A festival blending the earthy and soulful beauty of blues and blues rock music, with the charm and grace of Okinawan and Japanese folk music.
The idea of launching a new cross-cultural blues festival came about after a chance meeting of like-minded Okinawan musicians and Australian martial artists at Shuri Castle in Naha in October 2022. Friendships were forged and so was the idea of launching a new music festival in Australia.
Matsumura Blues Festival
- Prince Bandroom
- St Kilda
- 1 June 2024
- Powerhouse Place
- Mildura Riverfront
- 8, 9 June 2024
- King’s Birthday Long Weekend
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Lineup
- Okinawa Americana (JPN)
- 19-Twenty (nsw)
- Minnie Marks (nsw)
- Phil Para band (vic)
- Dalicados (vic)
- George & Noriko (vic/sa)
- Mark Easton (qld)
- Doggerel (vic)
- Windsavers (vic)
- Sonorous (NZ)
- Sayaka Ohno – taiko drummer (vic/jpn)
- Eisa Champroo – Okinawan drumming dancers (NSW)
The goal of the Matsumura Blues Festival is to establish a bespoke music festival where East meets West. With the prevalence of ex-patriot Americans living in Okinawa on US marine bases, over time a new fused genre of blues developed. This music blends the earthy and soulful beauty of blues and blues rock music, with the charm and grace of Okinawan and Japanese folk music steeped in ancient tradition. The festival in Mildura will also feature an impressive didgeridoo performance.
The festival will launch on 1 June 2024 in St Kilda, Victoria, at the iconic Prince Bandroom and also take place on the King’s Birthday Long Weekend on 8 and 9 June 2024 in beautiful Mildura on the banks of the Mighty Murray at the recently redeveloped historic Powerhouse Place (next to Jaycee park).
Tickets and info here.
