last 20 years. Mummy Cass is 1 of about 10 roaming mummies. They are a rare wild breed of mummy who have passed through the boarding gate. After thousands of years in a sarcophagus, most mummies are unwilling to be sealed into a jumbo jet.

This was overcome when it was discovered if 10 cats are wandering free for each mummy, they would become relaxed enough to get onboard. Once the simple process of herding 100 cats on a plane was done, the fun-funk band of coffin dodgers could go on tour.

It was suggested, if 1000 mice were released on the plane, cats and mummies would follow willingly. When Australian Boarder Force heard about this plan they deployed a highly trained team of drop bears to meet the plane on the runway.

By then the cats had taken control of the plane and were refusing to negotiate with everyone, except royalty. It was resolved when the drop bears had lunch with the mice, in return “Here Come the Mummies” and “The Cat Empire” will bring the party to Easter 2025. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: In 2026 Bluesfest will be the last in a line of major festivals closed from increasing headwinds. This began before covid, with the previous state government’s legislative “war on festivals“. The new government risks letting this trend continue through inaction. However, you can change this. If 20,000 signatures are received, the NSW Parliament must debate Bluesfest’s future. #savebluesfest if you live in the state Sign up here. For everyone else, there is an international petition on change.org Sign up here.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

If you like the French bands “Air” and “Daft Punk” but prefer your psychedelics home-grown “Velvet Trip” is for you. They are part of a growing psychedelic pop scene in Australia along with “Tame Impala”, “Parcels” and “Pond”. Maybe there is something in the water? Velvet Trip is a good description of this retro-chill-pop band. Dreamy reverb vocals, guitar jams and a sprinkle of synths. Imagine “Pink Floyd” without the deafening crescendos.

The last frontman to do earnings and tattoos with this much style was Prince, and even Prince did not show off his tatts like Aussies do. Few have the confidence to make such a bold fashion choice, but when you have a name like Zeppelin, anything is possible, so the gold chain and shades are essential to turn the Rockstar look up to 11.

Velvet Trip have been confirmed for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest at Easter 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: In 2026 Bluesfest will be the last in a line of major festivals closed from increasing headwinds. This began before covid, with the previous state government’s legislative “war on festivals“. The new government risks letting this trend continue through inaction. However, you can change this. If 20,000 signatures are received, the NSW Parliament must debate Bluesfest’s future. #savebluesfest if you live in the state Sign up here. For everyone else, there is an international petition on change.org Sign up here.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

They formed in Oakland, California, which is similar to Byron Bay. They are both next to subtropical bays that stick out into the Pacific Ocean. Given the chance, festivals and nature thrive at these comfortable, holiday weather, latitudes. In turn, the local music is influenced by hippies and surfers.

Both areas have seen historic migrations of beatniks. The Summer of Love in 1967 saw the largest migration of young people in the history of America. In Australia, the 1973 Aquarius Festival had an enduring effect on the culture of the Northern Rivers region. The local dairy industry was in terminal decline because the UK’s price to join Europe was to cut Australia loose. Some festival-goers pooled resources and bought a 1,200-acre property, this became one of many communes which started after the festival. They formed a hippie economy which continues to this day.

There is a theory: music gets more chill the hotter the climate. That is why reggae came from Jamaica and Scandinavia is full of metal bands. Maybe the mosh pit is how Vikings kept warm? As for The California Honeydrops, you can hear the sunshine in their music.

Their website calls them retro-soul, which gives you an idea. I watched some videos that had hints of Motown, gospel and skiffle. Then I listened to their 2013 album, “Like You Mean It,” which had a mellow jazz swing. Honeydrops are a good description as the music is smooth and sweet.

The California Honeydrops will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: In 2026 Bluesfest will be the last in a line of major festivals closed from increasing headwinds. This began before covid, with the previous state government’s legislative “war on festivals“. The new government risks letting this trend continue through inaction. However, you can change this. If 20,000 signatures are received, the NSW Parliament must debate Bluesfest’s future. #savebluesfest if you live in the state Sign up here. For everyone else, there is an international petition on change.org Sign up here.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. Discounted early bird tickets for the 2026 festival are available here.

Imagine Wolverine learnt double bass, then drank all the crazy juice. To call his performance dynamic would not do it justice. You never know what will happen next. One minute he has lifted the whole double bass in the air while playing it behind his head like Buddy Guy, the next moment one of the Little Quirks has climbed on top of the bass and is singing up high, while he donks out the rhythm below. The show is a spectacle of physics defying controlled chaos created by a tight rock and roll groove machine set to overdrive.

19-Twenty is Australia’s answer to Jools Holland. They are both known to bring musicians together. This is encouraged at Bluesfest, the range of music lends itself to jamming. Peter Nobel (the guy who picks the artists at Bluesfest) once told me he chooses bands that make music with people, not computers. You will not find lip-syncing and backing tracks at Bluesfest. You will find a whole lotta people celebrating the raw energy of live music. 19-Twenty will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: In 2026 Bluesfest will be the last in a line of major festivals closed from increasing headwinds. This began before covid, with the previous state government’s legislative “war on festivals“. The new government risks letting this trend continue through inaction. However, you can change this. If 20,000 signatures are received, the NSW Parliament must debate Bluesfest’s future. #savebluesfest if you live in the state Sign up here. For everyone else, there is an international petition on change.org Sign up here.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025, its future has been confirmed. 19-Twenty will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal