State Champ Radio Concerts
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Rema‘s 2022 debut album, Rave & Roses, spun out the biggest Afrobeats crossover hit in U.S. history (the Selena Gomez-assisted “Calm Down”), and just three years later, the Nigerian superstar has cemented his place in the genre’s Big Four with a fiery, high-octane Madison Square Garden debut in New York City on Friday (May 2).
Named for Heis — his 2024 sophomore LP, which earned him his first Grammy nod for best global music album — Rema’s Heis World Tour is a towering statement of what an impressive career and catalog the 25-year-old visionary has built for himself since exploding onto the scene with 2019’s “Dumebi.” While that early-career hit was saved for later in the night during Friday’s concert, Rema, dressed in a massive fur overcoat and wielding a machete atop a levitating platform, kicked off his headlining set with “March Am,” Heis’ introductory track.
“I wanna introduce to you a man, a myth, a legend,” a faceless announcer declared over brooding, cinematic drums reminiscent of the ones that define the soundscape of Heis. “He goes by many names! He is… Prince of Afrobeats, Rema!” This lead-in may have felt a bit overblown for other artists, but Rema spent the next hour-and-a-half proving why he’s worthy of such an effusive intro. Fellow Heis cuts “Azaman” and “Yayo” followed, keeping the crowd’s energy consistent for the show’s first act before the first of several interludes that chopped up the setlist’s flow.
The concert’s setlist was loosely organized by theme and tempo. What it lacked in continuity, Rema more than made up for with the sheer number of hits he played. A cheeky kiss-cam introduced a mellower, heart-eyed segment featuring cuts like “Favorite Girl” (with Darkoo) and “Soundgasm”; “Calm Down” made for a classic arena sing-along moment, and newer drops like “Bout U” and “Baby (Is It a Crime)” allowed Rema the space to show off both his sultrier R&B side and his swaggering rock edge.
Though his stage was equipped with a sizeable walkway, Rema performed the bulk of his set’s most intense moments atop what appeared to be an entrance to some sort of dungeon. That blocking worked for the show’s overall aesthetic, but it likely would have made for an even more thrilling performance if he hit the night’s most energetic moments closer to the crowd. Nonetheless, from a recreation of the “Charm” music video to the smart additional harmonies sung by his female background singers, the raucous energy of Heis found subtle complements in the pockets of feminine energy that decorated the show.
From surprise guests to eyebrow-raising statements, here are the five best moments from Rema’s Heis Tour stop at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
A Surprise Birthday Celebration
Australian music festival Spilt Milk has returned from a fallow year with what is shaping up to be one of the country’s biggest touring events in 2025.
Confirming its 2025 lineup on Friday (May 2), the Spilt Milk festival has announced that the four-date affair will be headlined by Kendrick Lamar and Doechii, with Sara Landry, Dominic Fike, and Schoolboy Q rounding out the topline. While Lamar’s appearance will be his first Australian visit since 2022, and the other headliners have previously performed on Australian soil, Doechii will make her debut visit to the country as part of the festival.
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D4vd, Nessa Barrett, and Sombr also join Australian producer Skin on Skin as second-tier additions, while international names such as Rebeca Black and Chance Peña join local acts The Dreggs, The Rions, Ninajirachi, and more.
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Lamar’s high-profile addition to the festival is something of a coup for the event, which first launched in 2016 as a one-day affair in the country’s capital, Canberra.
After three years of events, the festival expanded to the Gold Coast and regional Victorian city Ballarat in 2019, with the likes of CHVRCHES, Khalid, and Juice WRLD appearing on the lineup. The Ballarat edition of Spilt Milk would also serve as Juice WRLD’s final performance before his passing just one week later.
The festival returned from a COVID-induced hiatus in 2022, though announced they would be taking another year off in 2024. “Sorry pookies, we couldn’t get you the Spilt Milk you deserve this year,” event organizers wrote in July. “Sooo imma dip for a bit and come back when I can make all ur dreams come true.”
At the time, concerns were raised for the future of Spilt Milk given the cancellation of other high-profile festivals such as Splendour in the Grass, though organizers confirmed on May 1 that it would return in December 2025. The four-date affair will take place across Ballarat, Perth, Canberra, and the Gold Coast between December 6-14.
The 2025 Roskilde Festival in Denmark will feature four nights of pop, rock, hip-hop and world beat with a little something for everyone. The massive weekend will kick off on July 2 with a headlining set from Charli xcx, who will be joined by the Deftones, Fontaines D.C., Annika, Slimo, Shaboozey, Wet Leg, Tierra Whack, Meridian Brothers and more.
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Night two will be toplined by British grime rapper Stormzy, who will share the stage with Arca, Beabadoobee, D1ma, FKA Twigs, Anton Westerlin, Beth Gibbons, Bright Eyes, Horsegirl, Knocked Loose, Seu Jorge, Thee Sacred Souls, Couch Slut, Wisp, Maureen, Tanner Adell and more.
Friday (July 4) will feature Olivia Rodrigo along with Doechii, Artigeardit, Jamie XX, Schoolboy Q, Electric Callboy, Faye Webster, The Hu, Magdalena Bay, Saint Levant, Big Fan, Allie X, Neckbreakker, Show Strippers and more. The final night’s topliner, Nine Inch Nails, will also feature Tyla, Africa Express, Anohni and the Johnsons, Kenny, Lola Young, A.G. Cook, Anoushka Shankar, BigXthaplug, Flo, Lucy Dacus, Noah Carter, Rachel Chinouriri, The Raveonettes, School of X, The Chisel, Hitech, Lambrini Girls and more.
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This year’s show will feature 185 acts from 45 countries beginning with the “First Days” warm-up nights kicking off on June 29 and lasting through May 1, with sets from Aman Naseer, Andachan, Bette, Betty Bass, Biji, Boy with Apple, Bye Bye Brenda, Baench, Carlloyaboy, Casket Spray, DJ G2G, Fakethias, Groa, Hillari, J. Ludvig III and many more.
“Every summer, 130,000 participants and volunteers come together at Roskilde Festival to celebrate music, art, and community in a way that few other places can match,” said Roskilde’s head of music Thomas Sønderby Jepsen in a statement. “Our 2025 lineup presents 185 acts from 45 countries – a reflection of the energy, creativity, and global spirit that make Roskilde Festival one of the most vital festivals anywhere and offer not only a reflection of the present moment, but also a window into the sounds, trends, and expressions that will shape our future.”
Click here for ticket information and check out the full 2025 Roskilde Festival poster below.
Eddie Vedder, Hozier and Green Day will headline this fall’s edition of the Ohana Festival on Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA. The three-day fest (Sept. 26-28) will also feature support on the Vedder-topped first night from Kings of Leon, Garbage, Stereophonics, Lukas Nelson, Kim Deal, Deep Sea Diver, Hinds, Girl and Girl and more.
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Night two will feature Hozier atop a bill with Leon Bridges, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Tedeshi Trucks Band, Royel Otis, Margo Price, Mdou Moctar, Mon Rovia, Chaparelle, David Duchovny and the Alain Johannes Band.
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The final night will pair pop punk veterans Green Day with Cage the Elephant, Wet Leg, Jams, Mannequin Pussy, the Chats, Lambrini Girls, The Murder Capital, The Criticals and Skating Polly.
A pre-sale begins on Thursday (May 1) at 10 a.m. PT, followed by a public on-sale at 12 p.m. PT if any tickets remain.
One of the highlights of last year’s Ohana fest was founder and Pearl Jam singer Vedder bringing out his 16-year-old daughter Harper to sing a mash-up of PJ’s signature cover of Wayne Cochran’s 1961 car crash tragic love song “Last Kiss” with the second-generation Vedder taking over to slip in the first verse from Taylor Swift’s Fearless song “The Best Day.” The 2024 version also featured sets from Maren Morris, Devo, Dogstar, Sting, Black Pumas and Alanis Morissette, among others.
Before that, Pearl Jam will take the stage to headline at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Saturday night (May 3) and Vedder will be on hand at the Tribeca Festival on June 12 for the premiere of his documentary about the devastating childhood skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa, Matter of Time.
Check out the full poster for the 2025 Ohana Festival below.
Goldenvoice must pay a $20,000 fine to the City of Indio for going past curfew for several minutes during Travis Scott‘s set during the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival, according to a statement from city officials. On Saturday, April 12, Scott closed out his headlining set three minutes past 1 […]
Lady Gaga unleashed her divine chaos in Mexico City, where on Saturday night (April 26) she held her first concert in 13 years, captivating just over 61,000 attendees (according to promoter OCESA) with the gothic dreams emanating from MAYHEM, her celebrated dark and avant-garde new album.
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The pop star brought the striking opera-style show that dazzled this year’s Coachella festival to the Estadio GNP Seguros (formerly Foro Sol), immersing her “Pequeños Monstruos” (Little Monsters) into a dark parallel universe. During the show, which marked the start of the international leg of her new stadium tour, Gaga read an emotional letter to her fans.
“To all my beautiful little monsters who are here tonight, it is an honor for me to be here, in your beautiful country, performing for you. It’s been 13 years since the last time I was here. I hope you see how hard I’ve worked on stage tonight to show you how much I admire and respect you. I sincerely thank you for choosing to spend the night with me,” Gaga read in Spanish from a balcony while a Mexican flag unfurled in front of her.
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“Mexico City holds a special place in my heart because it’s where I ended my first stadium tour, the Monster Ball,” she added. “I will never forget the excitement and passion you shared with me that night as I bid farewell to the most important show of my career. I’m proud to share this moment with you again, only this time, it’s not the end but the beginning.”
Mother Monster’s return to Mexico was also accompanied by the live debut of the song “Blade of Grass,” a track written for her fiancé, businessman Michael Polansky.
“I wrote this song for the person I love most in the world, my fiancé Michael,” she said in English. “It’s on my new album, and I’ve never performed it before, but I really wanted to perform it here tonight. I just wanted to remind everyone, just for my life, that love can make us so happy. Always follow love and it will make you happy”.
After performing the song on the piano, she moved on to “Shallow” in an intimate moment that brought her to the brink of tears.
The majestic show in Mexico, dubbed “¡Viva La MAYHEM!”, kicked off with “Bloody Mary,” her 2011 hit that experienced a resurgence on TikTok, and “Abracadabra,” the first single from MAYHEM, with Gaga donning a massive three-tiered Victorian-era-inspired red dress. The 22 songs included in the setlist, nearly identical to the one presented at Coachella, featured tracks from her new album, like “Perfect Celebrity,” alongside older hits like “Poker Face” and “Born This Way,” delivered in acts that celebrated an internal battle between the lighter and darker sides of the 14-time Grammy and Oscar winner.
The Mexican “Little Monsters” paid tribute to Gaga by taking creativity to the next level with their outfits, which captured the early years of the diva with costumes inspired by that era, as well as her iconic meat dress worn at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards; her portrayal of Harley Quinn in Joker 2; and the country style blue outfit with red bows from “Die With a Smile,” her hit collaboration with Bruno Mars.
The star closed the night by stepping off the stage to greet fans in the front rows and performing her mega-hit “Bad Romance” alongside dancers, as the sky lit up with green, white, and red fireworks — a nod to the Mexican flag — in a celebration that will undoubtedly remain etched in the memories of both the artist and her local fans.
Lady Gaga will perform a second concert at the Estadio GNP Seguros on Sunday night (April 27) before heading to Brazil, where she will give a massive free show on May 3 at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Comedians Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias and Jo Koy are playing SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on March 21, 2026, officials with the stadium announced earlier this week.
Titled One Night Only, the show is produced by comedy promoter Icon Concerts and is anticipating a paid attendance of up to 55,000 fans.
“We’ve been wanting to do this show for a number of years but it wasn’t until recently that we’ve been able to make everyone’s schedule work,” explains Mike Bernal, vp of Icon Concerts. “Gabriel [Iglesias] is an L.A. hometown hero and Jo is nearby in Seattle and has a huge following in Southern California and sold thousands of tickets in the market.”
Bernal says initial presales have been strong, noting “they are selling evenly across all price points, which is what we like to see.” Ticket prices start at between $69 to $113 for the 500 section, $138 to $170 for the midlevel 300 section and $326 for floor seats.
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One Night Only will mark a rare feat in the live comedy business; in the last decade, only a handful of comedians have headlined stadiums, including, most recently, Iglesias, who headlined Dodger Stadium in 2022. In 2015, Kevin Hart performed before an audience of more than 53,000 fans in Philadelphia, and last year, comedian Nate Bargatze became one of the first comedians to sell more than 1 million tickets in a single year, earning $82 million from an impressive 148 shows.
Comedy is a bigger business than ever in the live space. The top 10 comedy tours generated a combined $397.3 million from 4.3 million fans last year, according to Billboard Boxscore. That’s up 52% from 2023, when the top 10 generated $260 million from 2.9 million fans.
Iglesias came in at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Comedy Tours chart for 2024, grossing $42.8 million with 603,000 tickets sold from 124 shows. Koy ranked No. 10 on the chart, grossing $26 million from 83 shows in front of 368,000 fans.
“Since day one, I wanted to bring comedy to the stadium,” explains Adolfo Romero, vp of programming and booking for SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, which is home to a number of smaller venues, including a new Belgian spiegeltent built for CineVita, the cinema live experience first announced in December.
“We’re at a 750-person capacity in the spiegeltent,” Romero said. The complex also includes the 6,000-capacity YouTube Theater, which has played host to a number of comedy events, including the 2024 Black Comedy Festival.
“We want to make sure that when people go out to see comedy, it’s not just the Laugh Factory or in Hollywood,” says Romero, adding that he hopes One Night Only “showcases the stadium in a different way,” noting SoFi’s carefully designed sightlines and visual technology designed to enhance the live experience.
“Sound is really important to them, and we have the five levels of LED screen as well at the stadium [that] they can also use as part of the show,” Romero said. “Their production team is working with our team to ensure that the sound and the sidelines for fans coming in are going to be the best for comedy.”
Tickets for the show are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
New York’s City Parks Foundation announced the lineup for its 2025 season of Capitol One City Parks Foundation SummerStage series of shows on Wednesday (April 23). The series of 70 free and benefit concerts and performances will bring music to Central Park and 13 other neighborhood parks across all five boroughs this summer, kicking off on June 4 with a New Orleans-inspired show featuring Marcus Miller, Tank and the Bangas and the Soul Rebels in association with the Blue Note Jazz Festival.
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The rest of the eclectic roster for the 39th edition of SummerStage will feature jazz, hip-hop, rock, salsa, reggae, Afrobeat, soul and pop artist, as well as DJs and contemporary dance performers from around the globe.
“I am thrilled to announce our 2025 SummerStage lineup, a stellar reflection of what makes our festival so unique and beloved,” said Heather Lubov, executive director of City Parks Foundation in a statement. “The huge variety of artists we’re presenting and the parks where we’re located reflect our city’s demographic and cultural diversity, but they also serve to unite us as neighbors and as lovers of music, regardless of our differences.”
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Among the other acts slated to take the stage are: The Roots, Soccer Mommy, Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, Rakim, Celia Cruz Centennial Celebration, Big Freedia, Camilo, Jessica Pratt, Bob Sinclair, IZA, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Awich, Frankie Negrón, La Sonora Poceña and Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues, among others.
This season’s events will take place in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, Tompkins Square Park in the East Village, Herbert Von King Park and The Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, St. Mary’s Park and Crotona Park in the Bronx, Stapleton Waterfront Park on Staten Island, and SummerStage’s flagship venue, Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Performances are free and open to the public, with the exception of the ticketed benefit concerts in Central Park.
Other 2025 SummerStage highlights include:
The Aussie BBQ: a June 14 celebration of sounds from Down Under featuring father-son hip-hop duo Flewnt and Inkabee, indie pop artist Gordi, singer-songwriter Grace Cummings, EDM duo PINES, garage rockers The Grogans and a special appearance from beloved children’s music group The Wiggles.
Nordic Next: a June 15 show with sounds from Nordic nations featuring singer-songwriter Jakob, Swedish indie-folk singer Sarah Klang and Danish art-pop violinist/singer Astrid Sonne.
New York Sings Yiddish: a June 30 showcase of Yiddish music and folklore with sets from multi-instrumentalist Zalman Mlotek and klezmer/jazz fusion band Frank London’s Klezmer All-Stars.
Canadian music showcase: a July 2 show featuring Toronto R&B singer Charlotte Day Wilson and folk-rock band The Weather Station.
Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC): July 9 show with Colombian Latin pop band Morat, with punk/reggaeton band Planta Industrial and a July 12 show with Colombian singer-songwriter Camilo and Colombian pop singer and 2024 Latin Grammy best new artist winner Ela Taubert.
Big Freedia: the New Orleans bounce queen will take the stage at Herbert Von King Park in Brooklyn with Black trans femme choreographer Courtney “Balenciaga” Washington.
Bastille Day Celebration: a July 13 showcase with performances from house DJ Bob Sinclair, hip-hop brother duo Big Flo & Oli, singer-songwriter Patrick Bruel and pianist/singer ESTL.
The Roots: The Philly hip-hop collective and Tonight Show house band will play Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens on July 20.
Femi Kuti: a July 27 show with the Nigerian superstar and his band, the Positive Force, along with New York rap crew dead prez — celebrating their 30th anniversary — and poet Maryam Bukar Hassan.
Frankie Negrón: Tropical/salsa star Negrón will play the Bronx’s Crotona Park on July 31.
Taiwanese Waves: an August 3 showcase celebrating indigenous Taiwanese culture with contemporary dance company Bulareyaung Dance Company, indigenous Paiwan pop star ABAO and singer-songwriter Enno Cheng.
Rakim: The legendary New York MC will take the stage at Stapleton Waterfront Park on Staten Island on August 9.
Celia Cruz Celebration: the tribute to the legendary Queen of Salsa’s centennial on August 9 will feature Cuban singer/pianist Aymée Nuviola and Afro-Cuban singer Brenda Navarrete.
La Sonora Ponceña: The Puerto Rican salsa band will play Stapleton Waterfront Park on August 10.
Soccer Mommy: indie rock band will close out the Central Park season on Sept. 16 with help from Hurray for the Riff Raff and Dummy.
The series will include celebrations of New York’s cultural communities with guest curators including MIKE’s Young World V — with July 12 sets from Roc Marciano and The Alchemist — DJ Rekha’s Basement Bhangra Beyond dance show with London-based Punjabi singer Tara Lily on July 19 and Coney Island’s NEMS’ second GORILLAFEST hip-hop show on July 26. In addition, legendary DJ Funk Flex will celebrate the sounds of hip-hop and R&B across the boroughs on Aug. 1 (the Bronx), Aug. 16 (Coney Island) and Aug. 17 (Central Park) and DJ/producer King Britt will host his Blacktronika Festival with back-to-back shows in Central Park (Aug. 16) and Marcus Garvey Park (Aug. 17).
SummerStage will put the spotlight on a number of female artists as well, with bluegrass/Americana singer Rihannon Giddens playing Central Park on June 25, Indian-American singer-songwriter Asha Puthli taking the stage on July 23 and folk singer Jessica Pratt performing on July 24.
Other artists who will perform as part of the season include: Lettuce with Styles P (June 14), Chris Tomlin (July 11), Cymande (July 23), The Originals featuring Rich Medina, Stretch Armstrong and Tony Touch (Aug. 10) and various artists at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival (Aug. 22). For the full line-up click here.
Summerstage
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Who said girl groups are dead?
Though it’s been several years since an R&B girl group has made a significant splash in the States, British trio FLO cemented itself as the progeny of iconic girl groups past across an excellent hour-and-a-half set at the Brooklyn Paramount on Monday night (April 21). Marking the first of two New York stops on their Access All Areas Tour, the FLO girls also spent the night outlining their own origin story — with Emmy, Grammy and Tony-winning multihyphenate Cynthia Erivo narrating the setlist like a whimsical fairy godmother.
Before Stella, Jorja and Renée took the stage, rising R&B singer Chxrry put on a fiery one-woman show for her opening set. Owning the stage with just a mic stand, a few standard lighting cues and backing track, Chxrry delivered incredibly strong vocals as she played songs across her catalog. From “Just Like Me” to “Favorite Girl,” Chxrry’s set familiarized the crowd with her work while showing off her performance chops across a range of tempos. “Never Had This” proved the highlight of her set: By matching sultry floor choreography and Beyoncé-esque hairography to the seductive, brooding production, Chxrry captivated the venue all by herself. Before ceding the stage to FLO, Chxrry delivered her a winning rendition of her biggest hit yet, “Poppin Out (Mistakes).” (R&B singer Josh Levi opened Tuesday night’s show on April 22.)
After the house DJ spun a few R&B classics (SWV’s “Weak,” Fantasia’s “When I See U”), Erivo’s voice rang out across the venue prompting several concertgoers to gasp some variation of, “It’s Elphaba!” “Ladies and gentlemen/ And those who do not subscribe to either/ Generously granting us access to all areas/ Miss Jorja, Miss Renée, Miss Stella/ This is FLO,” Erivo announced, slightly remixing the “Intro” she voiced on the group’s Access All Areas LP, which arrived late last year (Nov. 15, 2024). From there the girls launched into the first act of their set, tearing through “AAA,” Access All Areas singles “Walk Like This” and “Check,” and their Missy Elliott-assisted bop “Fly Girl.”
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With a relatively bare stage that consisted mostly of a staired platform leading to three separate doorways for each member (and mic stands that disappeared and reappeard throughout the show), FLO delivered a notably physical stage show. In addition to their otherworldly live vocals — their arrangements frequently added modulations and they often improvised slinkier riffs and more ambitious belts than the ones already on the album — the girls rarely stood still, always covering ground on stage through a mixture of dance breaks and light choreography that rejected stasis while ensuring the stability they needed to hit some of those jaw-dropping notes. Amari Marshall, a renowned choreographer who served as dance co-captain on Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, worked closely with the trio for the Access All Areas Tour. Between the girls’ crisp synchronization and smart individualization of certain parts, Marshall was clearly a very effective coach. For “Bending My Rules” — an early vocal highlight among many — the girls brought out some prop wine glasses to set the mood, before launching into a spunky run of tracks (“IWH2BMX,” “Nocturnal,” and “How Does It Feel?”) that flaunted their sassier side.
Before the trio launched into some sexy choreography for “Soft” (still unclear if Brooklyn passed the mute challenge!) and “On & On,” ascendant R&B crooner Destin Conrad surprised the Brooklyn Paramount with a strong performance of “In the Air.” Shortly after, Erivo once again returned as narrator, explicitly placing FLO in the lineage of Destiny’s Child, Sugababes, SWV and “countless other iconic baddies of the past” by once again lifting bits of the Access All Areas intro.
For their final act, FLO momentarily departed from Access All Areas — ultimately playing all sixteen tracks from the album’s standard edition — and performed a couple of hits from earlier in their catalog. While the “In My Bag” hook and music video choreographer drew a hearty crowd response, the spruced-up arrangement of breakout debut single “Cardboard Box” made most of the venue lose their minds. Nonetheless, the indisputable highlight of the night came in the form of “Losing You,” a soulful ballad the trio released as a standalone single in 2022. With an arrangement that seemed to reach a new vocal peak with each new line, “Losing You” allowed each member one final moment to show off the most impressive parts of their respective voices — from Renée’s gorgeous lower reigster to Stella’s limitless upper range and Jorja’s incredibly powerful chest voice. Always keeping the focus on Access All Areas, the girls properly closed the show with an encore of “I’m Just A Girl” that found them putting on their best rockstar performances — head-banging, guitar-miming and all.
If FLO has anything to say about it, girl groups are certainly alive and well — and R&B is too.
The sun hadn’t even set on what was planned to be Bluesfest’s final day before the official confirmation was given that the event would live on.
The long-running festival has become an institution on the Australian festivals calendar across its 36-year history. Names such as Bob Dylan, BB King, Paul Simon, John Mayer, Mary J Blige, and Kendrick Lamar, plus homegrown stars Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil and Tash Sultana, have all performed over the years, with the dizzying lineups also offering chances for rising stars to receive a vital platform.
However, this year’s event – which ran from April 17-20 on Australia’s east coast – was initially set to be the final outing for the long-running festival.
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“To my Dear Bluesfest Family, and after more than 50 years in the music business, Bluesfest has been a labour of love, a celebration of music, community, and the resilient spirit of our fans,” festival director Peter Noble wrote in a statement last year.
“But after the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter,” he continued. “As I said earlier this year at Bluesfest 2024, next year’s festival will be happening and it definitely is, but it will be our last.”
However, in December, Noble had changed his tune, explaining that the decision to call time on the event was an attempt to regain the support of the New South Wales state government, and noted that organizers were already booking acts for their 2026 edition.
On Sunday, April 20, Bluesfest officially confirmed that the festival would live on, revealing that it would be taking place across the Easter long weekend of 2026, from April 2-5. Additionally, attendees were also given the chance to purchase “pre-early bird tickets,” with the offer expiring at the conclusion of the festival.
“Please support our festival and guarantee our future by the simple act of buying your ticket at the best possible price at the festival today,” organizers wrote on social media. Traditionally, standard early bird tickets for the next festival are put on sale shortly after the previous event, with organizers expected to do so in the near future.
The announcement of Bluesfest’s 2026 return also took place one day after Noble stood with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Mandy Nolan as the Australian Greens party launched their Festivals Support Package on the grounds of the festival.
The Greens’ proposed package to revitalize Australian festivals includes $20 million AUD per year in direct festival grants, $2 million AUD for a comprehensive review of the failures relating to the insurance market that is affecting the live music sector, and a national festival strategy, alongside tax offsets for artists and venues.
“Our festivals are in crisis,” Hanson-Young said. “Over the past few years we’ve seen the cancellation after cancellation of loved and iconic festivals. It’s clear that the government needs to step in to help the industry.”
“With rising costs, insurance issues, and festival cancellations across the country, this plan brings hope and much-needed support to keep Australia’s festival scene alive and thriving,” Bluesfest organizers added.
The 2025 edition of Bluesfest featured Crowded House, Chaka Khan and Toto in the headline positions, with a wide variety of Australian and international acts completing the vast bill. Artist details for the 2026 revival of Bluesfest are yet to be announced, though will ostensibly be revealed around August/September, as is traditional for the festival’s first lineup announcement
