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  • The original blues and roots festival since 1993

Blues at Bridgetown was born in 1993 from a simple but powerful idea

Blues music—rooted in human experience, intimacy and storytelling—belonged in a town known for its hospitality, warmth and willingness to share its lifestyle. When the blues first arrived in Bridgetown, it felt instantly at home. All it needed was an invitation.

The original vision was for fine blues, breathtaking views and country hospitality. Historically, blues thrived in intimate spaces, and from the beginning the festival set out to recreate that feeling—music spilling from doorways, echoing through halls and onto the street. At times, the whole of Bridgetown’s main street came alive with a rolling, joyful soundtrack, allowing audiences to wander from venue to venue, sampling the many flavours of simultaneous performances. 

1993
Blues arrives in Bridgetown. First Blues at Bridgetown inaugurated as Western Australia’s first weekend‑long blues festival, set amid the town’s picturesque scenery with a full program of indoor, outdoor, street and workshop performances. Founded by volunteers with strong community backing, the inaugural festival is delivered in just six months. Around 5,000 people attend. The vision is set: “Fine Blues, Breathtaking Views & Country Hospitality.”
The Beginning
1994
Attendance grows to 12,000, tripling the town’s population. Second annual festival expands artist lineup, featuring The Elks and Sydney trio The Backsliders, culminating in a major outdoor concert with acclaimed vocalist Venetta Fields
A Town Transformed
1995
Third year confirms Blues at Bridgetown as Western Australia’s first blues festival. Dave Hole headlines following international touring. The Inaugural WA Blues Awards are held, alongside music industry seminars and workshops.
WA’s First Blues Festival
1996
Expanded festival focus with diverse acoustic and traditional blues, major street party with family‑friendly programming, and performances by Tommy Emmanuel and other national acts.
Acoustic, Traditional & Family
1997
Final year under founders Pip Mills and Sheila Howat. The festival is reaffirmed as community-driven, not profit-focused, and handed to a new committee. Festival fully embedded in WA cultural calendar.
Founders’ Farewell
1998
Governance is formalised with a committee-based structure and honorarium roles. The festival proves that shared leadership sustains community ownership and long-term success.
Sustainable by Design
1999
Record number of solo/duo performances and creation of a new venue; festival expands camping and “Gospel Event.” “To succeed for so long shows the community spirit in Bridgetown…”
“Lone Star Blues” & Community Spirit
2000
Eighth anniversary festival celebrates “The International Year of Thanksgiving and the Culture of Peace” with artists from WA, Eastern States, and overseas. First inclusion of film with Danny Loong’s Universal Blues and Vic Carson’s The Jim Conway Blues.
Universal Blues & International Year of Thanksgiving
2001
Ninth year emphasizes artist and volunteer collaboration; Commonwealth Government and Festivals Australia sponsor performances connecting east and west coast artists. Australian Blues Foundation formed with the festival as a core promoter. Our theme "Collaboration Blues" will present world class artists performing with the best from the west and east coast at the same time celebrating "The Year of the Volunteer" with over 20,000 hours of planning, constructing, staging and catering for this great event.
Collaboration Blues
2002
Celebration of 10 years with “Reunion Blues.” Featured performers include Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges, Lloyd Spiegel, Ash Grunwald, Lil’ Dutch Tilders, and others. Youth workshops highlight cultural percussion and blues roots. Sanctuary venue provides alcohol- and smoke-free space.
Tenth Anniversary: Reunion Blues
2003
Eleventh festival embraces Blues, Roots, Rockabilly, and Bluegrass. Saturday Street Party expanded; workshops for youth and emerging artists introduced. International performers include Harmonica Shah (USA) and Gareth Hedges (UK). “Take heaps of Blues, add a pinch of Folk, a dash of Bluegrass with a sprinkle of Rockabilly… and you have Mixed Bag Blues.”
Mixed Bag Blues
2004
Twelfth festival showcases local talent including Xavier Rudd, Ian Moss, John Meyer Blues Express, Mia Dyson, Jeff Lang, and Lemon Squeezin’ Daddies. Saturday Street Party remains a central family-friendly event. “There is so much music talent here in Oz, why look further!”
Aussie Blues
2005
US legend Tony Joe White headlines; Melissa Sigler (USA), Andy Cowan, Lloyd Spiegel, Mia Dyson, Ten Cent Shooters, CW Stoneking, and others perform. Blue Owl’s Nest redesigned to bring audiences closer to artists. Saturday Street Party and Alfresco Venue continue as free highlights.
13th Festival: Feeling Lucky
2006
Over 40 local, national, and international performers, including Serena Ryder (Canada), Jerry Haglund (Sweden), and the Australian Blues Brothers Show. Blue Owl’s Nest enlarged, Geegeelup Marquee reconfigured. Free Street Party and Alfresco Showcase remain festival staples.
14th Festival: Bigger Crowd, Bigger Fun
2007
Headliners include Jody Williams (USA), Wiley Reed (USA), Beth Preston (USA), Kyla Brox Band (UK), and Renee Geyer (Australia). Over 50 performers; Street Party and Alfresco Showcase continue to grow. Community groups and volunteers remain central.
15th Festival: Fifteen Years of Blues
2008
Diesel, Herb Armstrong and the Royal Street Krewe, Bondi Cigars, Wiley Reed, Bluezone, Martin Harley (UK) headline. Geegeelup Venue moved to Showgrounds for more capacity; shuttle bus introduced. Street Party bigger than ever; Alfresco Showcase licensed.
16th Festival: Expanding Venues
2009
Dutch Tilders’ Legends Band, Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers, Kevin Borich Express, Kenny “the Blues Boss” Wayne, Hamilton Loomis (US), John the Revelator (Netherlands). Geegelup Venue now a central amphitheatre. Over 50 groups perform. Geegelup venue moved to an amphitheatre central to town.
17th Festival: International Artists & New Venues
2010
53 bands and solo acts perform. Street Party remains a major draw, along with Lottery West Street Stage outside IGA. Partnership with Bridgetown High School strengthened through student performances and “Tent City” accommodation. Acknowledgement of the administrative team’s critical role in festival communications, artist support and logistics..
18th Festival: Coming of Age
2011
Blues at Bridgetown enters its second decade with confidence and consistency. The focus is on strong programming, volunteer continuity and community culture, reinforcing the festival’s reputation as one of Australia’s most trusted regional music events. The festival continues to balance heritage blues with contemporary acts, ensuring appeal across generations while staying true to its roots.
19th Festival
2012
20th celebration. Blues at Bridgetown continues to evolve while staying anchored in its original spirit. Programming broadens across traditional blues, roots, folk-blues and contemporary interpretations, reflecting the changing face of Australian blues music. The festival strengthens its role as a meeting place for artists and audiences, where emerging acts share stages with established performers in Bridgetown’s intimate venues. Community ownership remains central — volunteers, local businesses and visitors together shaping the weekend’s atmosphere.
20th Festival
2013
By 2013, Blues at Bridgetown is firmly established as one of Australia’s most loved regional music festivals. The program balances deep traditional blues roots with contemporary blues, roots and soul influences, appealing to long-time devotees and new audiences alike. The festival experience remains uniquely Bridgetown — walkable venues, close-up performances and a relaxed country atmosphere that encourages discovery and connection between artists and audiences. Bridgetown once again transforms into a town-wide stage for the weekend.
21st Festival
2014
Blues at Bridgetown enters its 21st year, marking over two decades of soulful music, community spirit, and the iconic Saturday Street Party. The festival continues to showcase the finest local and national blues acts, while nurturing emerging WA talent through youth stages and workshops. The town streets, pubs, and outdoor venues buzz with live music, artisan stalls, and the signature walkable, intimate festival experience that has defined Bridgetown for over 20 years.
22nd Festival
2015
The festival celebrates its 22nd year, continuing to blend traditional blues with contemporary roots music. Live performances fill Bridgetown’s streets, pubs, and outdoor venues, maintaining the intimate, walkable festival experience that draws visitors from across WA and beyond.
23rd Festival
2016
The festival continues its legacy, celebrating WA and Australian blues while expanding its outdoor stages and street performances. Audience numbers remain strong, reflecting the festival’s regional and national appeal
24th Festival (Silver Jubilee Eve)
2017
Festival celebrates 25 years of blues heritage; focus on community engagement, genre diversity and street music tradition. Bridgetown thrives as a music destination, offering an immersive blues experience for visitors and locals alike. “Blues is a diverse and expanding genre that Blues at Bridgetown has always sought to explore.”
25th Festival (Silver Jubilee)
2018
A quarter-century of blues. Community essence emphasised after 25 years: the festival is volunteer‑run and thriving. “Now we’re on our way to 25 more and we're damn glad to have you with us.”
25th Anniversary
2019-2021
Festival heavily impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. Festival continuity maintained where possible, with focus on community and volunteer engagement
2022
30th Anniversary. The festival celebrates three decades of music, community, and culture. “Fine Blues, Breathtaking Views & Country Hospitality” remains the festival mantra The iconic Saturday Street Party returns to Hampton Street. Over 55 acts, new venues, youth performances "On behalf of the many people who made Blues at Bridgetown possible over the last 30 years, we are delighted to see a new generation committed to the future of this iconic, community-driven event." — Sheila Howat & Pip Mills
30 Years of Blues
2023
The festival continues to blend tradition with new energy, showcasing both established and emerging talent. New venue Willow Whispers adds intimate live music experiences. Local pubs return as performance spaces. Festival identity is reaffirmed: Bridgetown presents Blues at Bridgetown.
A New Chapter
2024
The festival solidifies its status as a world-class regional event, attracting audiences from across WA and beyond. Expanded street entertainment and Indigenous cultural programming. Partnership with Lotterywest highlights reinvestment into the WA community.
Community Investment
2025
Festival continues with its three‑day celebration of blues, roots and related genres, attracting thousands of visitors and contributing to local culture and economy. Street Party remains a centrepiece attraction. “Blues at Bridgetown is more than a music festival – it’s a community legacy.”
Contemporary Celebration

Blues at Bridgetown has always embraced the breadth of the genre. Over time, the festival deliberately expanded to include related styles such as folk, bluegrass, roots, gospel and rockabilly. This evolution not only broadened the audience but also welcomed local musicians whose work sat alongside the blues rather than strictly within it. 

Bringing the blues to Bridgetown has always been, and remains, a community effort. Over the years, countless people have lived and breathed Blues at Bridgetown—some for a single weekend, others for months at a time. Their passion and vision have shaped the festival’s atmosphere, its reputation and its longevity. 

 

So who runs “The Blues?”

As a non-profit organisation, the Blues is run by volunteers. This includes the committee, social media, organisation, office duties and so much more
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