Live Review: Bluesfest Day Four (Sunday, 20 April 2025)
As what was ostensibly the last Bluesfest wraps up for 2025, it's clear there's still life left in the inimitable event yet.
Kasey Chambers performing live (Credit: Kerry Geier)
It's the last day of Bluesfest 2025 and it goes out with a bang, making it a day full of lasting memories, music, and more unforgettable moments.
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
The atmosphere on site is incredible and Kacey Chambers draws a crowd so big to the Mojo stage that people can barely get underneath the tent to catch a glimpse. Her distinctive voice blended with the rich sound of country, folk, and roots, resonates deeply with listeners as she delivers a raw and emotional performance.
Chambers gives the audience a choice of songs they want to hear and after equal applause, she decides to play a bit of both with a transition in between Last Hard Bible and Runaway Train. She brings out the banjo for We’re All Gonna Die Some Day and her band members gather around for a singalong and an instrumental jam. She also throws in an unexpected cover of Eminem’s Lose Yourself with a completely different country-folk rendition.
Chambers is joined by special guest Jennie Mitchell from New Zealand for her very own song off her upcoming album Forest House which they duet. Recent Tamworth Toyota Star Maker award winner Felicity Kircher joins in for a beautiful rendition as the trio perform I’m Not Pretty Enough together also accompanied by Kircher’s beautiful violin playing.
“I first played at Bluesfest twenty-seven years ago and have been either playing or coming to the festival ever since,” Chambers reveals. “The first time ever singing that song was twenty-six years ago, first year as a backup singer and then I was asked to come back the following year to play my own set.”
Allison Russell delivers a soul-stirring performance with a captivating energy and emotional depth. Her stage presence is magnetic, and she draws the audience into her world of enchanting melodies and heartfelt lyrics that resonate deeply through her masterful storytelling.
Backed by an all-female band she showcases her unique blend of folk, soul, and Americana influences. Her performance is a mix of heartfelt ballads and infectious grooves, with each song brimming full of power, authenticity and emotional charge.
Cimafunk plays for the third time for the festival and this time on the largest Crossroads stage pulling out all the stops for a big party with their unique blend of funk, soul and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Their performance is electrifying and creates an infectious groove that has the entire audience dancing.
Frontman Erik Alejandro Iglesias Rodríguez jumps around the stage with a charismatic stage presence and his nine-piece band bursts out in rhythmic percussion to create a wonderful celebration of music and culture.
John Butler masterfully blends different genres, from rock and reggae to blues and folk in his electrifying and deeply engaging set with a commanding stage presence.
From the moment Butler's fingers hit the strings, the audience is captivated by his intricate guitar work and powerful, soulful vocals. He expresses his strong political views and dedicates Treat Your Mama to all the people fighting for country all around Australia. He picks up his banjo for a massive crowd singalong on Betterman and Ocean.
Grammy-winning duo Rodrigo y Gabriela takes to the Crossroads stage for a spectacular display of incredible guitar skills, captivating the audience with their unique blend of flamenco, rock, and world music. Together they create an almost cinematic atmosphere that’s electrifying and deeply moving. Their ability to create an intimate yet powerful concert experience is a testament to their decades of collaboration and musical fluency that pushes musical boundaries to leave a lasting impression.
Missy Higgins arrives on stage to a massive crowd standing before her. “We’re going to be playing you a range of my music tonight with songs from all my albums. I’ve got a bit of a croaky voice but maybe that’s appropriate for a blues festival,” she laughs.
She starts with a song called Watering Hole which she explains is about those nights when you can’t sleep, and it feels like you’ve got wild animals crawling into your brain to feast. She calls for the audience to make their best wild animal noises and she too howls at the moon. Next is a song called Goin’ North about escaping north and finding yourself again.
She recalls a time in her life in her 20s when she went through a really bad stage of writer’s block when she accidentally bought into the business of music. “My favourite part of the job is playing these songs live because it makes the music come alive. This song (Set Me On Fire) is about coming back to music and realising it flows through my veins like a lifeforce,” she shares.
After celebrating the 20th anniversary of her debut album, The Sound Of White last year, she plays a couple of songs from that album to honour it and encourages us to sing along for Don’t Ever and Ten Days.
Higgins also recently released an album called The Second Act that she’s very proud of after a really hard experience about the misery of a divorce, getting through it and moving through all the stages of grief and then finally coming to terms with the fact that it’s just a new chapter and part of the story. She sings about how she made a choice to use her rock bottom as a launching pad in a song called Craters.
To lighten the mood a bit she throws in her triple j Like A Version cover of Troye Sivan’s One Of Your Girls which marks her second time in the countdown after seventeen years.
Over at the Crossroads stage, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man starts with his upbeat collaboration with Calvin Harris, Lovers In A Past Life. “Bluesfest, it’s good to be back,” he exclaims. Tonight, he’s ready to play some new and old songs and even shares a brand-new song called Time To Love which is the second time he’s ever played it live.
“I haven’t been here for such a long time, and I didn’t know what reaction I was gonna get and that made me feel a bit nervous so I just wanna say that you don’t have to be here and I appreciate you coming to see me so much,” he says humbly. The stage is packed with fans new and old to witness his incredible stage presence.
Rag ‘n’ Bone Man’s deep baritone vocals are delivered with raw emotion and power. He explores themes of human vulnerability and resilience on tracks What Do You Believe In?, Anywhere Away From Here and fan favourite Human.
The legendary queen of funk Chaka Kahn headlines the final night of the Bluesfest 2025 with a celebration of more than fifty years in music with a dazzling display of vocal prowess and stage charisma, testament to her enduring talent and dynamic presence.
From the moment she steps on stage, Khan commands the audience's attention and showcases her powerful soulful voice and infectious energy. Her set is a must-see for any music lover with a rich and diverse musical legacy that spans several genres, including R&B, soul, funk, pop, disco, jazz, and gospel. Her music is a celebration of her extraordinary vocal talent and her ability to innovate and adapt across different musical landscapes.
With her endless hits including I’m Every Woman and her iconic collaborations with Rufus like including Ain’t Nobody, and Tell Me Something Good, plus she also throws in a cover of Prince’s I Feel For You. Kahn serves with the same passion and intensity that have defined her career, and her voice is still as strong and vibrant as ever. Her songs continue to inspire and resonate with audiences around the world.
As the final day of Bluesfest 2025 wraps up, plans are already underway for the 2026 edition. Despite some initial concerns about funding and support, the festival plans to continue to bring its vibrant celebration of blues music to fans, remaining an important part of the Australian music festival calendar.
Related Gigs
More From Our Network
