Blues On Broadbeach Presents Bandwidth A Virtual Showcase

Update - 12 May, 2020: US blues legends Robert Cray and Don Bryant have been added to the Bandwidth presented by Blues on Broadbeach line-up this Friday. Don will beam in live from his home in the blues capital Memphis. While The Robert Cray Band's 2018 Broadbeach performance will also be featured.

After been forced to cancel their 2020 event, Blues On Broadbeach will go virtual in May with Bandwidth featuring a swag of artists from this year's original line-up performing from their own homes.

Despite a calendar of cancelled and postponed gigs and festivals, the Broadbeach Alliance still wanted to present fans some type of event.

Bandwidth will go ahead on Friday 15 May as a 90-minute broadcast premiering live on Facebook at 7pm EST. There will also be a special encore performance for northern hemisphere-based fans (16 May at 7pm Los Angeles time PDT).

"Bandwidth is an online meeting point for our festival tribe, a celebration of our event and a snapshot of musicians working from home around the globe," Festival Director Mark Duckworth says.

"It's a non-traditional concert experience that we can provide for our audience to enjoy. Turn on, tune in, drop out."

Headlining Bandwidth will be original 2020 headliner Tommy Emmanuel, who Music Radar recently named the best living acoustic guitarist in the world.

Joining Tommy will be Karen Lee Andrews, Karise Eden, Li'l Chuck The One Man Skiffle Machine (NZ), Shaun Kirk, Tami Neilson (NZ), The Black Sorrows, The Soul Movers and The Turner Brown Band (USA).

"The best way to get rid of the blues is to sing the blues," Tami Neilson says, "so I'm looking forward to joining you all online, with my brother Jay Neilson beaming in from Toronto to join me for a special set we've cooked up just for you."


Bandwidth will also dip into Blues On Broadbeach's extensive archive to showcase the 2016 electrifying performance from high-energy festival favourite Lachy Doley.

"These are crazy times, and to musicians and live music lovers these important restrictions have taken away a piece of our heart, culture and livelihood," Lachy says. "I'm thrilled that Blues On Broadbeach have decided to bring the festival into our homes.

"Alongside the incredible line-up from what was to be this year's Blues On Broadbeach festival, I'm stoked to have my 2016 Blues On Broadbeach concert aired as part of this great initiative.

"I love this festival and it's incredible loyal audience that I get to catch up with whenever I'm there. This performance was one of the most career changing events in my life and I hope you enjoy it as much this time around."

Bandwidth premieres on Facebook on 15 May at 7pm EST.

Bandwidth 2020 Line-up

Don Bryant
Karen Lee Andrews
Karise Eden
Li'l Chuck The One Man Skiffle Machine (NZ)
Shaun Kirk
Tami Neilson (NZ)
The Black Sorrows
The Soul Movers
The Turner Brown Band (USA)
Tommy Emmanuel (USA)

Plus The Lachy Doley Group (2016 archival performance) and The Robert Cray Band (2108 archival performance)