Zac Brown Band & Patti Smith and her band perform Horses
headline the first of a series of artist announcements!
Today, the 28th Annual Bluesfest to be held over the Easter long weekend in Byron Bay, Thursday 13th to Monday 17th April 2017, is officially ringing in its new season with the first release of awe-inspiring artists. The first artist announcement features Bluesfest debuts from iconic artists that have been many years in the making, Bluesfest exclusive performances, and the return of some of the festivals most requested artists.
Known to many festival fans for presenting its audience with multiple spectacular artist releases over several months, the five day Easter extravaganza will be held once again at its lush 120 hectare home, just outside Byron Bay. Bluesfest delivers up to 12 hours of music daily across multiple undercover stages, as well as offering an abundance of food and market stalls, several bars, parking and camping on site.
The multiple award-winning Bluesfest has already reported record pre-sales for 2017 and now with only one artist announcement down, is already shaping up to be another extraordinary festival and the only place to be on the 2017 Easter long weekend.
The first 2017 Bluesfest artist announcement includes:
ZAC BROWN BAND
PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND PERFORM HORSES
THE LUMINEERS
BUDDY GUY (EXCLUSIVE)
BONNIE RAITT
MAVIS STAPLES (EXCLUSIVE) | BILLY BRAGG
JETHRO TULL
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE
GREGORY PORTER | SNARKY PUPPY
ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES
BETH HART (EXCLUSIVE)
LAURA MVULA | ROY AYERS
BOOKER T PRESENTS THE STAX RECORDS REVUE
ANDREW BIRD
RICKIE LEE JONES | JOAN OSBORNE
TURIN BRAKES | THE STRUMBELLAS
JAKE SHIMABUKURO
DUMPSTAPHUNK |NIKKI HILL | IRISH MYTHEN
….with many more to be announced!
Peter Noble OAM, Festival Director of Bluesfest, comments on the Bluesfest 2017 Artist Launch:
“Here it is my fellow Bluesfest friends – it’s finally arrived – the very first 2017 artist announcement for our 28th season and it’s hot off the press.
We are pleased and honoured to be announcing absolute legends, some of whom are ONLY playing at Bluesfest. In addition we are presenting some of the most leading edge contemporary artists of today, and of course, the return of much admired favourites, including ones from Bluesfest 2016.
It must be hard to believe, but it is very true, that months, and in a few cases, years of work have gone into this artist announcement.
It has taken over three years to get the very in demand Patti Smith confirmed, a similar time also for Billy Bragg. Patti will perform her acclaimed album Horses in its entirety.
We will pay homage to the current King of the Blues, Buddy Guy who at 80 years old is still delivering incredible live performances. His two exclusive plays at Bluesfest will be the only opportunity to see him in Australia.
Same for Mavis Staples, who we are paying our huge respect to, over four exclusive performances. We love Mavis and so does her adoring audience.
The much requested Beth Hart will return for exclusive plays, plus one of the audience favourites from Bluesfest 2016, St. Paul & The Broken Bones are returning, playing three times at Bluesfest and gosh, we wish they were performing every one of our five days and nights.
Even in a year between tours of Australia, Paul and the guys have gone to another level. They are selling out theatres everywhere, and played one of the main stages at Glastonbury 2016. If you haven’t yet seen them, you are missing the rise of what will surely be one of the world’s biggest bands. Paul is simply a great singer. Think Van Morrison in his youth….I exaggerate not.
There is so much more in this announcement, as well as the coming ones, which will be occurring on a regular basis.
To have the Zac Brown Band, The Lumineers, Laura Mvula, Andrew Bird, Turin Brakes, St. Paul & The Broken Bones and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue within one announcement, would be enough for many contemporary music festivals and would comprise their entire event.
For us, we are only getting started. With all the legendary artists on top, and Blues, Soul, Roots specialists right up there, this 25 artist announcement – our biggest first ever – is one we are very proud of.
I could ramble on for days.
But simple, check it all out and you will find Bluesfest 2017 is going to go down as one of our great ones…and you ain’t seen nothing yet.
And I mean it.”
Peter Noble OAM
Director
Byron Bay Bluesfest
ARTIST PLAYING SCHEDULE WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM 8AM AEST WEDNESDAY 24TH AUGUST AT WWW.BLUESFEST.COM.AU
All 5, 3 & 1 day festival and camping tickets are now on sale through www.bluesfest.com.au or by phoning the Bluesfest office on 02 6685 8310