Bluesfest Touring is delighted to share the treasure trove of Australian acts who will open for their Touring artists in April. The list is as diverse as it is rich with talent, with artists from genres including blues, hip hop, reggae, roots and pop being represented. Bluesfest Touring is excited to give so many young Australian musicians the opportunity to perform before international artists of the highest calibre. There is no doubt they will make the events even more special.
Full bios and event information continues below.
In alphabetical order
Gregory Porter
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring and The Music
Supported by Karen Lee Andrews
Enmore Theatre, Sydney – Wednesday April 12 2017
Karen Lee Andrews (Formerly known by her stage name Ms. Murphy) came into the public’s conscience in 2013 through her soul crushing performances on TV’s hit show, The Voice Australia. Ms. Andrews has that rare gift to communicate the unspeakable. Cameron Adams, from the Herald Sun says, “Ms. Andrews has one of those authentic sounds you hear, even through the gloss of TV, you can tell she has lived and loved.” Her sensibility allows the audience to surrender to the music, the experience is mutually warm and commanding. Paul Sheehan from Sydney Morning Herald comments “She is one of the most original and dignified talents to emerge in Australian popular entertainment in a long time. She manages to be both imperial yet vulnerable”.
Now away from all the hustle and bustle, Karen has reconnected with her guitar, hitting new strides with a new seafaring music style that can only be described as, Oceanic Blues. Anchored in her gritty blues guitar and unwavering lead vocals and embellished with dreamy Siren style backing vocals and swooning melodic guitar motifs. And yes, we can expect an album drop later this year!
It was in a hall church hall – that Karen discovered the depths of her voice. As a young woman, she dedicated herself to gospel hymns and was called upon to lead the church band as music director. The duty was a natural fit: growing up around her mother’s large Polynesian family had instilled in her the role of music in bringing people together. The responsibility also became, in large part, Karen’s musical education. In charge of delivering a moving hymn from a group of players and singers with varied abilities, she herself needed to know the ins and outs of piano and guitar, leads and backing harmonies. She had to know how to get the best from every instrument, every singer. To do so, Ms Andrews called upon the music she loved as a young girl: Soul and Gospel. In the crowded Andrews family home in Koonawarra, a young Karen listened to her brother’s Motown records and to the satin voice of Stevie Wonder. Singing along to those golden hits, and to traditional Polynesian songs, was simply part of everyday family life.
Joan Osborne
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, Eastside Radio and Noise11
Supported by Danielle Deckard
The Basement, Sydney NSW – Sunday 16 April 2017
Hailing from the endless suburbia of southern New Jersey – now based in Sydney – American singer/songwriter Danielle Deckard’s uniquely catchy indie-pop has been wowing crowds across Australia. Danielle is a multi-instrumentalist and a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music. A prolific recording artist, over the last two years she has released two EPs and two singles. Her music videos have generated hundreds of thousands of views online.
In performance, Danielle surrounds herself with like-minded musicians. Her high-energy live set is defined by dynamic and colourful arrangements, instrument-swapping, and Danielle’s own brand of quirky humour. In 2017 Danielle will release her debut album, with plans to tour Australia and New Zealand.
Joan Osborne
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, Eastside Radio and Noise11
Supported by James Franklin
The Croxton, Melbourne VIC –Wednesday 19 April 2017
At age 15 with a small collection of songs, James Franklin began his career playing in anything from homes to clubs to large halls and festivals around Australia, working tirelessly to find his sound and style. Franklin now has over 300 shows under his belt including performances with 5 Seconds Of Summer, shows in the U.K and Europe and most recently, Franklin launched his second studio EP “Pumpkin Pie” in June 2016 with a headline show in Melbourne, Australia.
Franklin cites Sam Cooke, Led Zeppelin and James Taylor as a few of his biggest influences. The ability to understand how all music is connected is how Franklin found his sound, a sound that combines Blues, Rock, Funk and Country, a sound that pays tribute to his heroes but stays fresh and current, a sound everyone can connect with.
Laura Mvula
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring and Tone Deaf
Supported by Marcus Whale
The Metro Theatre, Sydney – Wednesday April 12 2017
Marcus Whale is a musician from Sydney, a singer and producer for leftfield pop duo Collarbones and club-centric electronic group BV alongside solo work under his own name. His debut album “Inland Sea”, a collection of songs accounting for the colonial ghosts in past and present Australia, was released on Good Manners and Caroline in 2016. Marrying his backgrounds in experimental, classical, pop and electronic music, Marcus Whale’s performances are an exercise in drama and tension.
The Lumineers
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, Triple R and The Music
Supported by Miss Eileen & King Lear
State Theatre, Melbourne VIC – Wednesday 19 April 2017
There’s something about a sibling relationship that creates the perfect musical dynamic. With Australian indie folk duo Miss Eileen & King Lear this is certainly the case, as there is a clear sense of familiarity and warmth in their performance. No strangers to the music industry, Eileen and Lear Hodgkins have been performing since childhood in the roots/vaudeville act The Perch Creek Family Jugband. While cramped in an overheating tour van, the pair started writing a song line for line. They formed a melody, came up with a chord progression and had a brand new song in their hands. The future is looking bright for Miss Eileen & King Lear as the wheels are set in motion for the release of their ‘Hungry Little Heart’ EP. With a perfect balance of sweetness and sass, they’re sure to make one hell of an impression.
The Lumineers
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, Triple R and The Music
Supported by The Money War and The Hunting Birds
Metro Theatre, Perth WA – Saturday 22 April 2017
The Money War
Perth band the Money War was conceived while Dylan Ollivierre (Rainy Day Women) and Carmen Pepper (Warning Birds) drove across the US in late 2015. Inspired by the trip, a pile of iPhone demos was created. After a chance meeting with producers Thom Monahan (Fruit Bats, Little Joy) and Arne Frager (Prince, Paul McCartney) in a dive bar in San Francisco, the duo were convinced of the value of the demos. Returning home with a load of stories, they then began work on materializing a record. The release of their songs was immediately met with positivity with Triple J unearthing the band after presenters caught their set at the WA Music Festival. The band was then added to the Southbound Festival line up for 2016 and ‘Recall’ was added to rotation on Triple J Radio. The Money War recently signed with Select Music and were nominated for ‘Most Popular New Act’ at the 2016 WA Music Awards.
The Hunting Birds
The Hunting Birds are a young and captivating five piece Folk/Rock/Pop outfit originating from Fremantle, Western Australia. Lead by versatile Singer/Songwriting duo Connor Minervini and Kendra Fewster, the group brings the subtle Folk qualities of yesteryear to a strong grasping understanding of modern day popular music. Stretching all seas of their craft from pop, to slow classic folk, all the way to rock without once leaving the genre.
Mud Morganfield
Supported by Hamish Anderson
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – Monday 10 April 2017
Hamish Anderson is a blues rock artist (guitarist/singer/songwriter) from Melbourne, Australia who was the last artist to open for the late BB King. In 2016, he completed a 12-city tour opening for The Rides (featuring Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg). In addition to these tours, he’s performed over sixty shows in the US including Robert Cray, Los Lobos, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Wynona Judd and Blues Traveler.
In 2015, he received an award for Best Blues Song by the Independent Music Awards for his single “Burn” and was profiled in Huffington Post “Beyond the Six Strings” as well as The Blues Magazine UK for their “Future of Blues Music” issue.
His debut album, Trouble, was produced by Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Ryan Adams) was released in October 2016 to stellar reviews (see below). He returns to Australia this April, to open for Mud Morganfield, after having kicked off 2017 with performances in America opening for Kenny Wayne Shepherd as well as SXSW (8 Showcases). He will return to America for an appearance at Firefly Music Festival in June as well as an east coast of US.
“Top 10 Best New Artists of 2016” Yahoo! Music “…he elaborated his sound on his full-length debut, Trouble. On it, gorgeous tunes and tight guitar lines surround a voice of husky distinction.” – Yahoo! Music “Venturing into reverb-laden 60s psychedelia, hazy blues club jams, and gritty slide guitar rock, Anderson pays glimmering homage to his string-bending heroes like Keith Richards and B.B. King on [Trouble].” – East of 8th
Nahko and Medicine for the People
Supported by Luka Lesson
170 Russell, Melbourne Victoria – Wednesday April 12 2017
Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW – Thursday 13 April 2017
The Triffid, Brisbane QLD – Sunday 16 April 2017
Luka Lesson, poet & rap artist of Greek heritage from the land of Oz, has been labelled “a sonic literary genius” by New York poet Taylor Mali. Australian Poetry Slam Champion and Melbourne Poetry Slam Champion, Luka has charisma, style, consciousness, and unparalleled impact – he is a word master and vibe starter in any room he enters.
With multiple releases under his belt, Luka Lesson has recently put together a new lineup and is performing an exciting new show featuring an eclectic mix of both spoken word pieces and hip hop tunes. With recent national supports for Tiki Taane (NZ) and Akala (UK) on their Australian tours, as well as his own massive headline shows, Luka Lesson has raised the bar for Australian artists and shows no signs of letting up with an impressive list of releases due out in 2017.
Nikki Hill
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, Eastside Radio and The Brag
Supported by Frank Sultana
Newtown Social Club, Sydney – Monday April 17 2017
With influences ranging from Son House and Skip James, through to Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, as well as more contemporary artists like Tom Waits and Nick Cave, Frank Sultana dwells comfortably in this vintage stylistic world, where the song is still king, and nothing beats a great story…
Rhiannon Giddens
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, PBS, Eastside Radio and The Music
Supported by Eric Avery
Factory Theatre, Sydney – Saturday 8 April 2017
Eric Avery is a Ngiyampaa, Yuin and Gumbangirr artist. As part of his practice Eric plays the violin, dances and is a composer. Working with his family’s custodial songs he seeks to revive and continue on an age old legacy – continuing the tradition of singing in his tribe – utilising his talents to combine and create an experience of his people’s culture.
Eric is currently enagaged dancing with Marrugeku (Physical Theatre) and has previously had a mentorship at The Australian Ballet and studied dance at NAISDA Dance college. An avid violinist Eric started learning classical music by “ear” when he was 11 and continued on to train at Newtown Performing Arts and is currently studying a Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance) at the Australian Institute of Music. He combines his skills on the violin to perform classical music and create new contemporary music expressing his Koori (NSW Aboriginal) heritage.
Slightly Stoopid
Supported by Manalion
Manning Bar, Sydney – Thursday 13 April, 2017
Manalion are a band who are influenced by a fascinating mix of genres, including soul, roots, funk, DnB, gangsta rap, hardcore punk and everything in between. “We three brothers met, and we met to make music to make you sway and dance and swing and sweat,” they explain “Music to make love to the mind, soul and ears of your sister, your wife, your mistress, your Nanna, to your sweet baby mama. We met to sing of love and trouble, of leisure and life.”
Originally from New Zealand, they now reside in Sydney where they play many hometown gigs, and have also played at Perth’s Natural Music Festival.
In their own words: “We want to be New Zealand’s most recognised band, touring everything from the biggest baddest festivals to intimate clubs with special memberships and burlesque dancers (we may have our own troupe stashed away in storage, ready to go). Travel the wide wild world, playing to all the many peoples and different creeds, even the English if need be. Slam just wants to watch TV and hang out with elevated folk so he can feel better about himself.”
Slightly Stoopid
Supported by Caravana Sun
Prince Bandroom, Melbourne – Friday 14 April, 2017
Following the release of their critically acclaimed third album Guerrilla Club and over 150 shows around the world in 2016 Caravãna Sun have returned this year, exposed and upfront, wearing their hearts on their sleeves with the release of “Whale Song”. Breaking down barriers of artist and audience, this raw performance began its journey in the hearts of feelers, lovers and believers, already garnering over 25,000 plays on Spotify alone.
Written in the early hours of the morning on a 100-year-old piano belonging to bassist/vocalist Ant Beard’s grandmother, “Whale Song” is a heartfelt and solemn ode to migration, change and movement for one to become fearlessly themselves. Honest, real, and raw in an age of over-saturation, the energetic single bares all.
“Whale Song is the movement of becoming ones self. Coming to terms with how I feel has always been a challenge and this song is a call to be fearless in feeling and most of all, to be fearlessly myself. I was craving something real and honest, and I found it beneath the waves harnessed by the courage of the whale.” – Ant Beard
St. Paul and the Broken Bones
Proudly presented by Bluefest Touring, PBS, 2SER, The Brag and Beat Magazine
Supported by Hat Fitz and Cara
The Triffid, Brisbane – Wednesday 12 April, 2017
Hat Fitz and Cara can in no way be mistaken for a dainty duo.. A unique combination of hill-style Gospel blues with old timey flavourings and stripped down to just voices, guitar and vintage drums, Hat Fitz & Cara embellish impeccable rootsy originals with soulful vocals reminiscent of a time once forgotten.
“This pair brew up a storm with their stomping rhythms on After the Rain while drawing on anecdotes derived from respective upbringings in rural Australia and urban Belfast. Cara’s vocal range extends from gentle folk with Irish brogue to Aretha-esque soul.” (Tom Hellier, The Australian.)
St. Paul and the Broken Bones
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, PBS, 2SER, The Brag and Beat Magazine
Supported by All Our Exes Live in Texas
The Metro Theatre, Sydney – Wednesday 19 April, 2017
“Catch them before they’re famous and only perform for royalty and astronauts”– The Brag
All Our Exes Live in Texas is a fantasy draft of Sydney’s finest singer-songwriters – Elana Stone, Katie Wighton, Hannah Crofts and Georgia Mooney – here combining in four-part indie-folk heaven.
On mandolin, ukulele, accordion and guitar, the Exes deliver tunes that are tastefully crafted within the context of a playful and utterly charming live show.
With four songwriters and four unique voices, the Exes make music that draws from traditional four-part harmony, creating a new brand of modern folk. Fair warning: You’ll need your charisma sunnies or you’ll walk away a little bit in love.
All Our Exes Live in Texas has shared the stage with a range of acts from the Backstreet Boys to Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Passenger and Megan Washington.
Fresh from a national run of sold-out shows, whilst solidifying their reputation as darlings of the festival circuit, the Exes wooed audiences from Port Fairy Folk Festival to the National Folk Festival and beyond. With their debut album due for release in 2016, the Exes are a powerhouse of harmonies, charm and song writing prowess, proving they truly are the most badass girl folk group ever.
The Record Company
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, 2SER, The Music, and Noise11
Supported by Andy Golledge
Newtown Social Club, Sydney – Wednesday 19 April, 2017
Andy hails from Sydney’s Inner West via Tamworth NSW and sings of love, adventure and life. Andy Golledge wears his heart on his sleeve and takes the listener on an emotional roller coaster through the highs and lows of life, love and existence. The light and shade of life are reflected back to the audience, creating a shared experience that can transcend the everyday. Beautifully crafted lyrics ask us to stop, think and feel while the music begs us to sing along and move our feet. Much more than just another alt-country or folk singer he’s a troubadour, a wild man, a gentle soul – at times all of these at once.
Growing up in rural NSW grounds Andy solidly in the real world, his travels and life in Inner Sydney have layered sophistication and insight. The dynamics are compelling. An Andy Golledge show is unique, whether solo or with his band, Andy pushes the edge of performance, sometimes powerfully stilling the audience, at others teetering gloriously on the edge of mayhem, it’s always a shared adventure.
Andy is currently working on his first recordings. Meanwhile, catch Andy at one of his gigs and say hi or drop him an email.
The Record Company
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, 2SER, The Music and Noise11
Supported by Little Georgia
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – Thursday 20 April, 2017
Little Georgia are a Folk-Grunge duo from Australia. Amongst a sea of rhythmic and raw guitar tones collaborators Ashleigh Mannix and Justin Carter deliver both beautiful harmonies and compelling lyrics which reveal the honesty in their music.
The duo are no strangers to touring and have spent the last year on the road performing between Australia and North America including sets at American aFest, Port Fairy Folk Festival and Tamworth Country Music Festival as well as a national tour support with American Grammy award winning artist Ryan Bingham.
In January 2016 Little Georgia released their debut album BOOTLEG, recorded in a farmhouse on the rugged coastline of Portland, Victoria. Together with friends they captured their music in it’s purest form, recording their debut album unplugged and live to tape.
The Strumbellas
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, The Brag and Beat Magazine
Supported by Winterbourne
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – Sunday 16 April 2017
Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney – Monday 17 April 2017
It’s been two years since Winterbourne released their debut EP, All But the Sun, an earthy, intimate shot of neo-folk that peaked at # 9 on the iTunes Album Charts. For two young guys from the NSW Central Coast, it was an auspicious introduction, but, not surprisingly, there’s been a lot of hard work to do since then. “We’ve been building things up since releasing our debut EP back in 2014 – playing to as many people as possible across Australia on our own headline tour, some festivals and a bunch of support national tours.” That work ethic has certainly paid dividends – the duo’s live show has had critics falling over themselves, describing Winterbourne as “delightful, talented and genuinely wondrous to watch…with a distinctive command of the stage and connection and intoxicating energy” (Rip It Up) and “almost unfathomable . . . incredibly rewarding” (Casual Band Blogger).
That ride takes an exciting new twist with the duo’s second EP, a six-track set called Pendulum that was released May 2016, debuting # 8 of iTunes Album Charts, and # 23 of the ARIA Album Charts.
Trevor Hall
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, The Brag and Beat Magazine
Supported by nyck
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – Tuesday 11 April, 2017
nyck (pronounced n.y.c.k) is a music project by Melbourne musicians, Nick Acquroff and Dominique Garrard. A project that strips away all of the noise and clutter and focuses on the fundamentals. One that is honest and raw in its portrayal of the monotonous and the every day. They write their songs in the St.Kilda home of Acquroff, telling stories that bring the sweetness and sadness and loneliness of suburban Melbourne to life. What is, perhaps, most idiosyncratic about nyck, is the way Nick and Dom so naturally blend a feeling of heartbreak and despair with music that makes you feel present, illuminated, and free.
Following on from the duo’s initial release, Decision, which gained national airplay on Triple J, nyck have released their second single. Speak My Mind details the days before the break up of a relationship. Those moments when the tension builds to breaking point, where things become unbearably messy and the hard, before finally spilling over into the abyss.
Produced by renowned Melbourne musician, Hayden Calnin, Speak My Mindgoes one step beyond Decision. Acquroff’s vocals are laced with a new sense of rawness and honesty, which are combined with the comfort and warmth of Garrard’s sweet harmonies, and haunting soundscapes punctuated with live-tracked grand piano.
Trevor Hall
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, The Brag and Beat Magazine
Supported by ILUKA
Newtown Social Club, Sydney – Wednesday 12 April, 2017
This summer ILUKA unveils her more soulful side with her EP Blue My Soul.First finding national attention through triple j with the much loved ‘Paper Doll’, then solidified with the polished ‘12th of July’, ILUKA has come of age with this record moving effortlessly between retro pop and gospel soul. This is epitomised by lead single ‘Blue Jean Baby’, which captures the essence of summer – carefree and upbeat, but filled with longing nostalgia.
Inspired by her freewheeling travels, the music that ILUKA pours herself into creating is not just music for the sake of music. It is art for the soul’s purpose. The songs were born in a Buddhist Monastery in South East Asia, took shape through a utopian human experiment in Southern India, and matured on the vast arid expanses of the American desert. ILUKA has looked to distant lands to capture the essence of movement, light and youthful yearning. As the words fall from her howling tongue they paint a time, a place and a landscape so wildly vivid her journey becomes just as much yours as it is experientially her own. “I crave intensity and I crave wonder. In a world where people are almost afraid to feel, I want to make them feel something. Music out of all art forms has the ability to do that… I believe in the honesty of that.”
“ILUKA automatically recalls both broken hearts and bygone eras.”–The Music
“If you haven’t treated your ears to the incredible ILUKA yet, [we] implore you to do so.”– Purple Sneakers
“[ILUKA’s] soaring, yet smoky vocal and unique songwriting finds her positioned well beyond her years.”– AMNplify
Trombone Shorty
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, The Music, 2SER and PBS
Supported by D-Analogues
170 Russell, Melbourne – Sunday 9 April, 2017
The D-Analogues are the dynamic duo of Josh Owen & Jason Heerah and take the principle of free jazz and interpret it in the style of soul, dub, reggae and world music genres. The sound is best described as earthy percussive tones with gritty and soulful vocals. The blend is completed by electronic sampling elements and live looping. The drums are front and center partnered by bass heavy tones and widely spread guitars. It’s original and feel good music at its finest. Jason Heerah was born in Melbourne Australia, but his roots stem from Mauritius he is often heard on stage singing in his native lingo Creole. This touch of Sega & Seggae rhythm and culture flows through his blood and is passed down to his soulful and reggae style. He grew up playing the paint tins and buckets under his uncle’s mango tree in Mauritius from a young age and singing at the same time. He channels everything Ray Charles, Marley and Stevie Wonder when he is behind a kit and singing.
Josh Owen was born town of Wangannui in New Zealand which explains his love for Reggae, Dub music. He is the only one playing an 8 string guitar designed by NOVAC Guitars in Australia. Just like Charlie Hunter who made this guitar famous, he covers bass and guitar, looping, FX and vocals all at the same time. Jason and Josh first played together in Josh Owens original band over 8 years ago. As a rhythm section they are in synch. Josh’s style blurs the lines of anything blues, roots and soul.
Turin Brakes
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, PBS, The Brag, Beat Magazine and Noise 11
Supported by This Way North
Newtown Social Club, Sydney – Monday 10 April, 2017
Hailing from Melbourne, guitar and drums two-piece This Way North are Leisha Jungalwalla (Jungal) and Cat Leahy (Sal Kimber & the Rollin’ Wheel). Sometimes likened to The Black Keys, Tame Impala and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, their unique musical connection creates an explosive sound that’s rarely realised by just two artists on stage. Audiences are drawn in by the powerful performances of these two seasoned musicians. The moment This Way North embrace the stage the audience engage – that’s just how it is.
The duo’s ongoing love affair with Canada saw them flying to Toronto in July 2016 to record with producer Derek Downham (Broken Social Scene, Holy F*ck). During these Toronto sessions they produced their latest single ‘Head Above Water’
Turin Brakes
Proudly presented by Bluesfest Touring, PBS, The Brag, Beat Magazine and Noise 11
Supported by Lee Rosser
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne – Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 April, 2017
There is a certain stubbornness needed to be an artist untouched by the inevitable lure of commercial short term gain. Few however, take it to the extremes that Lee Rosser does. Growing much of his own food and living in a house he built himself from mostly recycled materials, many of the ideas and philosophies contained in “Giving yourself away” are based on the process of supporting yourself and the compromises needed to do it.
This debut solo record from the former ʻRambunctiousʼ frontman has the rare quality of working as well in the studio as it does live. Blessed with a three octave vocal range and grooving right hand, the album uses only voice, guitar, and drums (Nicky Bomba). The result is a far cry from the normal singer/songwriter spangle jangle. By using minimal effects and overdubs it has a very upfront, percussive feel.
Vintage Trouble
Supported by Hamish Anderson
170 Russell, Melbourne – Sunday 9 April, 2017
Bio above
Vintage Trouble
Supported by Hamish Anderson
Oxford Arts Factory, Sydney – Wednesday 12 April, 2017
Bio above