The Word To Play Two Bluesfest Sideshows In 2016

In keeping with their thoroughly improvisational vibe, celebrated US gospel-jazz supergroup The Word have surprised Aussie audiences with the announcement of a pair of headline Byron Bay Bluesfest sideshows for when they're in the country to play the annual event next year.

The Word will step out from the Bluesfest surrounds to treat fans in Sydney, at the Factory Theatre, on Sunday 27 March, heading down to Melbourne's Corner Hotel on Monday 28 March to let band members Robert Randolph (pedal-steel guitar), John Medeski (keyboards) and North Mississippi Allstars Luther Dickinson (guitar) and Cody Dickinson (drums) run wild with improv-heavy hymnal glee.

Most recent album Soul Food further demonstrates the band's penchant and panache for leaving things unwritten, proving their lengthy recent hiatus has not slowed them down a knot, and providing each of their individual parts the chance to let their innermost creative drives soar once more; which, to hear Randolph tell it, is kind of the point.

"At church, the music follows the spirit," Randolph said in a statement. "I have to be ready at any moment to go in any direction to do whatever anyone wants to do. This band does that — that's what The Word does."

If that sounds up your alley, you can cement your space to catch The Word at their headline sideshow appearances when tickets go on sale from 9am (AEDT) this Thursday, 29 October, via Bluesfest Touring.

For more information about Bluesfest, see our dedicated event page.

See the full list of Byron Bay Bluesfest sideshows here.