Bluesfest 2022 Opening Night headlined by The Cat Empire for their final live show 
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03.11.2021

Bluesfest 2022 Opening Night headlined by The Cat Empire for their final live show 

Byron Bay's Bluesfest 2022 reveals the details of opening night of the five-day festival.

Bluesfest Byron Bay has announced an additional three acts set to grace the stage at the 2022 installment of the festival, joining an already stacked lineup of Aussie-NZ talent.

Headlining the opening night of the festival on Thursday, April 14 is none other than The Cat Empire, who will perform an electric final show with the original lineup after 20 years in what will be the Bluesfest’s biggest opening night ever.

What you need to know

  • The Bluesfest 2022 lineup has another three names on board, performing for opening night only
  • The Cat Empire are headlining, performing an electric final show with the original lineup after 20 years
  • The festival has 85 artists and counting 

Keep up with the latest festival news, reviews and interviews here.

During a career that has seen close to 1,500 joyous live shows played across the planet over the past two decades, The Cat Empire became a much-loved pillar of Australian funk music. Earlier this year the band announced that the original 20-year lineup will play their final shows together in December 2021, with Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill moving forward as members of the next iteration of the band.

“It’s going to be a magnificent celebration when The Cat Empire play their final ever show Easter Thursday at Bluesfest after 20 years, including an incredible 16 performances at Bluesfest in that time,” says Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM.

“We always believed they would be a major band, everywhere, when we first saw them play at the Prince Bandroom, St Kilda, all those years ago, and booked them as a result. Now they are known and loved all over the world. It will be interesting to see what everyone from the original lineup does in future.

“Felix & Ollie have advised they will be launching The Cat Empire II soon … can’t wait, but meantime… we get to say ‘Goodbye, Goodbye’ before we say ‘Hello, Hello’ again.”

The festival also announced additional acts Caravãna Sun and Tijuana Cartel, who will both perform on the main stage immediately before The Cat Empire’s final performance.

Returning to its five-day format, Bluesfest will go ahead at its traditional Easter slot in 2022, after having being rescheduled for the third time. These three additional artists join the 82 performers set to play more than 130 shows over the festival period from April 14 – 18, 2022, including the likes of Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, The Teskey Brothers, Fat Freddy’s Drop, L.A.B, John Butler, Xavier Rudd, Missy Higgins, Pete Murray, Ian Moss, plus heaps more.

Full Bluesfest 2022 Lineup

Midnight Oil
Paul Kelly
Jimmy Barnes
The Teskey Brothers
Fat Freddy’s Drop
L.A.B
John Butler
Xavier Rudd
Missy Higgins
Pete Murray
Ian Moss
The Living End
Kasey Chambers
Jon Stevens
Kate Ceberano
The Waifs
Ross Wilson and The Peaceniks
The Angels
The Church
Tex Perkins The Man In Black
John Williamson
Hiatus Kaiyote
Weddings Parties Anything
The Black Sorrows
Kate Miller-Heidke
Vika & Linda
Mark Seymour & The Undertow
Diesel
Russell Morris
Troy Cassar-Daley
C.W. Stoneking
Josh Teskey & Ash Grunwald
All Our Exes Live In Texas
Briggs
Chain
The Bamboos
Backsliders
Melbourne Ska Orchestra
19-Twenty
Ash Grunwald
Henry Wagons
Jeff Lang
Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers
Ray Beadle
Pacey, King & Doley
Nathan Cavaleri
Kim Churchill
FOOLS
Mama Kin Spender
Dami Im
Pierce Brothers
Emily Wurramara
The Buckleys
Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission
Daniel Champagne
JK-47
The Regime
Garrett Kato
Hussy Hicks
ROSHANI
Little Georgia
Round Mountain Girls
ELECTRIK LEMONADE
LamBros.
PALM VALLEY
Six60
Hoodoo Gurus
Baker Boy
Renee Geyer
Sam Teskey
Kara Grainger
Jeff Martin (Tea Party) playing Led Zeppelin
Amy Shark
Casey Barnes
Stan Walker
Kevin Borich Express
Lachy Doley & The Horns of Conviction
Lisa Hunt’s Forever Soul
Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers
Hat Fitz & Cara
The Cat Empire
Caravãna Sun
Tijuana Cartel

For those who already have tickets to other days of the event, Bluesfest have made Thursday add-on tickets available. For everyone else, 5-Day season, 3-day Thu-Fri-Sat, and single-day tickets are all on sale now! 

For tickets, artist bios and more info, head to the festival website here.