Crowded House Lead First Artist Announcement For Final Bluesfest

The first artist announcement for the final Bluesfest is here, and boy, does it feel weird typing that.

Last week, Bluesfest Byron Bay Festival Director Peter Noble OAM revealed that next year’s event will be its last, farewelling the epic, long-lasting festival after its 36th edition.

Crowded House will lead the first artist announcement for the final Bluesfest, going out with a bang. Once again, the festival will return over the Easter Weekend—in 2025, that’s Thursday, 17 April, to Sunday, 20 April.

Another 19 local and international acts will join the Better Be Home Soon icons, including Vance Joy, Tones & I, Ocean Alley, Gary Clark Jr, Rag'n'Bone Man, RY X, Allison Russell, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Pierce Brothers, Marc Broussard, 19-Twenty, WILSN, and Aussie country stars Brad Cox and Fanny Lumsden.

In addition to the aforementioned acts, the festival has locked in exclusive performances from Here Come The Mummies, The California Honeydrops, Taj Farrant, Cimafunk, and Neal Francis.

Noble said of the first batch of artists—and the response to last week’s announcement about the end of Bluesfest:

As we prepare for the final chapter of Bluesfest in 2025, I am profoundly moved by the outpouring of support from thousands in our community, along with the many artists and their management eager to be part of our farewell edition. Thank you all for your heartfelt messages and expressions of solidarity. 

We're thrilled to unveil the first wave of artists for our grand finale. This line-up, meticulously curated to honour Bluesfest's rich legacy, features a dynamic mix of legendary and cutting-edge performers. This announcement marks just the beginning. Our second line-up is well and truly in the works, and the reveal is on the horizon, promising to further enhance what is set to be an epic farewell. 

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Let's make the final Bluesfest one for the ages! 

Warmest regards, 

Peter Noble OAM Director, Bluesfest 

Early bird tickets for Bluesfest 2025 are now available – get in quick and secure your tickets here.

After the 2024 event wrapped up, Noble was quick to confirm that Bluesfest would “125 million per cent” return in 2025 while revealing that the attendance rate was “at least the same” as last year.

“We have held our position, and as much as we would like to see more people come, it's not going to happen until the interest rates drop,” he said at the time. “We do ask our government to support our industry until then.

“We all know that the music industry is facing challenges right now. The interest rate rises, intended to curb the disposable dollar spending, have influenced all aspects of the industry except for superstars touring, such as Taylor Swift.”

The line-up for Bluesfest 2024 featured Jack Johnson, Tom Jones, The Teskey Brothers, Jimmy Barnes, The Cruel Sea, Rickie Lee Jones, Portugal. The Man, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, and more.

BYRON BAY BLUESFEST

36TH AND FINAL FESTIVAL - EASTER 2025 APRIL 17 - 20 APRIL 2025

FIRST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT OF MANY

Crowded House

Vance Joy • Ocean Alley • Tones & I

Gary Clark Jr • Rag'n'Bone Man

RY X • Allison Russell • Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram

Brad Cox • Here Come The Mummies EXCLUSIVE

The California Honeydrops EXCLUSIVE • Marc Broussard • Pierce Brothers

Taj Farrant EXCLUSIVE • Fanny Lumsden • 19-Twenty

WILSN • Cimafunk EXCLUSIVE • Neal Francis EXCLUSIVE