Articles by Nick Bond

Entertainment

Iconic band reunites to headline Bluesfest 2026

The massive reunion show will be the band’s first Australian performance together since their 2009 set at Sound Relief Melbourne (they do have one New Zealand performance booked ahead of Bluesfest, at a Christchurch music festival in February). For this reunion, the band will consist of Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie, and Eddie Rayner, joined by Matt Eccles on drums and James Milne on bass. The Kiwi band had a string of huge hits – among them Six Months In A Leaky Boat, I Got You and Message to My Girl – over a decade from 1975, before Crowded House rose from the ashes of their initial split in the mid-80s. Other headliners announced today among the first round of Bluesfest artists are legendary R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire, rockers Counting Crows, ska pioneers Sublime and ‘greatest living Bluesman’, Buddy Guy, making a surprise return to our shores after what was billed as a farewell tour several years ago. Bluesfest’s 2026 outing has already been met with some controversy, after festival organisers last year announced that the 2025 Bluesfest would be the final event. Fans flocked to what was billed as the last-ever Bluesfest – only for organisers to then announce it would be back again next year. Festival director Peter Noble said the groundswell of support from artists and festivalgoers since their announcement had made them realise the festival could continue. “That support means Bluesfest fans have kept this dream alive,” he said in a statement. “People want this event, people want it to continue.” But some who flocked to the 2025 festival thought they’d fallen victim to clever marketing. “I just thought, ‘We’ve been screwed over’,” local attendee Jeff Barnes told the ABC during last year’s festival. “Officially this was the last ever Bluesfest and we felt like we had to be a part of it. We just feel like we have been totally betrayed.” In a statement today announcing the first line-up, Mr Noble said he and the Bluesfest team were working on some “major improvements” for the 2026 festival “Our main stage will have a bigger venue footprint, new seating zones, and undercover areas for campers and deck chairs – both indoor and outdoor. Plus, we’re adding more buses to more areas, responding directly to what our audience has asked for,” he said. Bluesfest 2026 – first wave of artists: Earth, Wind & Fire The Black Crowes Counting Crows Marcus King Band Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew “Remain in Light” The Living End Xavier Rudd Mental As Anything Mark Seymour Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Robert Randolph Taj Farrant South Summit The Southern River Band Backsliders Pierce Brothers Aine Tyrrell Steve Poltz Daniel Champagne Nik West (exclusive) Angelique Francis (exclusive) Jovin Webb (exclusive) Ben Catley Laid Back Country Picker (exclusive) Byron Bay Bluesfest takes place over the Easter Long Weekend, from April 2 to 5 in 2026. Tickets are on sale now.