Bluesfest 2015 Sideshows: George Clinton, Beth Hart, G.Love & More

The first batch of Bluesfest 2015 sideshows are in, with some of the acts named on next year’s illustrious festival roster announcing their own set of solo dates and thus setting the pace for an impressive 2015 Bluesfest touring Season.

First up, Bluesfest 2014 standout Beth Hart is heading back for her second round of Bluesfest sideshows, to the delight of Sydney and Melbourne fans. Then, former Black Crowes front man Chris Robinson will be introducing The Chris Robinson Brotherhood to Australian fans for the first time next April.

Also stopping off for sideshows will be the reunited original line-up of G.Love & Special Sauce, the legendary George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic and one of New Orleans finest music exports and Bluesfest favourite Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue.

The second Bluesfest lineup is nearly upon us, with organisers promising a second announcement that is “jam packed with great artists” as well as the world premiere reunion of “one of the greatest bands around the globe”.

Music Feeds readers can stay up to date with all of the latest Bluesfest 2015 news at our special Feed right here, and all of the action surrounding Bluesfest sideshows right here. See the sideshow details below.

Beth Hart

After wowing audiences on her 2014 Australian tour, power house vocalist Beth Hart will be returning to Australian shores for Bluesfest 2015, while also taking the stage on her own solo sideshows at Sydney’s Metro Theatre and Melbourne’s Recital Centre in March/April 2015.

Hart has been reaching new career heights this year including her nomination for a Blues Music Award and a Grammy nomination with Joe Bonamassa in 2014 for their album Seesaw. Her most recent album, 2014’s Bang Bang Boom Boom reached number 3 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart and she’s currently working on a new solo album, set to be released early 2015. So expect to hear some new material at her Australian shows.

Beth Hart Bluesfest sideshow dates

Tickets on sale 9am Monday, 13th October

Tuesday, 31st March 2015
The Metro, Sydney
Tickets: Ticketek, 132 849

Thursday, 2nd April 2015
Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
Tickets: Melbourne Recital, 03 9699 3333

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood

The former Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson is bringing his Brotherhood and their brand of rock and roll, full of grooves, psychedelia and killer vocals on their first Australian tour in honour of Bluesfest 2015.

Hailing from sunny California Chris Robinson, Neal Casal, Adam MacDougall, George Sluppick and Mark Dutton will bring tunes from their latest release, Phosphorescent Harvest to Melbourne, Sydney and Bluesfest stages in April 2015.

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood Bluesfest sideshow dates

Tickets on sale 9am Monday, 13th October

Saturday 4th April 2015
The Corner, Melbourne
Tickets: Bluesfest Touring, 02 6685 8310

Monday, 6th April 2015
Metro Theatre, Sydney
Tickets: Ticketek, 132 849

G.Love & Special Sauce

Philadelphia alternative hip-hop and blues outfit G. Love & Special Sauce have made their triumphant return this year, reuniting their original lineup 20 years after the release of their self-titled debut album and they’ll be making their way to Bluesfest and their own sideshows in celebration.

Eight years since their last live performance together, the original line up of G. Love & Special Sauce arrive on the back of their 2014 album Sugar, breathing new life into their groove-heavy, Chicago-blues infused brand of stripped down Rock and Roll. On top of their Bluesfest set, they’ll also play shows at Melbourne’s Thornbury Theatre and The Basement in Sydney. See the details below.

G.Love & Special Sauce Bluesfest sideshow dates

Sydney tickets on sale 9am Monday 13th October
Melbourne tickets on sale 9am Wednesday 15th October

Saturday, 4th April 2015
Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne
Tickets: Bluesfest Touring, 02 6685 8310

Sunday, 5th April 2015
The Basement, Sydney
Tickets: Bluesfest Touring, 02 6685 8310

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic

One of the most important innovators of funk music, the legendary George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, will be bringing the P-Funk Collective back to Australia for Bluesfest next year and will also play two very special solo sideshows.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inductees, led by the illustrious Dr. George Clinton are amongst the most sampled musicians on the planet. No doubt hits like Atomic Dog, One Nation Under a Groove, We Want the Funk, Flashlight and Mothership Connection will make their way onto sets when they play Sydney’s Enmore Theatre and Melbourne’s 170 Russell next April 2015.

In Clinton’s famous words, this tour is going to “Tear The Roof Off The Sucker”.

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic Bluesfest sideshow dates

Tickets on sale 9am Monday 13th October

Wednesday, 1st April 2015
The Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tickets: Ticketek, 132 849

Friday, 3rd April 2015
170 Russell, Melbourne
Tickets: Bluesfest Touring, 02 6685 8310

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

New Orleans based Trombone Shorty and the Orleans Avenue are a hard-edged funk band that employ hip-hop beats, rock dynamics and improvisation in an age old jazz tradition. Well loved in their hometown, they’ve toured the world extensively and are heading back to Australia in 2015 for a Bluesfest set and their own rabble-rousing solo sideshows.

Trombone Shorty began his career as a bandleader at the tender age of six, and toured internationally for the first time age 12 before joining Lenny Kravitz‘s horn section at 19 for a 105-date world tour. He has since scored Grammy nominations, appeared on TV shows including David Simon’s Treme and played at the White House.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue will delight fans in April 2015 when they take the stage at Sydney’s Factory Theatre and then move on to Melbourne’s Corner Hotel. The shows are sure to be an endless party.