The final-ever Bendigo Blues & Roots festival is happening this November

The countdown is finally on for the festival that sees the humble town of Bendigo embrace upwards of thousands of music lovers and more than 100 acts across more than 40 venues, with the tenth annual Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival making its highly-anticipated return in November.

The beloved 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. In some bittersweet news for the festival’s return, it will also be its final ever event.

What you need to know

• Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival returns for one last time from 3-6 November 2022
• The festival will feature performances, open mic opportunities, jam sessions and workshops by more than 100 artists in more than 40 venues
• Goanna, Colin Hay, Tex Perkins & Matt Walker, Karen Lee Andrews, The Three Kings feat: Dave Hole and more will perform across the weekend
• Tickets are on sale now

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. The festival announced the news of its finale back in July, citing a much-needed break for volunteers as a core reason.

“The dedicated committee and crew who’ve made the event happen each November, outside of pandemic-affected years, since 2011 are in need of a rest, especially after working tirelessly for three years trying to bring the 10th anniversary event to fruition,” a statement from organisers said.

“In that time, 2020 and 2021, even when they couldn’t stage the full-blown festival, which consistently features over 100 acts playing in around 50 venues over a four-day program, the BB&RMF team has still found ways to provide paid work for artists and production crews.

“They may have learned a lot about running online events and keeping connected to their audience in alternative ways since 2019, but the crew is excited to finally be able to stage BB&RMF number 10 in November 2022, for thousands of happy punters, after such a long but unavoidable wait.”

 

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Since its beginnings in 2011, founded by Colin Thompson and a dedicated crew of music lovers, the festival has become synonymous with creating a warm, friendly and artistic vibe amongst patrons, strolling along the street from venue to venue, hearing music from all directions and having so many options, and such amazing talent. This sense of ‘community’ has also evolved between musicians, some of which have played almost every year and others that may have never been to Bendigo before.

For its final event, the four-day festival will again be filled with performances, open mic opportunities, jam sessions and workshops – by more than 100 artists from all over Australia (as well as some internationals) – conducted in over 40 venues throughout the CBD and some surrounding areas. From hotels to street parties, cafes, to carparks and the famed Art Gallery, music will fill the streets in White Hills, Golden Square, Quarry Hill, Long Gully, Eaglehawk, Kangaroo Flat and as far flung as Maldon, uniting the local community and traders while showcasing the Bendigo Arts Precinct, CBD and culture.

With a treasure trove of discovery, the lineup features artists from the original 2020 lineup alongside some new worthy additions. You’ll see sets from the likes of national heroes Goanna, Colin Hay, Tex Perkins & Matt Walker, Karen Lee Andrews, The Three Kings feat: Dave Hole, Geoff Achison & Shane Pacey, Fiona Boyes, Daniel Aaron, 40 Thieves, Georgia Rodgers, The McNaMarr Project, Grim Fawkner, Taylor Sheridan, Hannah Acfield, Bill Barber Trio, Alister Turrill and Leslie D. King & The Trembling Shakes, among many, many others.

On the international front, artists include Tennyson King (CAN) and Chris Jagger & Charlie Hart (UK). Peep the full lineup below.

Regardless of your musical persuasions, the line-up clearly spans a number of genres including everything from blues, jazz, funk, folk, to indie, with some artists performing the festival before, and others making their Bendigo debut.

A highlight will, of course, be the day-long friendly-family centrepiece concert featuring more than a dozen great acts in Bendigo’s picturesque Rosalind Park on Saturday, November 5 2022. The community-focused environment, historic scenery and atmospheric charm of the main concert always attracts a range of music lovers, with punters 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. 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.

The lineup for the long-awaited 10th festival:

Serving up a jam-packed four days of music, talent, art, community, and fun for the whole family, the festival is a true celebration and reflection of the blues and roots scene in Bendigo, the nation and the world.

Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival runs from November 3-6 2022. Further information and tickets for the festival are available here.