In 2018 the multi-award winning Blues On Broadbeach returns for four days (17-20 May) of quality international, national and local blues and roots music. And the best part? It's absolutely free.
Without further ado, Blues On Broadbeach will welcome five-time Grammy Award winner and Blues Hall of Famer Robert Cray and his band. "It’s been a while since we’ve been Down Under," Robert says. "We’re really looking forward to coming back."
Stax Records signees Southern Avenue hail from the home of the blues and have been lauded ‘the most talked about band in Memphis’. They will visit Australia for the first time to perform exclusively at Blues On Broadbeach.
Another act visiting from the USA are blues-infused rockers Kid Congo and the Pink Monkeys Birds.
A founding member of The Gun Club, and erstwhile guitarist for legendary psycho-billy purveyors The Cramps, as well as Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, the legendary Kid Congo Powers has garage-blues punk swagger in spades.
The 2018 festival is also hosting another special event, with The Star Gold Coast offering blues fans a free and exclusive concert, with the chance to get up-close and intimate with music legend Jon Stevens.
The New Zealand star, formerly of Noiseworks, Jesus Christ Superstar and INXS fame, has recently teamed up with Dave Stewart from Eurythmics to record his new album, 'Starlight'.
The line-up also includes iconic Australian rock band The Screaming Jets playing on the Surf Parade Stage on the Saturday night of the festival.
Other well-known locals to be added to the bill include Karl S. Williams, Blues Arcadia and Mason Rack Band.
"It’s great to see how much the Blues On Broadbeach music festival has progressed," Festival Director Mark Duckworth says. "The programme continues to expand with more international acts and venues like The Star contributing to the festival’s growth."
'With more than 161,000 visitors last year, the event provided a $20 million economic boost to the region as well as winning ‘Best Regional Event QLD’ and ‘Best Tourism Event QLD’ in 2017.'
2018 Blues On Broadbeach Line-up
The Robert Cray BandThe Screaming Jets
Backsliders
Lloyd Spiegel
Jon Stevens
Eilen Jewell
Charlie A'Court
Southern Avenue
Kid Congo and the Pink Monkeys Birds
Karl S. Williams
19 Twenty
Karen Lee Andrews
Justin Yap Band
Blues Arcadia
The Satellites
Mason Rack Band
Dreamboogie
PJ O'Brien Band
Christina Crofts Band
Toni Swain
Benny D Williams
Titan Payne and The Big Zydeco Express
Jesse Valach Presents Blues Mountain
Sunny Coast Rude Boys
Hell and Whisky
Plus more still to be announced
