Byron Bay Bluesfest releases the largest FIRST Artist Announcement made in the history of the festival. This highly anticipated release includes many of the artists intended for this year’s event and features a total of 50 artists including the Bluesfest Busking Competition and the debut appearance of The Australian Americana Music Honours.

New additions to the top end of the bill are International folk-stars BON IVER, the god of Aussie rock JIMMY BARNES, festival favourite MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, and steaming hot off their No.1 debut on the ARIA album chart last May with “Live At The Forum is none other than one of this country’s fastest rising stars THE TESKEY BROTHERS.

THE BLACK SORROWS, MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA and an exclusive performance by WEDDINGS PARTIES ANYTHING, their first show since 2012, are also new top notch additions to this first announcement.

Last week’s strong start to Early Bird ticket sales clearly demonstrates people are looking forward to leaving the house so they can soak up some much needed food for the soul. The 2021 Bluesfest promises to be a safe and full festival experience running across five stages and including all the trimmings from camping to rainbow tipis, market stalls, the busking competition, great food and the perennial warm good vibes that is Byron Bay Bluesfest.

When Bluesfest 2020 was ordered by the Government to shut-down 2020 we immediately put our noses to the grindstone within days of the cancellation and got on with 2021. This Artist Announce is a testament to that fortitude. As this country’s most highly awarded music festival, we are working with Government to find the best possible outcomes for Bluesfest 2021. We want to present another great event, one that is safe and with best-practise protocols implemented on every level. We need it, the music industry needs it and the greater community needs it. Together we will find the most prudent pathway to revive the live music industry, an industry that is aching to get back to work ASAP.

Peter Noble – Festival Director

A SECOND ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT is expected to follow in the Spring!