The Bluesfest Sideshows You Don’t Want To Miss

The quantity and quality of Bluesfest sideshows taking over venues around the country this month is impressive, to say the least. With a whirlwind of talent set to blow through each town, here are some shows you need to add to your calendar.

LAURA MVULA

Sydney - 12 Apr, The Metro

Review: “From the upbeat yet gritty instrumentation of Overcome to the seemingly gospel-inspired Show Me Love, the luscious arrangements and intricate vocals are absolutely mesmerising.” Read more

SLIGHTLY STOOPID

Sydney - 13 Apr, Manning Bar // Melbourne - 14 Apr, Prince Bandroom

Interview: “What I love about the live show is that it's always open for a different interpretation. A lot of times you can take an old song and just rework it a little bit and give it new life in the real world." Read more

CORINNE BAILEY RAE

Sydney - 16 Apr, Metro Theatre // Melbourne - 19 Apr, 170 Russell

Rae has racked up a decade of experience since first catching everyone's attention in 2006 with her self-titled debut album — which hit #1 in the UK (and #4 in the US), no less — and, in the time since, she's accured more than 5 million album sales, two Grammy Awards and worldwide hit songs such as Put Your Records On, Been To The Moon and Like A Star.

BOOKER T. JONES PRESENTS THE STAX REVUE

Sydney - 20 Apr, Metro Theatre

Interview: “I did hear Ray Charles playing organ on the radio but I wasn't sure exactly what it was. I put the two together when I was at my piano teacher's house and she played a few notes on a Hammond B3..." Read more

VINTAGE TROUBLE 

Melbourne - 9 Apr, 170 Russell

Interview: “It's so great to be coming back for [Bluesfest]. We'd heard about that festival for many years, we've played so much all over the world, and we'd always meet someone who would say 'you gotta go to Byron Bay Bluesfest', and now it's kinda part of our thing. So it's really exciting." Read more

MILES ELECTRIC BAND

Melbourne - 15 Apr, Hamer Hall

The all-star 10-piece outfit have worked with the Miles Davis Estate to bring the fine tuneage of the late Davis to audiences today, so you'll hear jazz classics from Bitches Brew, Jack Johnson and On The Corner played by an amazing set of musicians.

JOAN OSBORNE

Melbourne - 19 Apr, The Croxton

Interview: “We will do some of the Dylan material. We're going to bring some of it because we're just so in it right now that this is part of what we're doing. But we also want to do some of the stuff from the records of my songs and things that people will want to hear because we've not had a chance to come down there and perform my own songs at all.” Read more

THE RECORD COMPANY

Melbourne - 20 Apr, Northcore Social Club

Interview: "There's no way to imitate artists like that and you shouldn't, but to use the traditions that they have inherited, and watch and learn.” Read more

ST. PAUL AND THE BROKEN BONES

Brisbane - 20 Apr, The Triffid

Interview: “I think even during our first show at the festival, we were a little taken aback by the love that was shown us." Read more

THE STRUMBELLAS

Melbourne - 16 Apr, Northcote Social Club

Review: “The Strumbellas want us to grab our troubles by the waist and dance them into the goddamn floor.”  Read more

NAHKO & MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE

Brisbane - 16 Apr, The Triffid

Interview: “It's an inclusive effort and I love going to shows like that, and I love being able to create a show that's so eccentric and focussed on the listener and their willingness to transform with you and to go to those places and take a look at that through music and through moving their bodies with each other and just having this experience — an experience where they can walk away having learned something." Read more

Check out the Bluesfest website for all the info.