Blusfest Touring is proud to present some of the best local, rising talent for your listening pleasure across Australia and New Zealand this April. With some familiar favourites being added to join the headliners there’s some in there who will soon become your favourites and just might steal the show!
Commenting on the announcement, Head of Touring at Bluesfest, Kimberley Galceran said “Every year our headliners select their support artist from a shortlist of some of the best emerging talent, contemporary favourites and legends in their own right. It’s a pleasure watching the list of supports come together, they add to the richness, diversity and flavour of our sideshows. I often hear people exclaiming “how good was the support act!?” to a stranger during intermission and it gives me a smile. There’s an act in here you haven’t heard yet, that you’ll be playing for years to come, give them a listen.”
A strong obsession with space and novels helps inspire the concepts and writing within BATTS music. Creating a blend of folk and rock, whilst weaving in samples collected from space mission’s courtesy of NASA, throughout her music. Catch her perform with Eagles of Death Metal in Croxton Bandroom on April 18.
Yorta Yorta singer/songwriter Benny Walker is the real deal. He’s got the lot; the voice, the songs, the showmanship and the looks to kill. His love songs and epic tales are mixed with passion for people, the land, summer vibes and deep grooves that reach the soul. Catch this Bluesfest favourite performing with Larkin Poe in the Corner Hotel Melbourne on 16 April.
If you haven’t seen Bobby Alu live before he’ll be sure to entertain you with smooth harmonies, rhythms inspired by a strong family lineage of Polynesian performance, and unassuming grooves that work a gradual, smile inducing high through even a casual listener. Bobby Alu is supporting The Wailers on their national tour this April.
Born into a household filled with vinyl, CDs and tapes of blues, soul, gospel, jazz, big band and rock & roll, Caiti Baker’s father – a blues musician himself, made sure that she was raised amongst music. She is supporting George Benson on what will be a sell out tour this April.
A genre defying songstress of blues, soul, and country rock – Catherine Tunks is redefining what NZ has to come to know as the blues, soul & country genre, with her rock n roll edge stemming from her thoroughbred west Auckland roots. Catherine is supporting John Mayall in New Zealand this April.
Clayton Bones Harvey has been a long-time student of the Greats of the Delta and Country Blues genre. His vast repertoire of acoustic styled Rural Blues goes from Son House to Robert Johnson to Mississippi Fred McDowell just to name a few. Catch Clayton supporting John Mayall in Cairns this April.
Dave Hole has a dedicated world-wide fan base and is widely regarded as one of the all-time slide guitar greats. His first album “Short Fuse Blues” was released in 1991 and he has since gone onto release nine more including ARIA awarded “Under The Spell”. Dave is supporting John Mayall in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Mashed with sweat, swagger, and guitars; The Delta Riggs recently announced their signing to the renowned X-Ray Touring roster, where they will join the likes of Coldplay and Eminem. Delta Riggs support Eagles of Death Metal in Sydney and Melbourne (19 April) this April.
DRMNGNOW is independent Artist based in Naarm/Birraranga Neil Morris. His sound and approach, grounded in strong cultural and values fuses a striking interdisciplinary approach to his art as an MC, Instrumentalist and poet with a searing decolonial and culturally engrossing message. DRMNGNOW is supporting Buffy Sainte-Marie in Melbourne on April 9.
With a love for looping electronic beats, bass, synths and vocal chops – Georgi Kay is a British-Australian artist who has received multiple awards for her original work, songwriting and collaborations. She has toured with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Tash Sultana. Georgi Kay supports LP in Sydney and Melbourne this April.
GORO is the combined force of respected Australian Hip Hop producers Caustic Yoda & Waza. Their sound blends improvisation with structure, mashing up live instruments, records & synths, with nods to early DJ Shadow, DJ Krush and J Dilla. Goro supports Morcheeba in Sydney on April 9.
Weaving together intense guitar and soulful vocals, Jesse Valach takes you on a journey from lights down low soul ballads to energetic shuffle romps delivered in demanding fashion. Catch Jess supporting The Marcus King Band in Melbourne on April 15.
Australian ‘Progressive Folk and Roots’ artist Jordan Mac has fast become known for his dynamic vocals and virtuosic ability on the twelve-string guitar while laying Middle Eastern and Celtic infused riffs over electronic beats, drums and Latin percussion. Jordan Mac will be on the road this April supporting The Gipsy Kings on their national tour.
Inspired by a wide-ranging collection of genres, the LamBros. music expands over blues, rock, soul, funk, folk and singer-songwriter, and blends together styles through their unique use of sounds such as the didgeridoo, raw vocals, and a thumping home-made hybrid drum-kit. Fast after their Bluesfest performance they will be hitting the road to support The Marcus King Band and Larkin Poe in Sydney.
With multiple nominations in the Independent Music Awards, International Songwriting Competition, Independent Blues Awards and all albums hitting #1s on the blues radio charts in the USA, Australia and top 40s in Europe, the spotlight is starting to shine on one of the most talented blues-rock-guitarist-artists. Matty T Wall is supporting Walter Trout in Sydney and Melbourne this April.
Reb Foundation won the Tui for Best Country Album/Artist 2018 for her EP Hopeful & Hopeless, APRA Best Country Song 2018 for the title track ‘Hopeful & Hopeless’ and her album Little Arrows was nominated for Best Folk Album of 2018. A pre-eminent singer and performer, Reb has for years been the musicians’ secret. Red Foundation supports Brandi Carlile in Auckland on April 12.
Drawing from her Polynesian heritage and original artistry as a drummer and dancer, Lucinda Anderson as Sister Liberty weaves a mix of soulful reggae, funk and folk with world music flavours. She supports Buffy Sainte-Marie in Cairns this April.
Solomon Cole‘s sound evokes the wordy dark tales of Tom Waits, and marries it to the blues effigies of Son House, R L Burnside, or Howlin’ Wolf in spirit, and wraps it all up in a little rock’n’roll package like some Black Keys/voodoo inspired Mardi Gras for the lonesome and downtrodden. Solumon supports The Marcus King Band in Auckland this April.
Since topping the charts on Triple J’s Unearthed for the seventh time, The Lyrical has become THE rising star of the music scene on the Sunshine Coast. Following in the footsteps of Ben Harper, Bob Marley, Michael Franti and Xavier Rudd, The Lyrical reflects the ingenuity and musical aptitude it takes to be a great artist. The Lyrical join Bobby Alu and The Wailers in the The Triffid on April 13.
Genre-defying Wanderers have a trademark symphony of moods – the shredding of guitar riffs, dreamy harmonies, funky bass and a general feeling of nostalgia. They crank out rock tinged numbers that build into raunchy, soulful jams. Wanderers support Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles in Melbourne and Sydney this April.
WILSN is a force to be reckoned with on stage, captivating audiences with her vocal prowess. With each commanding performance, her authentic brand of soul-influenced pop comes to life. She supports Morcheeba in Melbourne and Tori Kelly on both Sydney and Melbourne shows.
Since the age of 19, Daniel Wayne Spencer has been touring, writing and recording with Richard Clapton, Jimmy Barnes, Jon Stevens, Leo Sayer, Rogue Traders, Doc Neeson, Joe Camilleri and Martha Davies. With influences ranging from blues guitar legends Ry Cooder and Buddy Guy to Jackson Browne and Ryan Adams, his own music is a blend of blues, rock and country. Daniel Wayne Spencer is supporting Tal Wilkenfeld on her Australian tour.
With a baritone that is resonant and expressive, Fenn Wilson’s songwriting forms a snapshot of his recent past; brushes with heartache, depression, world-weariness and uncertainty, and often lightened with compassionate observation, love and redemption. Think George Ezra with Nick Cave’s early song book. Think George Ezra with Nick Cave’s early songbook. Catch Fenn in Melbourne supporting The War & Treaty this April.
She might not be local, but she does deserve special mention. A contemporary twist on a traditional sonic tapestry. YOLA‘s debut album ‘Walk Through Fire’ saw her nominated for four Grammys. She has ‘next big thing’ written all over her. Yola supports Brandi Carlile on her debut Australian tour this April.
All shows on sale now via bluesfesttouring.com.au
