Bluesfest Announces Sideshow Support Artists

Byron Bay Bluesfest is drawing ever nearer and, with it, so too are its accompanying sideshows, a fact made all the more inescapable with today's announcement of the lucky artists being conscripted to offer support services for the standalone gigs' headliners.

Bringing together a wide array of acclaimed locals and special international guests for its touring season, Bluesfest will welcome all manner of artists to the fold to open up its sideshows, including Kristy Lee (supporting Beth Hart), Wilsn (supporting Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires), and Kris Morris and Lachlan Bryan (supporting Dave & Phil Alvin with The Guilty Ones).

Also joining the fray will be John Smith, Dave Kitt, Taj Ralph, Hein Cooper, Karl S Williams, Eddie Mac (DJ set), Stephen Ferris, Karavana Flamenca, Daniel Champagne, Rebelution, Mohair Slim (DJ set), Caravana Sun, Trevor Hall, Boil Up, Dave Spry, Keziah Jones and SOJA.

SOJA won't just be filling support duties for Bluesfest Touring, though, also serving as co-headliners of a double-edged sonic attack alongside Blue King Brown at Brisbane's fledgling Triffid on Saturday, 4 April.

The full list of where and when the acts above are opening sideshows is below, so get reading and suss out those options.

For more information about Bluesfest and related sideshows, see our Bluesfest page at our Festivals hub.

bluesfest touring 2015 supports

Artist Beth Hart
Venue/Date Metro, Sydney, 31 Mar
Support Kristy Lee

Artist Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Venue/Date The Corner, Melbourne, 30 Mar & 1 Apr
Support Wilsn

Artist Dave & Phil Alvin with The Guilty Ones
Venue/Date Basement, Sydney, 8 Apr; Northcote, Melbourne, 9 Apr
Support Kris Morris (8 Apr) and Lachlan Bryan (9 Apr)

Artist David Gray
Venue/Date State Theatre, Sydney, 1 Apr & 2 Apr; Palais, Melbourne, 5 Apr
Support John Smith (1 Apr, 5 Apr) and Dave Kitt (2 Apr)

Artist Donavon Frankenreiter
Venue/Date Lizotte's, Dee Why, 25 Mar & 26 Mar; Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle, 27 Mar; Beachcomber, Central Coast, 29 Mar; Triffid, Brisbane, 16 Apr; The Corner, Melbourne, 10 Apr
Support Taj Ralph (25 Mar, 26 Mar), Hein Cooper (27 Mar, 29 Mar), Karl S Williams (10 Apr, 16 Apr)
More to be announced

Artist G. Love & Special Sauce
Venue/Date Basement, Sydney, 5 Apr
Support Kristy Lee

Artist George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
Venue/Date 170 Russell, Melbourne, 3 Apr; Enmore, Sydney, 1 Apr
Support Eddie Mac (Bionic Boogie) DJ set (3 Apr) and Stephen Ferris (1 Apr)

Artist The Gipsy Kings
Venue/Date Palais, Melbourne, 10 Apr; Thebarton, Adelaide, 11 Apr
Support Karavana Flamenca

Artist Jake Shimabukuro
Venue/Date Powerhouse, Brisbane, 2 Apr; Basement, Sydney, 9 Apr; The Gov, Adelaide, 10 Apr
Support Daniel Champagne

Artist Jimmy Cliff
Venue/Date Metro, Sydney, 9 Apr; Corner, Melbourne, 8 Apr
Support Mohair Slim (DJ set)

Artist JJ Grey & Mofro
Venue/Date Basement, Sydney, 6 Apr
Support Kristy Lee

Artist Michael Franti & Spearhead
Venue/Date Panthers, Newcastle, 8 Apr; Odeon, Hobart, 2 Apr; Waves, Wollongong, 4 Apr; Prince, Melbourne, 2 Apr; Enmore, Sydney, 5 Apr; Tivoli, Brisbane, 10 Apr; Tanks, Cairns, 11 Apr & 12 Apr; The Centre, Darwin, 16 Apr; C.Ex, Coffs Harbour, 9 Apr
Support Caravana Sun (8 Apr, 9 Apr), Boil Up (2 Apr), Trevor Hall (4 Apr, 2 Apr, 5 Apr [with SOJA], 10 Apr, 11 Apr, 12 Apr), Dave Spry (16 Apr)

Artist Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave
Venue/Date Factory, Sydney, 1 Apr; Corner, Melbourne, 5 Apr
Support Keziah Jones

PLUS Blue King Brown & SOJA together in concert - Triffid, Brisbane, 4 Apr.