Bluesfest proudly welcomes The Wailers as they celebrate 50 Years of Positive Vibrations, marking 50 years since the release of Rastaman Vibration, one of the most influential albums in reggae history, and honouring the enduring legacy of Bob Marley & The Wailers.

Released in 1976, Rastaman Vibration carried reggae’s message of resistance, spirituality, unity and hope to the world. Songs such as “Positive Vibration,” “Roots, Rock, Reggae” and “War” remain as powerful and relevant today as when they were first released.

Under the leadership of Aston Barrett Jr., son of legendary bassist Aston “Familyman” Barrett, The Wailers continue to honour their roots while carrying the music forward with authenticity and purpose. Aston Barrett Jr. also portrayed his father in the 2024 biopic Bob Marley: One Love, bringing rare authenticity to the story through lived experience and direct lineage.

Alongside honouring the past, The Wailers remain creatively vital, with Grammy nominated albums One World and Evolution. Evolution, produced by Emilio Estefan Jr., blends classic roots reggae with contemporary global influences and continues the band’s message of unity, resilience and social consciousness.

A Special Three Night Celebration at Bluesfest

As part of their Australian tour, Byron Bay Bluesfest will host a unique three night residency from The Wailers, featuring three completely different live sets across the festival weekend.

Each performance will spotlight a different chapter of The Wailers’ legacy, offering Bluesfest audiences a rare opportunity to experience the depth, power and evolution of this iconic catalogue across three nights. Fans can expect sets drawn from:

- Legend, featuring all songs from the landmark compilation album
- Natural Mystic, featuring select songs from the album alongside classic Legend hits
- Rastaman Vibration / Positive Vibrations, featuring select songs from Rastaman Vibration paired with essential Legend anthems

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.