Bluesfest is coming to Melbourne for the first time in 2023 with a huge lineup

Australia's favourite contemporary blues and roots music festival is heading to Melbourne for the first time in 2023.

It will take place on Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9 and will feature performances from some huge international and local talent, including Ash Grunwald, Buddy Guy, The Doobie Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass, Henry Wagons, Kaleo, Kasey Chambers, Keb’ Mo’, Lucinda Williams, Paolo Nutini, Robert Glasper, Steve Earle and many more.

Bluesfest Melbourne 2023

• Bluesfest, Byron Bay’s favourite festival, is heading to Melbourne for two days next year
• It’s the first-ever iteration of Bluesfest in Melbourne
• It all goes down on Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9

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

There will be multiple indoor theatres and stages, an array of food and drink, family entertainment and much more, all culminating in the ultimate Bluesfest experience, transforming the banks of the Birrarung into a full weatherproof festival precinct. With a range of ticket options to suit everyone, tickets are bound to sell out fast.

It’s set to be the only Melbourne shows of both The Doobie Brothers and Paolo Nutini.

“I am so excited to be bringing Australia’s leading music festival, Bluesfest Byron Bay down south to present a first-of-its-kind two-day indoor music festival,” says Bluesfest chief Peter Noble. “We’ll be bringing some of the absolute premium international and local artists who perform at Bluesfest alongside the fantastic Melbourne artists to create an experience for music lovers that is unprecedented in this city.”

“Offering patrons the chance to see more than 30 performances over a two-day period in an environment that is weatherproofed, accessible and safe, right in the heart of the Melbourne and Docklands area. I see Bluesfest Melbourne becoming an absolute must-see on the annual events calendar.”

A taste of the artists to come …

(in alphabetical order)

• Ash Grunwald
• Backsliders
• Buddy Guy
• Chain
• Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
• C.W. Stoneking & His Primative Horn Orchestra
• The Doobie Brothers
• Eric Gales
• Eugene Hideaway Bridges
• Fools
• Geoff Achison & The Souldiggers
• Greensky Bluegrass
• Henry Wagons
• Kaleo
• Kasey Chambers
• Keb’ Mo’
• Lucinda Williams
• Melbourne Ska Orchestra
• Paolo Nutini
• Robert Glasper
• Shaun Kirk
• The Soul Rebels with Talib Kewli and GZA
• Soutehrn Avenue
• Steve Earle
• Xavier Rudd

Find out more by heading to their website. Tickets go on sale Monday, November 14 at 9am through ticketmaster.com.au