Benz World Blog » Bluesfest 2026

Rob Hirst

Jason Benz — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:23:52 +0000

This image is musician, songwriter and producer Rob Hirst playing with the Backsliders on the Mojo stage at Bluesfest 2023.

Rob also played Bluesfest in 2022 with a band he founded called Midnight Oil. When they played the first three notes of his song “Beds Are Burning”, I saw the crowd move as one as far as the eye could see. It was an amazing experience I will never forget.

After it was announced the Backsliders would be back for Bluesfest 2026, I downloaded their latest album “Bonecrunch” It is an old school electric blues album, full of rhythmic energy, and perfect for getting your Blues on.

I was listening to it when I read the tragic news that Rob Hirst had lost his battle with cancer. After the initial shock, the music community and Bluesfest responded by announcing a tribute to Rob Hirst to be performed at the festival by a range of musicians. I suspect “Beds Are Burning” will echo around the festival in 2026.

UPDATE: Bluesfest 2026 has been cancelled and the Backsliders Rob Hirst tribute has moved to the Byron Theatre on the 4th April.

Many of the artists from the cancelled Bluesfest 2026 line up are continuing with revised gigs, including….

Sublime:
Wednesday, April 1st – Festival Hall, Melbourne VIC
Saturday, April 4th – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney NSW
Wednesday, April 8th – Wolfbook Arena, Christchurch NZ
Friday, April 10th – Trusts Arena, Auckland NZ
Saturday, April 11th – Brewtown, Wellington NZ

The Black Crowes:
Thursday, April 2nd – The Forum, Melbourne VIC
Friday, April 3rd – The Forum, Melbourne VIC
Monday, April 6th – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
Wednesday, April 8th (NEW SHOW) – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
Thursday, April 9th – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW

Pogues:
Wednesday, March 25th – Fremantle Prison, Fremantle WA
Friday, March 27th – Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide SA
Sunday, March 29th – The Forum, Melbourne VIC
Thursday, April 2nd (NEW SHOW) – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
Sunday, April 5th – Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW
Monday, April 6th – Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW
Wednesday, April 8th – St James Theatre, Wellington NZ
Thursday, April 9th – Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch NZ
Saturday, April 11th – NZICC Theatre, Auckland NZ

Marcus King:
~~Wednesday, April 1st – Powerstation, Auckland NZ~~
~~Wednesday, April 8th – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW~~
~~Friday, April 10th – The Forum, Melbourne VIC~~
~~Saturday, April 11th – Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide SA~~

The Wailers:
Wednesday, April 1st – Drifters Wharf, Gosford NSW
Thursday, April 2nd – Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW
Friday, April 3rd – Finnians Tavern, Port Macquarie NSW
Saturday, April 4th – Coffs Hotel, Coffs Harbour NSW
Sunday, April 5th – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads NSW

Split Enz:
Wednesday, May 6th – TSB Bank Arena, Wellington NZ
Thursday, May 7th – TSB Bank Arena, Wellington NZ
Friday, May 9th – Spark Arena, Auckland NZ
Saturday, May 10th – Spark Arena, Auckland NZ
Wednesday, May 13th – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne VIC
Thursday, May 14th – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne VIC
Monday, May 18th – TikTok Entertainment Centre, Sydney NSW
Tuesday, May 19th – TikTok Entertainment Centre, Sydney NSW
Friday, May 22nd – RAC Arena, Perth WA
Monday, May 25th – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide SA

The Living End:
Saturday, April 4th – Hotel Brunswick, Brunswick Heads NSW

Marcus King

Jason Benz — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 22:24:41 +0000

This is Marcus King, a Grammy-nominated artist, in a captivating performance under his own name on the Crossroads stage at the 2023 Bluesfest. Since then, Marcus has reformed with his original band, who describe their music as soul-influenced psychedelic Southern rock. The Marcus King Band was booked for Bluesfest in 2026 before it was cancelled. Bluesfest had a long history of supporting bands in a music industry which increasingly focuses on solo artists.

Note: After a boot SSD failure, I took the opportunity to ditch Windows and Photoshop in favour of Ubuntu and Photopea. This is the first image created on the open-source platform. Thanks to Alex and Paul for facilitating the switch.

John Gwilliam

Jason Benz — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 22:28:30 +0000

This is John Gwilliam from power trio 19-Twenty letting the animal out, on the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2024.

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

Taj Farrant

Jason Benz — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:31:30 +0000

These are the magic fingers of Taj Farrant on the Delta stage on the Welcome Wednesday of Byron Bay Bluesfest 2024. Taj is a young Aussie blues guitar prodigy who can shred with the best of them. He began his set with Hendrix-Red House and SRV-Tightrope. These songs are familiar to anyone who has picked up a guitar and followed the blues greats. I remember learning Red House almost 40 years ago. It is reassuring that these blues standards are still inspiring kids today. Mastering these songs led to his first record deal at age 10.

Taj Farrant has been confirmed to play next Easter at the very last Byron Bay Bluesfest.

I am still reeling from the news that Australia’s best music festival will end. It has been such a big part of my life. At least there is one last chance to see my friends again and celebrate “blues, roots & beyond” in 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

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

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

Leesa Gentz

Jason Benz — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 11:59:31 +0000

This is Leesa Gentz, who, along with Julz Parker, makes up the core of the folk/country/rock band Hussy Hicks. Here they are opening the Crossroads stage on the final day of Bluesfest 2024 in Byron Bay, Australia. These local ladies are from Lismore, making the festival their home ground. 2 years ago, during the all too regular “once in a lifetime floods”, the girls had their home and studio completely submerged by water. Despite this major setback, they showed remarkable ingenuity by getting an old mobile broadcast van and building a studio inside it. Next time the water arrives, they can drive all their equipment up to the nearest dry hill outside Lismore. I know it will work because that is how I escaped those floods. That hill became an island for about a week. Then it all happened again a few weeks later.

UPDATE: Due to the success of Bluesfest 2025 and #savebluesfest, the festival’s future has been confirmed. Hussy Hicks will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Bluesfest 2026

Pierce Brothers

Jason Benz — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 02:42:02 +0000

This Duo from under Down Under (Melbourne) are the Pierce Brothers playing on the Juke Joint at Bluesfest in 2016. You know you are in for something special when you see this onstage.

This year I’ve been listening to their album “Atlas Shoulders” It has an uplifting, fun summer holiday vibe to it. Imagine all the toe-tapping folksy stomp of Mumford and Sons without the melancholy.

Their music does not stop there. They have one song, “Juno”, which sounds so much like Simon and Garfunkel, it must have been an intentional homage. They nailed their sound so well that I had to Google it to make sure they hadn’t uncovered some unknown Paul Simon tune.

Their sibling harmonies generally favour acoustic instruments, which is great. Occasionally, they dust off the electric guitar and create the type of hard-driving rhythm you would expect from a Chris Rea track, as they do for “Back To You”

I enjoyed listening to them for this review and will add this album to my playlist. Now I know these songs so well, I am especially looking forward to seeing them performed live on Sat 30th & Sun 31st March 2024. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: The Pierce Brothers 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. The Pierce Brothers will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

Roshani Everett

Jason Benz — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:19:13 +0000

This is multi-instrumentalist Roshani opening the Delta stage on the first day of Bluesfest 2022. The level of energy and excitement from artists and audience at that first post-covid festival was beyond anything I have seen before, and that includes a dozen Glastonbury festivals.

I am cautious using the word “talent” when describing musicians, as it ignores the hard work they put in. Roshani has a rich, powerful, soulful voice which could be the star of any band, but her talents don’t end there.

While travelling and living in her van she developed a one woman show with the creative use of loop pedals and various music tech. Roshani is the modern version of a one-woman band. (image download here)

Roshani will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

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

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

19 Twenty

Jason Benz — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 01:19:56 +0000

This is power trio 19-Twenty on the Delta stage at Bluesfest 2023. Imagine a mix of ZZ Top and The White Stripes with an Aussie twist. Like Jimi Hendrix, the band is built around the considerable guitar skills of lead singer, Kane Dennelly. Also like Hendrix, the role of the bass and drums should not be underestimated, John Gwilliam and Jeremy Berg do an excellent job of taking already powerful grooves and pushing them into overdrive. As well as giving the guitar room to shine, they can each take the lead. The chance to see a double bass solo should not be missed. When these “Masters of the Riff” are not banging out high-energy electric blues with a folk edge to cheering crowds, they have produced a chilled Sunday arvo studio number with what can only be called an Australian Supergroup, teaming up with Lachy Doley and Hussy Hicks to record What A Night. (image download here). It is great to hear that 19-Twenty has been confirmed for the 2024 festival. There are rumours of guest musicians appearing at that performance.

UPDATE: 19-Twenty will return one last time for the final Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

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

Steve Poltz

Jason Benz — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:04:32 +0000

This is singer-songwriter and eccentric comedian Steve Poltz on the Delta stage at Bluesfest 2023 in New South Wales, Australia. Poltz had played the previous day on the Mojo stage and word spread through the festival that this guy was worth checking out. This creative Canadian loves to try new things. Moments before he started the gig, he saw a large box on wheels backstage that he could fit in, so he asked the stagehands to wheel him out to begin the show. He emerged like a magician’s assistant all while playing his guitar. (image download here).

I was glad to hear Steve Poltz has been confirmed in the first line-up announcement for the 2024 festival. Tickets are available via the Byron Bay Bluesfest Website.

UPDATE: Steve Poltz will return to the festival in 2026. Tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026
1st artist reveal

Julz Parker

Jason Benz — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 13:59:39 +0000

This is local guitarist Julz Parker from Hussy Hicks making a guest appearance with Michael Franti & Spearhead on the Crossroads stage at Bluesfest 2023 in Byron Bay, Australia. Meanwhile, on the Mojo stage, Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne were jamming together. As the night went on, the party atmosphere built until the line between artist and audience disappeared. I saw a whole brass section vanish into the crowd, and members of the crowd got up on stage to sing and dance.

UPDATE: Hussy Hicks will be back after a successful world tour to perform back home at Byron Bay Bluesfest in Easter 2024.

UPDATE: Hussy Hicks will return to the festival in 2025, tickets are available via the Bluesfest Website.

Bluesfest 2026