With an already epic lineup to its name, including Ben Harper, Santana, Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Rodriguez, Dropkick Murphys, and Jimmy Cliff – just to name a few – Bluesfest 2013 already reads like a music purist’s wishlist.
Following on from the epic additions near the start of the month that brought the female touch to the bill, the multi-award winning 5 day-long music festival has now fulfilled on its promise of the ‘announcement to end all announcements’.
As Festival Director Peter Noble has already enthused in our feature interview, the Easter music festival promises to be the hottest ticket in town after two major lineup announcements, and a swathe of sideshows, now joining the jaw-dropping list of artists due to play Bluesfest 2013 is a little bit of Led Zeppelin.
ROBERT PLANT will be playing with his Sensational Shape Shifters, and following on from the worldwide cinematic release of Celebration Day, the concert movie of Zeppelin’s 2007 reunion show at London’s O2 Arena, stock for the legendary frontman is at an all-time high. Touring Australia for the first time since 1996 with Jimmy Page.
“Bringing Robert Plant to Bluesfest is a dream come true,” says Peter Noble, “not just for me, but for the thousands of fans who have been standing by patiently all these years! We have waited together for so long and now it’s gonna happen – I am so delighted and hugely honoured.”
Joining PLANT wil be ROGER HODGSON, the voice of Supertramp, which may not come as such a surprise considering the recent announcement of his sideshows and Australian Tour, who will be playing a selection of the band’s biggest hits for the second time for Bluesfest audiences.“Bringing Robert Plant to Bluesfest is a dream come true, not just for me, but for the thousands of fans who have been standing by patiently all these years!
British rock veterans STATUS QUO are already well-known to Australian audiences (perhaps too well) for their association with Coles Supermarkets, but will deliver a commercial-free set of their classics for the crowds, while fellow UK act MADNESS will also be headed our way off the release of their latest and tenth studio album, this year’s Oui, Oui, Si, Si, Ja, Ja, Da, Da. The 2 Tone act are sure to light up the stage with their essential mix of ska, new wave, and reggae.
Rounding out the announcement is JON ANDERSON, the long-running singer and frontman of progressive rock archetypes YES, who will make his Bluesfest debut by delivering a stunning performance drawing from his long-winding career of more than forty years’ experience. No doubt including his prolific solo work, as well as songs from the band he helped form way back in 1968.
Speaking of the newest additions to the lineup, Noble says, “these are artists who are world class and give Bluesfest its icing on the cake, but we are still not done yet. There are still more artists to be added in the upcoming weeks, but for now let’s revel in the wonderment of this 3rd announcement.”
The 24th Bluesfest will take place between Thursday 28th of March and Monday 1st of April 2013 at Bluesfest’s permanent home at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm just outside of Byron Bay.
Tickets are on sale now (in a variety of camping and pricing options) through www.bluesfest.com.au or by phoning the Bluesfest office on 02 6685 8310
24th Annual Byron Bay Bluesfest 2013 3rd Lineup Announcement
ROBERT PLANT presents Sensational Shape Shifters
ROGER HODGSON the legendary voice of SUPERTRAMP
STATUS QUO
MADNESS
JON ANDERSON the legendary voice OF YES
who join the full lineup of
SANTANA / BEN HARPER / IGGY & THE STOOGES / STEVE MILLER BAND / JIMMY CLIFF / CHRIS ISAAK / BONNIE RAITT / WILCO / RODRIGUEZ / ROBERT CRAY / JOAN ARMATRADING / DROPKICK MURPHYS / TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND / GLEN HANSARD WITH THE FRAMES / TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE / THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA / MAVIS STAPLES / FRANK TURNER AND THE SLEEPING SOULS / ALLEN TOUSSAINT / WANDA JACKSON / FRED WESLEY AND THE NEW JB’S / MICHAEL KIWANUKA / BETTYE LAVETTE / LUKA BLOOM / RUTHIE FOSTER / NEWTON FAULKNER / TONY JOE WHITE / SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK / THE DUKE ROBILLARD BAND / WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE / SHAWN COLVIN / GRACE POTTER / PLAYING FOR CHANGE / SETH LAKEMAN / BEN CAPLAN
Bluesfest 2013 Tickets & Dates
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay
Thursday March 28th – Monday April 1st, 2013
Tickets: www.bluesfest.com.au
ph: 02 6685 8310
