The Soul Rebels w/GZA | Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Bluesfest Is Coming To Melbourne In 2023

November 10, 2022

One of the biggest events on the Australian festival calendar, Bluesfest, is expanding to Melbourne for the very first time next year.

The Byron Bay-based blues and roots extravaganza will be making its Victorian debut at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, 8th and Sunday, 9th April 2023. The lineup features C.W. Stinking & His Primitive Horn Orchestra, Ash Grunwald, The Doobie Brothers, Robert Glasper, Greensky Bluegrass, Henry Wagons, Buddy Guy, Kaleo, Kasey Chambers, Keb’ Mo’, Lucinda Williams, Paolo Nutini, Steve Earle and many more.

Ash Grunwald – ‘Let Me Go’

Promoters are promising a “spectacular” two-day event, which will see the Exhibition Centre on the Yarra River transformed into a weather-proof festival precinct with multiple indoor stages, plenty of food and drink options, family entertainment, and more.

“I am so excited to be bringing Australia’s leading music festival, Bluesfest Byron Bay, down south to present a first of its kind two-day indoor music festival,” Bluesfest boss Peter Noble said in a statement.

“We’ll be bringing some of the absolute premium international and local artists who perform at Bluesfest alongside fantastic Melbourne artists to create an experience for music lovers that is unprecedented in this city.”

Noble highlighted the opportunity for residents of Australia’s live music capital to see “more than 30 performances over a two day period” right in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD and Docklands area. “I see Bluesfest Melbourne becoming an absolute must-see on the annual events calendar,” Noble said.