Hometown metal powerhouse, soul icon and reggae royalty revealed in Bluesfest line-up

LOCAL heavy metal band Parkway Drive, legendary soul singer Erykah Badu and Bob Marley’s former reggae band The Wailers are among the latest artists announced for Bluesfest Byron Bay this Easter.

Formed in Byron Bay in 2003, Parkway Drive have risen from teenage metal underdogs to global heavy music icons. In 2026, they return home for a defining moment, delivering their first ever hometown performance since their Byron Bay High School shows in 2014 – and their first ever Byron Bay festival performance at Australia’s most awarded music festival.

Fronted by Winston McCall alongside guitarists Jeff Ling and Luke Kilpatrick, bassist Jia O’Connor, and drummer Ben Gordon, Parkway Drive have spent more than two decades redefining the sound, scale and spectacle of modern heavy music.

 

The Queen of Neo Soul, Erykah Badu returns to Australia for the first time in 14 years. Since the release of her groundbreaking debut album Baduizm in 1997, the five-time Grammy-award winner has continually pushed artistic boundaries, blending soul, jazz, funk and hip hop with spiritual and socially-conscious themes. Her catalogue includes era-defining albums Mama’s Gun and New Amerykah.

 

 

As part of their Australian tour, Byron Bay Bluesfest will host a unique three-night residency from The Wailers as they celebrate 50 Years of Positive Vibrations, with three completely different live sets across the festival weekend honouring the enduring legacy of Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Each performance will spotlight a different chapter of The Wailers’ legacy, with sets drawn from the landmark compilation album Legend, Natural Mystic and Rastaman Vibration.

Which set will be performed on each night will be announced closer to the festival. This three-show residency builds on a format The Wailers last presented at Bluesfest in 2022, once again showcasing the enduring power of Bob Marley’s music across generations.

Other artists performing at the event include Split Enz, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sublime, The Black Crowes, Buddy Guy, Counting Crows and The Pogues.

For more information, visit bluesfest.com.au