At nearly 90 artists and six stages, the Bluesfest 2014 lineup is already fit to bursting to celebrate the event’s 25th Silver Anniversary Edition.
But a good birthday party always has room for extra invites, and today Bluesfest organisers have confirmed another 11 artists are set to take part in this year’s edition of the Byron Bay festival, taking place at the multi-award winning Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm over five days during April’s Easter long weekend.
Following on from announcing the return of the fabled Juke Joint stage and scooping another NSW Tourism Award, the latest Bluesfest 2014 lineup announcement brings another diverse spectrum of genres and cultures to the bill, brining folk, blues, reggae, funk, soul, from corners of the globe stretching from New Orleans to Israel and Japan.
The biggest new Bluesefest additions are Sydney’s gospel-tinged singer-songwriter Matt Corby – the ‘Brother’ hit-maker arriving fresh off his soul crooning hit ‘Resolution’ landing in the Top 10 of the Hottest 100 – and Tim Rogers, the You Am I frontman bringing all his rogue-like charm and star power to Bluesfest for the first time ever, joined on stage by long-time collaborator Shane O’Mara.
Other star Aussies joining the bill include Melbourne’s soul-certified 9-piece, Saskwatch (bringing a swag of new material with them), Brisbane fusion outfit Dubmarine, singer-songwriter Kim Churchill, Sydney-bred and LA-bound indie band Lime Cordiale, plus a special reunion of a much-loved 90s band: Skunkhour. For those following the multiple Bluesfest 2014 lineup announcements, this is the eighth major addition to the bill
Other new additions to the Bluesfest 2014 lineup include Irish troubadour Foy Vance, the acclaimed Watussi, genre-defying Tijuana Cartel, and Playing for Change, an ever-evolving musical collective.
For Bluesfest, Playing For Change will feature legendary New Orleans musician Grandpa Elliott, along with Clarence Bekker (Netherlands), Titi Tsira (South Africa), Tal Ben Ari “Tula” (Israel), Jason Tamba (Congo), and Mermans Mosengo (Congo). The rhythm section will feature Roberto Luti (Italy) on lead guitar, Papa Orbe Ortiz (Cuba) on the bass, Peter Bunetta (USA) on drums, and on keyboards Keiko Komaki (Japan).
Tickets to Bluesfest’s 25h Silver Anniversary edition are already “84% sold out” according to organisers, and “VIP 5 day VIP 3 day and VIP Friday and Saturday tickets are also no longer available,” with remaining passes expected to sell out soon.
For those following the multiple Bluesfest 2014 lineup announcements, this is the eighth major addition to the bill, following on from the return of the Juke Joint and its bill of ‘pure Blues’ acts earlier this month.
Oter major artists helping commemorate Bluesfest’s quarter-century include headliners John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, and John Butler Trio, as well as Doobie Brothers, Steve Earle, Elvis Costello, Jack Johnson, Buddy Guy, Jake Bugg, Jeff Beck, Chali 2na, and many, many more.
Bluesfest has also won a ream of awards in the last year, its multiple gongs include scoring Silver in the ‘Best Major Festival & Events’ category at the NSW Tourism Awards, an eco-minded nod from UK not-for-profit A Greener Festival, and is also in the running for the International Music Festival of the Year award (for the second year running) from Pollstar.
The same US stats trackers also ranked Bluesfest’s Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm home at #44 on their list of 2013′s top selling venues in the Festival/Outdoor sites category, selling a combined 104,244 tickets from the site’s flagship Bluesfest and the inaugural launch ofIndigenous arts, music, and culture festival, Boomerang, last October.
Bluesfest 2014 Lineup
Matt Corby
Tim Rogers
Foy Vance
Kim Churchill
Skunkhour
Saskwatch
Dubmarine
Watussi
Tijuana Cartel
Lime Cordiale
Playing for Change
Joining the already announced lineup:
Jack Johnson • John Mayer • Dave Matthews Band (two exclusive performances)
Jeff Beck • Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Buddy Guy Two Outstanding Performances • Joss Stone • Erykah Badu •
Passenger • Iron & Wine • India.Arie• Aaron Neville • Doobie Brothers•
Boz Scaggs • Gregg Allman • Dr John & The Nite Trippers •
Michael Franti & Spearhead • Gary Clark Jr • Jimmie Vaughan •
Eric Bibb • Steve Earle & The Dukes • Kasey Chambers • Jason Isbell •
Gov’t Mule• Morcheeba • Devendra Banhart •
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros • Jake Bugg • Ozomatli •
KC & The Sunshine Band • WAR • Larry Graham & Graham Central Station
The Wailers • Sly & Robbie and The Taxi Gang • Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 •
Chali 2Na • The James Cotton Blues Band • Booker T. Jones •
The Black Sorrows • Devon Allman • Suzanne Vega • Beth Hart •
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • KT Tunstall • Trixie Whitley •
Garland Jeffreys • The Charlie Musselwhite Band • Robben Ford •
CW Stoneking • Kate Miller-Heidke • Allen Stone • The Soul Rebels •
North Mississippi Allstars • The Magic Band • Grandmothers of Invention •
Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience • Dyson, Stringer & Cloher •
Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes • Nikki Hill • Valerie June •
The Beards • Matthew Curry • Joanne Shaw Taylor • Ray Beadle Band •
Genevieve Chadwick • The Paladins • Backsliders • Chain •
Candye Kane Band • Glenn Cardier and The Sideshow•
Nahko & Medicine For The People • Saidah Baba Talibah •
The Mojo Webb Band • Daniel Champagne • Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges •
Walter Trout • Hat Fitz & Cara • Seth Lakeman • Shaun Kirk •
Claude Hay • Marshall OKell and The Pride • Public Opinion Afro Orchestra •
Cambodian Space Project • Music Maker Foundation Feat. Pat Wilder, Cool John Ferguson, and Little Freddie King
RocKwiz Live
Bluesfest 2014 Dates & Tickets
25th Annual Byron Bay Bluesfest
Thursday 17th – Monday 21st April, 2014
All Single Day, Camping, Festival tickets are on sale now through www.bluesfest.com.au and Bluefest office on 02 6685 8310
Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster on www.ticketmaster.com.au
Bluesfest playing schedule is available on www.bluesfest.com.au
