Bluesfest have added another Australian exclusive performance to their 2024 line-up, with Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals to play Byron Bay's iconic Easter long weekend festival.
An artist with 30-plus years experience, Ben has penned such contemporary classics as 'Steel My Kisses', 'In The Colors', 'Diamonds On The Inside', 'Burn One Down' and 'Forever'. Bluesfest was also Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals' very first Australian festival appearance back in 1996."For our fifth and (probably not) final artist announcement, we are proud to present the artist who has done more to bring Bluesfest to the masses, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, for their first performance in Australia in five years. Ben first played Bluesfest in 1996," shares Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM.
"No other artist who has played Bluesfest has had such an influence on the Australian music industry outside of B.B. King. We wouldn't have John Butler Trio, Xavier Rudd, The Beautiful Girls, Angus & Julia Stone as they are today if it wasn't for his influence.
"Ben and his band's performances at Bluesfest are legendary. This is an experience not to be missed on Easter Sunday."
Funk-metal supergroup Infectious Groves ('Violent & Funky', 'Please Excuse This Funk Up') will also join 2024 Bluesfest, the band featuring Robert Trujillo on bass (Metallica), Mike Muir on vocals (Suicidal Tendencies), Jay Weinberg on drums (Slipknot), Dave Kushner on guitar (Velvet Revolver), and Dean Pleasants on guitar (Suicidal Tendencies).
"They are a true funk-punk supergroup," Noble says. "Again, Bluesfest has featured, in the past, great genre-bending funk bands such as Fishbone and Funkadelic, and here's another one to funk your mind up."
Today's announcement also features British blues-folk-pop singer-songwriter Katie Melua ('Wonderful Life', 'Nine Million Bicycles', 'The Closest Thing To Crazy'), who returns to Australia to perform live for the first time in 20 years.
"We also have Aussie favourite Brad Cox, who last year won a Golden Guitar for Top Selling Country Album of the Year in 2023," adds Noble sharing the other additions to the 2024 line-up.
"The Waifs are one of the favourite bands ever to play Bluesfest. We have Nhulunbuy-based Yolgnu singer Yirrmal, who is, to many, regarded as having the greatest voice in indigenous music today. His father was a critical member of Yothu Yindi. His 2023 Bluesfest performance was so good we are bringing him back again.
"LA band Dirty Honey is the next big thing, managed by the same team as The Black Crowes and the Counting Crows. Bluesfest prides itself in presenting bands for the first time that go on to become one of the world's biggest bands, and we think Dirty Honey is the next big thing. Don't miss them.
"Out of the small group of white didgeridoo players who have mastered the instrument, none are as energetic as eMDee from Humpty Doo. He plays multiple didgeridoos at the same time. He is a must-see artist and one that we so rarely get to present outside of the Northern Territory."
This round of artist additions follows the December reveal that PJ Morton (four-time Grammy winner), Allman Betts Family Revival (featuring Devon Allman, Duane Betts – the sons of founding Allman Brothers Band members Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts), Larry McCray and Ally Venable are all headed to 2024 Bluesfest.
Tickets are on sale.
Bluesfest takes place at Byron Events Farm (Northern Rivers) 28 March to 1 April.
Bluesfest 2024 Line-up
Ben Harper & The Innocent CriminalsInfectious Grooves
Katie Melua
The Waifs
Brad Cox
Yirrimal
Dirty Honey
Jerome Williams
Ben Swissa
eMDee
Perry Street Park
Da Manager
Who join already announced
Jack Johnson
Tom Jones
The Teskey Brothers
Matt Corby
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Portugal. The Man
L.A.B
Ziggy Alberts
The Cruel Sea
Elvis Costello & The Imposters
The Dead South
Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos
Taj Mahal
Tommy Emmanuel
Tim Finn
Snarky Puppy
PJ Morton
Blind Boys of Alabama
Rickie Lee Jones
Ian Moss
Drive-By Truckers
Dan Sultan
The Paper Kites
The Whitlams Black Stump
Allman Betts Family Revival feat. Devon Allman & Duane Betts with special guests Larry McCray & Ally Venable
Meshell Ndegeocello
Coterie
Playing For Change Band
Newton Faulkner
Taj Farrant
19-Twenty
Lisa Hunt's Forever Soul
Steve Poltz
Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers
The Turner Brown Band
Harry Manx
Erja Lyytinen
Jackie Venson
Pierce Brothers
Clayton Doley's Bayou Billabong
Here Come The Mummies
Caravana Sun
WILSN
Little Quirks
Velvet Trip
Hussy Hicks
Blues Arcadia
Women of Soul Collective
ROSHANI
Sweet Talk
RocKwiz Live
