Mark's career has spanned five decades across many genres.

In 1975 Mark had NZ's first Number One hit single "Yesterday Was Just the Beginning of My Life" – a song which received massive airplay setting him on a path to instant stardom.

In June 1977 the single "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" also reached number one, giving him his second chart topper.

Mark's fame transferred to Australia, where he became one of the top vocalists in the country, working with Ian Moss, Jenny Morris, The Church, Renée Geyer and many others as an in-demand backing vocalist to the stars!

In 2006 Todd Hunter asked Mark to join NZ superstars Dragon after the death of his brother Marc Hunter, their talismanic lead singer, and since 2006 the band has toured Australia and New Zealand regularly, releasing four studio albums.

In 2010, Mark was inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame.

Born and raised in Hawaii and famously the daughter of legendary Blues musician Taj Mahal, Deva is a rare combination of masterful songwriter and breathtaking vocalist, having graced the stages of the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Womad NZ, Splore, the Big Day Out, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Byron Bay Blues Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, and the London Jazz Festival to name a few.

Named "Best New Artist" at SXSW 2018, a multi-year finalist for the APRA Silver Scroll, and a Grammy award winner, she has collaborated with the likes of Fat Freddy's Drop, Ladi 6, and Troy Kingi in NZ, and performed alongside international legends including Etta James, Björk, Cyndi Lauper, Cee Lo Green, Angelique Kidjo, Mavis Staples, and Patti Smith.

1980's Iconic Kiwi band The Narcs first single, "Heart and Soul", peaked at No. 4 on the NZ charts.

At the 1984 New Zealand Music Awards the band won 3 awards and the album went Gold in NZ.

Their success took them to Australia, where they recorded a total of four albums, playing alongside such acts as Midnight Oil, Split Enz, Elton John and Queen.

Internationally acclaimed jazz clarinetist Adrian Cox, is regarded as one of the leading exponents of the New Orleans clarinet style, possessing a wealth of knowledge about the music and players of the era.

Adrian's unrivalled feel and virtuosity have led to performances with some of the biggest names in jazz, including with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in both London and New York.

Adrian lives in Sweden and spends the majority of his life on tour having performed in over 30 countries in the past 18 months.

His Europe-based Trio are himself, Honey Boulton on Guitar and Alex Gilsen (from Paris) on Double Bass.

The DeSotos are a tight and dynamic live act with strong vocals and melodic songwriting. Their influences range from Neil Young and Tom Petty through to the Allman Brothers Band and New Orleans jazz and funk.

We had him in 2025 and invited him back straight away to headline this year's Blues Revue.

A legendary Blues singer-songwriter, Hammond's career spans five decades.

In his 1980's supergroup Street Talk his distinctive vocals and guitar prowess inspired generations.

Renowned for his soulful blues-inspired performances he has supported many music-industry luminaries including Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Cocker and the Eagles.

Hammond appears at the festival solo, accompanying himself on guitar.

Described as "New Zealand's Favourite Jazz Entertainers", the Nairobi trio tour the globe, performing in all manner of settings - you name it, they've probably played it - from Village Halls and Theatres to Clubs and Festival stages across NZ, Australia, Asia, the Pacific and Northern Europe.

Always playing to the crowd, their energy and fluidity traverses a wide-ranging repertoire of skilfully crafted original material, reimagined jazz standards and band favourites including selected tracks off their 10 studio albums spanning three and a half decades; all delivered in their own inimitable style.

Nairobi Trio are Richard Adams (Violin/Vocals), John Quigley (Guitar/Vocals) and Aaron Coddel (Double Bass).

Vocalist and Actor Kim is probably best known for her work with "When the Cat's Away" in the late 1980s but her acting career has been a huge part of her life and in the early days she worked on Billy T James's variety TV show with Jay Laga'aia and went on to work with the country's most celebrated entertainers and musicians.

Kim was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa in 2021.

She performs here with The Narcs.

WBB is an Auckland premium Big Band, showcasing a dynamic twenty-piece ensemble of wickedly talented musicians delivering high-energy, crowd-pleasing performances.

Featuring a powerhouse 4-piece rhythm section, a brassy 13-piece horn lineup and exceptional jazz vocalists Jennifer Eirena and Peter Glynn, the band offers a versatile repertoire.

From modern hits by Bruno Mars, Santana, and Michael Jackson to classics by Stevie Wonder, Michael Bublé and Glenn Miller, WBB guarantees a show that entertains every audience.

Big Tasty are an 8 piece Soul & Funk band who have performed at the festival previously, lifting the roof with their super-punchy horns, classic Funk and Soul repertoire and their sheer energy.

We're pleased to have them back in 2026 – you'll love them!

The Big Boss Men are a blues band that specialise in the old school of blues music from the 1930s to the 1960s. Taking inspiration from bluesmen from Robert Johnson to Muddy Waters and T-Bone Walker. You’ll be entertained by Neil Finlay on guitar and vocals, Craig Bracken on vocals and harmonica, with the versatile rhythm section of Steve Cournane on percussion and bassist Aaron Codell.

Boom! Boom! Deluxe are New Zealand's premier rockabilly rebels – bringing a high-energy explosion of vintage style, cheeky humour, and pure passion.

With three acclaimed albums the band have carved out a reputation for bringing the golden age of 1950s rock roaring back to life, powered by their own modern "Kiwibilly" edge.

Whether it's the slap of the double bass, the twang of a Gretsch, or the wink behind every lyric, Boom! Boom! Deluxe deliver the real deal – raw, fun, and utterly irresistible.

Jan Preston is a knockout singer and pianist who has captured audiences around the world, creating her own blues/boogie style along with her drummer Mike Pullman. Jan’s boogie groove is magnetic. Prepare to move your feet!

Kokomo is a long-standing Kiwi blues & roots group, based in Tauranga, who have toured all over New Zealand over the past 30 years and released 15 albums and a full-length concert film.

Wry, satirical, and rooted in acoustic traditions, they're more than a 'blues band'!

Waiheke musicians Katy Soljak and Mano Pratt bring decades of blues experience to their performances, blending raw vocal power, expressive guitar work and emotionally honest songwriting. They will play two sets of original blues.