The 2019 Bluesfest Sideshows You Don’t Want To Miss
There's a lot on offer.
If you’re unable to make the trip to Bryon Bay this month to catch Bluesfest’s massive 30th-anniversary celebrations, not all hope is lost, with the festival ensuring the rest of the country gets a taste via a stack of sweet sideshows.
Here are some you don’t want to miss.
David Gray
Festival headliner David Gray will not only be taking part in the Bluesfest’s three-decade millstone when he touches down later this month but also celebrating the release of his latest record, Gold In A Brass Age, which was released less than a month ago. The English singer-songwriter will kick off his Australian tour in Perth in mid-April before playing two shows in Sydney and Melbourne.
PERTH
Riverside Theatre, Apr 14
SYDNEY
Enmore Theatre, Apr 16 – SOLD OUT
Enmore Theatre, Apr 17
MELBOURNE
Palais Theatre, Apr 19 – SELLING FAST
Palais Theatre, Apr 20 – SOLD OUT
Click here for more details.
Fantastic Negrito
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After picking up a second Grammy this year for Contemporary Blues Album hit Please Don’t Be Dead, Xavier Dphrepaulezz, aka Fantastic Negrito, will bring his full band show to Bluesfest and two special sideshows, offering up a crash course on American blues rock.
SYDNEY
Oxford Art Factory, Apr 14
MELBOURNE
Corner Hotel, Apr 15
Click here for more details.
Flogging Molly
You’d struggle to find a more energetic band than Irish-American Celtic punk collective Flogging Molly. The seven-piece act will return to Australia with their new album, Life Is Good, which they released on their own album in 2017.
MELBOURNE
The Croxton, Apr 14
SYDNEY
Metro Theatre, Apr 18
Click here for more details.
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
The music legend returns to Australia with his band for one final tour after recently visiting the country with Red Hot Chili Peppers. Of their recent shows Down Under, The Music noted Clinton’s “energy and soul is colourful as ever and his voice still booms”, while the band is “just as infectious to watch as it is to hear”.
SYDNEY
Enmore Theatre, Apr 20
MELBOURNE
The Forum, Apr 25
Click here for more details.
Iggy Pop
Little needs to be said about the "Godfather of Punk”, but it must be stressed that Iggy Pop’s sideshows are selling fast, so you might want to jump on tickets before it’s too late.
SYDNEY
Sydney Opera House, Apr 15
Sydney Opera House, Apr 17 - SOLD OUT
MELBOURNE
Festival Hall, Apr 21 – FINAL TICKETS REMAIN
Click here for more details.
Larkin Poe
Distant relations of Edgar Allen Poe, sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, aka Atlanta’s Larkin Poe, have made quite an impact in recent years, establishing themselves as a formidable roots/rock/blues outfit while scoring fans such as Russell Crowe, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. You’ll want to check out their latest album, Venom & Faith, then grab tickets to their Sydney sideshow – sorry Melbourne, your date has already sold out.
SYDNEY
Oxford Art Factory, 22 Apr – LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN
MELBOURNE
Howler, 24 Apr – SOLD OUT
Click here for more details.
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real
Not only did Lukas Nelson recently appear in A Star Is Born, but the son of country music legend Willie Nelson and Neil Young’s bandmate also picked up a BAFTA for Best Film Music for his collaboration with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. You can expect an exceptional performance.
MELBOURNE
Meeniyan Town Hall, 16 Apr – SOLD OUT
Corner Hotel, 17 Apr – FINAL TICKETS REMAIN
SYDNEY
Factory Theatre, 18 Apr – SELLING FAST
Click here for more details.
The Marcus King Band
Mentored by Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks and performing alongside his dad, Marvin King, while growing up, South Carolina guitar phenomenon Marcus King has one of the best country/blues voices going around. He’s already sold out his Melbourne sideshow, but fans in Sydney still have a chance to see him this month.
SYDNEY
Oxford Art Factory, Apr 15 - FINAL TICKETS REMAIN
MELBOURNE
Northcote Social Club, April 17 – SOLD OUT
Click here for more details.
Meshell Ndegeocello
You don’t get nominated for 10 Grammys for nothing. Influential neo-soul artist Meshell Ndegeocello fuses hip hop, soul, jazz and funk to create a captivating sound and mesmerising live show.
SYDNEY
Factory Theatre, Apr 20 – LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN
Click here for more details.
Nahko & Medicine For The People
Anyone who has seen alt world music collective Nahko & Medicine For The People in action knows, as documented by The Music, their shows are “all about heart”.
Reviewer Nichola Gray said of one of the band’s 2017 Aussie dates: “Joining with the collective consciousness of their fans, they completely delivered.”
BRISBANE
The Triffid, 17 Apr
SYDNEY
Metro Theatre, 20 Apr
MELBOURNE
170 Russell, 21 Apr
Click here for more details.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Denver-based vintage rhythm’n’blues maestro Nathaniel Rateliff and his band, The Night Sweats, produced a stunning collection of songs in last year’s Tearing At The Seams, with The Music stating: "It makes you feel a part of the experience - the hurt, the joy, even the creation of the music itself."
SYDNEY
Metro Theatre, 13 Apr – SOLD OUT
Metro Theatre, 14 Apr
ADELAIDE
The Gov, 15 Apr
MELBOURNE
The Croxton, 17 Apr
The Croxton, 18 Apr – SOLD OUT
Click here for more details.
Ray LaMontagne
Described as illusive, brooding and deeply authentic, Ray LaMontagne – who has been compared to the likes of Otis Redding, Van Morrison and Tim Buckley – has already sold out some of his Bluesfest sideshows. It’s not surprising, given it’s his first Australian tour in 10 years! With that in mind, you might want to jump on tickets while you still can.
SYDNEY
State Theatre, 24 Apr – SOLD OUT
State Theatre, 25 Apr – SELLING FAST
MELBOURNE
Palais Theatre, 27 Apr – SOLD OUT
Palais Theatre, 28 Apr
Click here for more details.
Shakey Graves
This next Bluesfest favourite has a day named after him in his hometown of Austin, Texas, as proclaimed by the city’s mayor. Blues/folk/rock singer-songwriter Shakey Graves started his career as a one-man band before recruiting bandmates and developing one hell of a show. His fifth studio album, Can't Wake Up, dropped last year.
SYDNEY
Factory Theatre, 22 Apr – SELLING FAST
MELBOURNE
Corner Hotel, 23 Apr – SOLD OUT
Click here for more details.
Snarky Puppy
Another Bluesfest favourite with a renowned live show, Snarky Puppy returns to Australia with a new record, Immigrance. The Grammy Award-winning act (Best R&B Performance in 2014, Best Contemporary Instrumental Album in 2016 & 2017) have previously worked with the likes of everyone from Erykah Badu to Snoop Dogg and have up to 25 band members in regular rotation.
SYDNEY
Enmore Theatre, 21 Apr – SELLING FAST
MELBOURNE
The Forum, 26 Apr – SELLING FAST
Click here for more details.
Trevor Hall
Roots/reggae artist Trevor Hall — whose music is an amalgam of acoustic rock, reggae and Sanskrit chants — will bring his new record, The Fruitful Darkness, to Australia for a festival appearance and two sideshows. The South Carolina-bred musician’s Sydney and Melbourne shows are selling fast, so don’t delay.
SYDNEY
Oxford Art Factory, 17 Apr – SELLING FAST
MELBOURNE
Corner Hotel, 18 Apr – SELLING FAST
Click here for more details.
Vintage Trouble
American blues-rock outfit Vintage Trouble, fronted by Ty Taylor, released their latest EP, Chapter II - EP I, last year, exploring new territory which promises to delight fans old and new in a live format. Check it out now and grab tickets to their East Coast sideshows before they sell out.
SYDNEY
Oxford Art Factory, 24 Apr – SELLING FAST
MELBOURNE
Corner Hotel, 25 Apr – SELLING FAST
Click here for more details.
--------------------------------------------
You can find all other Bluesfest 2019 sideshows details here.
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