11 must-see events at the final Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival

It’s less than a week to go until the tenth annual Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival makes its highly-anticipated return in November, bringing along more than 100 acts across more than 40 venues.

The beloved homegrown festival will deliver its four-day program from November 3 – 6 for its postponed tenth edition, which was originally scheduled to take place in November 2020, November 2021, and February 2022, also marking the festival’s last-ever run.

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Proudly supported by Visit Victoria and City of Greater Bendigo, the festival is a predominantly free, grass-roots, community event that gives music fans and community members the opportunity to enjoy world-class music, with a focus on local and independent talent from the blues and roots genres, spanning free performances, ticketed events, jam sessions and workshops throughout Bendigo and surrounding towns.

There are lots of great events happening across the weekend, but here are a few special ones that you might like to get to if you’re in Bendigo for the festival’s last hurrah.

Tex Perkins & Matt Walker + Kings of The Blues

Sunday, November 6, 3pm

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing blues experience, look no further than Tex Perkins and Matt Walker, with the Kings of The Blues trio.

Tex Perkins has played a key role in Australian music and it’s understandably difficult to pull together a coherent picture of a man whose career has taken in everything from the groundbreaking experimental punktonica of Sydney mid-80s noiseniks Thug to the lilting, dark country of his recent material with the Dark Horses.

From the hard edged pub rock of the Beasts Of Bourbon’s, a snarling slice of filthy pub rock to the evocative soundscapes of The Cruel Sea, whose extraordinary 1991 single ‘This Is Not The Way Home’ placed Perkins’ world-weary growl in a new musical context and heralded the emergence of an entirely original yet archetypically Australian sound. Then there’s the Tex, Don & Charlie albums, which saw Perkins joining forces with the legendary Don Walker, Cold Chisel’s pianist and master songwriter and son of the Clarence Valley, and Charlie Owen, previously Australia’s best kept musical secret.

Now is Tex’s exciting new (and long overdue) collaboration with Matt Walker (a great artist in his own right) for epic duo shows. It’s a blues swamp-groove kinda thing that’s a little reminiscent of some of the things in Tex’s back catalogue. Many new originals inhabit the setlist, but see them now while they still have to flesh out the set with a few Cruel Sea covers!

The duo will be supported by three of of Australia’s greatest players, Geoff Achison, Dave Hole and Shane Pacey paying homage to BB, Freddie and Albert, as well as Georgia Rodgers.

Tickets here.

Classical Jazz Dinner & Show at MacKenzie Quarters

Friday, November 4, 6pm. 

If you like to mix your food with your blues, Dinner & A Show – ‘Classical Jazz’ should not be missed.

Presented by MacKenzie Quarters together with Bendigo Blues & Roots Musical Festival, the show features La Fiaba String Quartet, The Django Fretts, and Alanna & Alicia, alongside a two course dinner from the MsBatterhams kitchen with access to a full bar.

Bull Street Live

Thursday, November 3 – Saturday, November 5

There’s clearly a lot of love about the Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival, but one of its true highlights is the festival’s very own street party, returning in 2022 to the heart of Bendigo’s CBD.

Here, Bull Street will come alive with one of the biggest and best lineups ever, featuring more than 20 live acts from all over Australia providing three days of sensational entertainment, with food stalls, outside bars and wineries lining the street.

Bull Street Live starts Friday 6pm and goes through the night with Taylor Sheridan Band, T.K.Reeve, Fiona Boyes, and finishing with a big set from Melbourne’s Checkerboard Lounge.

Blues on Bull Street kicks off from 2pm Saturday with festival favourite and Bendigo local Luke Harrington, then The Ellroys, The Deans of Soul, Shannon Bourne Band, Rambal, Anna Scionti Trio, Buddy Knox Band, The McNaMarr Project, and That Gold Street Sound.

Other performing artists include Minnie Marks, Lambros, The Barren Spinsters, Bag O’Nails, Rory Phillips and more.

The street party will officially kick off with the festival Launch Party on Thursday night with free admission while Friday and Saturday’s street concerts require tickets. There will also be a special after-party on Friday Night which will be split between The Metro and Tonic, both on Bull Street, and featuring some of the most energetic, fun bands on the festival’s program.

Limited tickets here.

Goanna – Celebrating 40 Years of Spirit of Place

Saturday, November 5, 7:30pm

Forty years on, and with their messages of positive engagement in Indigenous rights and environmental protection more relevant than ever, Australian icons Goanna return to celebrate their multi-platinum, game-changing debut album ‘Spirit of Place’.

In the early ‘80s, in the midst of Aussie Rock’s golden age, Goanna helped forge a new Australian identity. Before Midnight Oil and Paul Kelly addressed similar issues, the iconic ‘Solid Rock’ stoked a fire for Indigenous rights that hasn’t gone out, while the anthem of ‘Let The Franklin Flow’ was a call to arms for the emerging environmental movement. Soulful, lyrical, brimming with musicality and creative volatility, Goanna mixed classic folk song craft with spirited roots rock, helping to establish a musical thread that remains vital and ubiquitous in Australian music today.

In 2022, Shane Howard, Rose Bygrave, Marcia Howard and Graham Davidge, together with special guests, embark on a new journey, paying homage to their classic songs and reigniting the Goanna spirit once more.

Goanna is proudly presented as part of the 2022 Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival.

Tickets here.

All-Day Family-Friendly Concert in Rosalind Park

Saturday, November 5, 11am 

A highlight of the festival each year is Saturday’s all-day, family-friendly concert in Rosalind Park in the heart of Bendigo’s CBD.

Here, more than a dozen acts will grace two stages from late morning, and punters are encouraged to bring along a picnic rug and chairs and enjoy a day lazing in the sun under the leafy 120 year old trees while discovering your new favourite artist. Performing artists this year include Geoffrey Williams, Tuckshop Ladies, Jesse Morris Band, Kerryn Fields, Shannon Bourne Band, This Way North, Bill Barber Trio, That Gold Street Sound and more.

Great food, local wine, beer and cider are all available to purchase on site too so once you have your spot of the grass, you’ll be set for the rest of the day.

This event is free.

Colin Hay

Thursday, November 3, 8pm

Considered by critics as one of the most revered storytellers on the live music scene, Colin Hay kicks off his Australian Tour at The Capital on November 3rd as part of the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival with a highly anticipated solo jaunt on his first solo tour Down Under in years to promote his new album.

With 2022 also marking 40 years since Men at Work released their debut, Business As Usual (an album spawning smash hits ‘Down Under’ and ‘Who Can It Be Now?’), the solo tour comes off the back of Hay’s newest body of work, Now And The Evermore, released back in March this year.

Described by American Songwriter as “an album for the ages”, Now And The Evermore has been praised by reviewers for embodying all the elements of good storytelling and artistry.

In recent times Hay has been busy touring the US with Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band (the fifth time he has gone out globally with Ringo Starr) but it’s these solo shows are where his storytelling truly shines.He’ll be playing songs from both of his newest releases for the first time since he last toured down under, along with his other solo works, and of course, performing the beloved Men At Work Classics.

Tickets here.

The Blues Tram 

Friday, November 4 – Sunday, November 6 at various times 

There’s a unique way to enjoy live music again this year as part of the Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival and that is aboard The Blues Tram. Combining Bendigo’s best attractions – its historic trams, its famous leafy streetscapes and sublime local, national and internationals musical talent – this unique ‘mobile parlour gig’ is the perfect way to mix up the weekend activities.

More than just a gig, the Blues Tram is an experience, at its best, of performing arts, locally produced wines and beverages, and of course, the visual extravaganza of the tour itself. This whole experience exudes class and style. The unhurried nature of the event lets you soak up the music, banter, hospitality and atmosphere that’s on offer monthly.

The Blues Tram runs during the Festival weekend and monthly throughout the year, except December. As part of the festival, confirmed artists to perform aboard include Sherri Perry and David Spry on Friday; Erica Hawkey and Jarrod Shaw on Saturday afternoon; Don Morrison and Charlie Bedford on Saturday night; and Tasha Zappala and Chris Jagger on Sunday.

Please note, this is an 18+ event.

Tickets here.

Kerryn Fields, Hannah Acfield and Luke Watt at the Old Church on the Hill

Saturday, November 5, 6:30pm