Known for his presence on YouTube playing innovative bass licks, a go-to session guy and being one of the last people to work with Prince, the eccentric, creative, and inspiring Grammy Award-winning artist MonoNeon will be returning to Australia in May to perform at Blues on Broadbeach. Ahead of the Australian trip, MonoNeon spoke with Australian Musician’s Greg Phillips about improvisation, family, his hometown Memphis, and the personal and musical forces shaping his ever-evolving world.
MORE ABOUT THE INTERVIEW
Reflecting on his previous Australian visit, MonoNeon recalled the fine food and strong live shows, and said he’s looking forward to bringing his unpredictable, improvisation-heavy live set back to local audiences. While he performs with a setlist, he explained that he and his band often read the room and shift direction mid-show, with songs frequently bleeding into one another through spontaneous jams and rehearsed transitions.
That openness to experimentation runs through much of MonoNeon’s music and visual identity, including the now iconic sock on his bass headstock, which he traced back to the influence of Marcel Duchamp and the idea of readymade art. Even his last tour title, I Want Snacks and Gifts, came from the kind of offbeat thought process he says often produces his song titles and concepts.
Much of the conversation, however, centred on family, particularly his grandmother, Grandma Liz, whose presence looms large over his recent work, including the album This Dirt Loves Me More Than You. Speaking movingly about her dementia, MonoNeon described making music with her at home as both a creative act and a way of preserving her spirit and voice. He spoke of her as one of the greatest singers in the world and credited her, along with his mother, as foundational influences on both his singing and bass playing. Those church-rooted influences also surfaced in discussion of his version of the hymn “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” and he even floated the possibility of incorporating a hymn into future live sets.
Memphis Tourism has helped to make MonoNeon’s 2026 Australian visit possible. Asked about Memphis, MonoNeon painted it as a city where music runs deep, recommending visitors soak up landmarks like Beale Street, National Civil Rights Museum and Graceland, while also seeking out art, barbecue and the city’s creative pulse. He also spoke candidly about the need for stronger resources for artists in the city, even while praising its enduring musical culture.
The interview also touched on some of his major musical relationships. MonoNeon reflected on the thrill of recently playing with Stanley Clarke, an early hero whose recordings helped shape his development. He also spoke warmly about working with fellow Memphian Eric Gales, describing their connection as almost telepathic, and discussed ongoing collaborations with Greg Spero. On gear, he revealed he is developing another signature bass colourway with Fender, while reaffirming how central the Digitech Whammy pedal remains to his sound.
Unsurprisingly, the conversation turned to Prince, whose influence on MonoNeon remains profound nearly a decade after his death. Remembering late-night jams at Paisley Park, MonoNeon described Prince as someone who gave him courage and helped inspire the confidence he now brings to his solo work as a frontman.
There was also a revealing moment when MonoNeon spoke about personal growth, admitting he has been working on caring less about outside opinions and learning to fully embrace being himself, something he said has become especially important as he steps further into his own voice as a singer, songwriter and bandleader.
Looking ahead, he revealed he is working on a new album titled My Favorite Faces, which will again feature his grandmother, while also planning more touring. As for Australia, his focus is simple: bring a better show than last time. For an artist whose music thrives on freedom, humour and risk, MonoNeon’s return to Blues on Broadbeach promises to be anything but predictable.
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BLUES ON BROADBEACH CELEBRATES 25 YEARS WITH A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Australia’s largest blues music festival, Blues on Broadbeach is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a rolling tribute to the festival alongside the festival’s full 2026 program.
The festival has unveiled its Blues Bus which will join the fleet of the Gold Coast’s public transport network, travelling across the city in the four-week lead up to Blues on Broadbeach celebrating the 25-year milestone.
Festival favourites Ash Grunwald and Cass Eager, alongside a lineup of local artists, were among the first to hop aboard, taking a trip down memory lane, sharing some of their most memorable moments, and entertaining some of the festival’s loyal music fans along the way.
More than 76 international and homegrown artists will take over 18 stages and venues for Blues on Broadbeach 2026, lighting up the Gold Coast from May 14–17 with four days of unmissable blues, soul and rhythm.
Australian music legend Ian Moss, whose career spans his time with Cold Chisel and a celebrated solo journey, returns to headline Friday night. Moss performed at the very first Blues on Broadbeach and remains a defining figure in the festival’s history.
Joining him is fellow original performer and fan favourite Mason Rack, alongside The Lachy Doley Trio who celebrates more than a decade of performances at the festival. Fresh from touring with Joe Bonamassa’s band, Doley credits Blues on Broadbeach as a pivotal platform in his career.
Saturday brings a powerhouse lineup, including Frank Sultana, Nathan Beretta and Dan Sullivan performing as Brothers, alongside New York rhythm and blues act Daddy Long Legs, Australian rock blues icons the Kevin Borich Express, acclaimed storyteller Grace Cummings, and Memphis experimental musician MonoNeon.
The festival continues its tradition of spotlighting new chapters, with Jamie Allensworth performing on Saturday and Tom Busby stepping into the solo spotlight on Sunday at The Star Gold Coast, performing tracks from his ARIA #1 debut album Rockhampton Hangover.
Making their long-awaited debut on Sunday 17 May for a special ticketed performance are The Teskey Brothers, joined by Australia’s dynamic string-bender Ash Grunwald.
Minister for Tourism and the Environment, Andrew Powell MP, said Blues on Broadbeach was set to strike a chord on the Gold Coast, with the 25th anniversary to deliver a mix of world class music and a major boost to tourism on the Gold Coast. “For 25 years, Blues on Broadbeach has given locals and visitors a front-row seat to world-class music and helped cement the Gold Coast as one of Australia’s great festival destinations,” Minister Powell said.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said, “What a time to celebrate the best blues festival in the southern hemisphere,’’
ABOUT BLUES ON BROADBEACH
For a quarter of a century Blues on Broadbeach has turned the Gold Coast into a rhythm and blues mecca and it’s been quite the evolution. Starting out in 2002 as a two-stage festival with 5000 attendees, Blues on Broadbeach has since featured 600 artists over 25 years, and the 2026 edition is set to be bigger and better with more venues across the beachside precinct, continuing its legacy as one of Australia’s largest music festivals.
An annual pilgrimage for music lovers from all over the world, Blues on Broadbeach invites 2026 festivalgoers to celebrate their love of authentic blues and make new memories on the Gold Coast over an unforgettable four-day festival experience.
Blues on Broadbeach is produced by Experience Gold Coast and supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland.
BLUES ON BROADBEACH 2026 14-17 May | Broadbeach, Gold Coast