This is not a drill.
We’re somehow almost halfway through March and while it’s alarming the rate at which this year is flying by, it does mean Bluesfest is around the corner. Now that the beloved Byron Bay festival so close you can almost taste it, it’s time to start planning your itinerary.
With five stages and a jam-packed lineup, there are bound to be some tough decisions to make, but if you’re heading along for the full four days, you won’t have to miss a thing. A huge handful of artists will be playing multiple times across the festival, including Mavis Staples, The California Honeydrops, Snarky Puppy, Kurt Vile and The Violators, Baker Boy and Mojo Juju, giving you a chance to skip out on them early one day and catch them again the next.
Richard Clapton, The Black Sorrows and Ocean Alley will wrap up Thursday night before Friday picks straight back up with I’m With Her and Baker Boy. If you’re a fan of Iggy Pop and Tash Sultana, you may find yourself ducking between stages on Friday night. Saturday and Sunday will have you traversing the North Byron Parklands as you make your way from Boomerang Juke Joint with Mojo Juju and Archi Roach to the Jambalaya stage for Yothu Yindi and the Treaty Project before ending your night with Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals at Mojo.
Sunday may pit George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic against Jack Johnson, but if you’re still around on Monday you’ll have another chance to see Clinton and co. Finally, spend the last Bluesfest afternoon with Thando and Julia Stone before Paul Kelly and The Saboteurs close out the festival on Monday night. What a dream.
Not packing until it’s time to head to Bluesfest is one thing, but to not plan your way around clashes is another level of disorganisation. So grab your highlighter and get ready to argue with your mates.
