Live Review: Bluesfest Day Two (Friday, 18 April 2025)

The sun is shining, and sprits are high as day two of Bluesfest kicks off and the crowds begin to roll in to the festival site. With most artists playing across multiple days, it gives punters lots of opportunities to catch different performers or see their favourites again.

Live Review: Bluesfest Day One (Thursday, 17 April 2025)

Brad Cox brings his signature blend of country-rock swagger to the Crossroads stage in the afternoon and proves he is a must-see for any country music fan with his raw storytelling and big-hearted ballads.

His charisma shines through as he shares his relatable and down-to-earth music with lyrics that anyone can relate to and connect with, including songs like Give Me Tonight and Everything I’ve Got.

Cox’s voice is filled with raw emotion, immediately connecting with the audience. His band is tight and polished, providing a rock-solid backdrop to his powerful vocals. A live mandolin adds an extra special touch, and together the energy is palpable. 

Cox reveals that he’s just finished recording a new album and can’t wait to share it with us later in the year. “It’s not gonna be long and I think this one’s the best one yet,” he tells. He takes a seat and lights up a cigarette in one hand and drinks from a bottle of red wine in the other before his final song, The Storm, and bubbles fill the stage for a big finish.

Over at the Jambalaya stage, singer-songwriter Nahko brings his vibrant fusion of world music, folk, rock, and socially conscious lyrics to Bluesfest. His uplifting music blends soulful melodies, rhythmic grooves, and a diverse array of influences that reflect his multicultural heritage. 

Nahko is a powerful storyteller, and his music contains deeply personal and reflective lyrics drawing from his own experiences and struggles with identity, purpose, and healing, combined with infectious rhythms and melodies. Tonight, he’s celebrating the 10th anniversary of his debut and second albums and recalls his first time hearing an Australian accent on previous tours, bringing out an old touring friend to join him on guitar for a final song.

George Thorogood & The Destroyers hit the stage and immediately draw in a huge crowd to the Mojo stage. They’re ready for a celebration of more than 50 years of their high-energy rock and roll, filled with raw energy and bluesy swagger. 

The band delivers an electrifying and relentless set that guarantees to have everyone in the audience on their feet. Thorogood's gritty vocals and masterful guitar work are exceptional, and the band's chemistry is undeniable. Together, their charismatic stage presence and playful interactions keep the atmosphere alive the whole way through.

Highlights of their set include crowd favourites like Bad To The Bone, Who Do You Love, and One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer, with each song performed with an intensity that showcases the band's enduring passion for their rock and roll craft. 

It’s the last night of Tom Morello’s Australian tour and the second night playing Bluesfest, so he’s ready to go out with a bang. “When I was asked to play this festival, I thought I gotta play some blues for the people, so this is how I play the blues,” he says before he begins shredding his guitar with electric energy. He launches into Soldier In The Army Of Love and immediately captivates the audience with his supreme guitar skills and deep-rooted passion for social justice as he conjures up a powerful blend of music and activism.

Morello mixes up his original material with covers delivered with technical flair and sonic experimentation. He wows fans with his one hand, picking with alternating hands and even bursts out a solo playing the guitar with his teeth.

He tells us a story about the first person who heard the music of Rage Against The Machine in 1991 in their rehearsal room before they even had a band name. “We played about 4-5 songs with all the bristling power that Rage Against The Machine would play in places like Big Day Out here in Australia. After playing these songs, the industrial worker says that our music makes him wanna fight,” reveals Morello.

He dedicates Hold The Line to all the Bluesfest workers who make this festival possible. He then makes a touching tribute to his late friend Chris Cornell. “Chris and I had a great time touring Australia. I wish he was here tonight. This is actually less of a song and more of a prayer, so on this Easter weekend, I’m gonna ask you guys to raise this prayer to the heavens in Chris’ memory. We leave this microphone open for him in the hopes that your voices will fill some of the space left by my friend,” he says.

Christopher Cross's live performance is a delightful journey through his extensive catalogue of hits and classics for a nostalgic and heartwarming experience for the soul. The performance is filled with emotional highs and lows that leave the audience feeling sentimental and deeply moved.

Cross’s stage presence is understated yet captivating, showcasing his incredible guitar skills and beautiful vocal tone full of emotion to connect with his fans. The band accompanying Cross is exceptional and helps him deliver songs with remarkable proficiency and technical grace. A trio of female backing singers complements him perfectly with lush harmonies.

Indonesian blues-rock band Electric Cadillac jumps on the Busking Stage in the evening for a fun-filled session, boasting their hybrid funky sound full of high energy that warms up punters with groovy basslines to get people swinging around to the beat.

The second day event everyone has been waiting for arrives as Toto headlines the Crossroads stage. They serve up a masterclass in showmanship, delivering the perfect blend of classic rock hits and deep album cuts that resonate with fans old and new as they power through their discography spanning over four decades with 14 studio albums. 

Toto's music is a celebration of musical diversity and technical prowess, appealing to a wide range of listeners as they seamlessly blend a fusion of different musical styles with elements of rock, pop, soul, funk, hard rock, R&B, blues, and jazz.

They showcase their exceptional musicianship and ability to craft timeless hits that resonate across generations through their intricate arrangements and polished production. The band's chemistry is evident throughout the show, with each member contributing to a cohesive and dynamic performance with powerful renditions of their greatest hits.

The setlist is a well-curated mix of their greatest hits, including Rosanna, Hold The Line, and, of course, the iconic Africa, which conjures up a magic in the evening that has the entire festival singing together in harmony long after the night ends.