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Today BLUESFEST, Australia’s multi-award winning and internationally renowned Festival, unveils its first artist announcement for the 2012 Festival.
One look at the star studded array of artists confirms that BLUESFEST 2012 is on track to deliver yet another red-hot Festival. |
“This 1st announcement is our big launch for 2012” comments Festival Director Peter Noble, “We certainly have hit our groove with the festival and continue to grow our recognition at home and internationally. BLUESFEST 2012 will include plenty of exclusive performances that are not to be missed. “
This is the first in a series of exciting announcements to come.
This year the Festival leads off with some massive names in Blues, Rock, Country & Progressive Rock, rounded off with some funk magic and guitar wizardry.
The 23rd BLUESFEST will take place between Thursday 5th of April and Monday 9th of April at its permanent festival home at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm just outside of Byron Bay.
Tickets are on sale now through www.bluesfest.com.au or by phoning the BLUESFEST office on 02 6685 8310.
ROGER DALTREY
Performs The Who’s Tommy & More
EARTH WIND & FIRE
THE POGUES
JOHN BUTLER TRIO
MY MORNING JACKET
YES
G3 featuring JOE SATRIANI, STEVE VAI AND STEVE LUKATHER
BUDDY GUY – MACEO PARKER
BRIAN SETZER’S ROCKABILLY RIOT!
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD – JONNY LANG
YANN TIERSEN – BETTYE LAVETTE
STEVE EARLE – JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE
TROMBONE SHORTY
GREAT BIG SEA – THE JAYHAWKS
ROGER DALTREY performs The WHO’s Tommy & More
Roger Daltrey, the iconic lead singer of The WHO, will perform The WHO’s legendary rock opera TOMMY from start to finish. The Who never played the complete TOMMY.
Beyond the majesty of TOMMY, each night music fans will also be treated to a variety of WHO’s Classics and more.
Employing the use of striking visuals to accompany the music, every show will be an unforgettable concert experience for lifelong fans and newcomers alike.
Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductee Roger Daltrey is pulling out all the stops with a full backing band that will bring the rock opera’s wide-ranging sounds and textures to life vibrantly on stage.
Roger Daltrey also played the title role of the film Tommy, based on the same name record album.
Pete Townshend, commenting on the tour says ”Great to see Roger performing TOMMY with his band. I will be there in spirit, and Roger has my complete and most loving support.
The WHO have sold an incredible 100+ million records worldwide including 7 Top 10 Australian albums. Expect to hear a selection of the classics “I Can See For Miles”, “Pictures Of Lily”’ “I’m A Boy”, “Substitute”, “Magic Bus”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, “Squeezebox”, “Who Are you” as well as the classic “My Generation”.
“…Daltrey brings devastating power of ‘Tommy’ to life in great live show…a truly amazing, mind-blowing; over-the-top performance…an audio orgasm backed by subliminal visuals.” – Boston Globe
“…and his chops haven’t sounded this powerful in years.” – The Guardian
“…it was…heartening to hear Daltrey…sing his history with grizzled power and heart-on-sleeve sincerity.” — Newark Star Ledger
ROGER DALTREY: rock singer, icon, legend – he is one not to miss at BLUESFEST 2012.
EARTH WIND & FIRE
Get ready for a real treat.
Earth, Wind and Fire, soul-funk superstars & multiple Grammy award winners, took the world of music by storm with their infectious blend of rhythm and blues, rock, and soul—a sound destined to be imitated by many groups, but never successfully duplicated by any. Celebrating over 40 years of global successes, EWF features the sublime Philip Bailey on lead vocals alongside original members, Verdine White (bass) and Ralph Johnson. Hear them perform their hits: “Shining Star”, “That’s The Way Of The World”, “Sing A Song”, “September”, “Boogie Wonderland”, “After The Love Has Gone” and many more.
No doubt Earth Wind & Fire’s show at BLUESFEST will have you dancing from start to finish.
THE POGUES
Lock up your Mothers. The Pogues are coming to town!
The Celtic punk, folk punk legends, fronted by Shane MacGowan, were founded in London’s Kings Cross and named their band Pogue Mahone – Gaelic for “Kiss My Arse”. They last toured Australia in 1989. The 23 year wait to see The Pogues perform classic hits like “Dirty Old Town”, “Fairytale Of New York”, “If I Should Fall From Grace With God”, “Love You Till The End” will soon be over. Five years after the band decided to call last drinks they have reconvened with their front man MacGowan refreshed, yet as wild as ever, and this BLUESFEST will bring their own brand of fiery, literate Celtic punk rock to Australia.
This BLUESFEST show will be a hell of a lot of fun and extremely entertaining.
John Butler Trio
John Butler is an absolute Bluesfest favourite! He has become a defining artist at Bluesfest moving from the smaller stages to today, where he headlines Bluesfest’s main stage. He is someone very much at home at Bluesfest.
Looking back: In 1998 John Butler was busking solo on the streets of Fremantle, WA. Fast forward 14 years and he has become Australia’s most successful independent artist with his own label, Jarrah Records, scoring a staggering 1 million CD sales. John Butler is also a 3 time ARIA award winner.
It’s an immense pleasure to welcome John Butler back to Bluesfest.
MY MORNING JACKET
My Morning Jacket will make their long-awaited BLUESFEST debut in 2012.
MMJ formed at the tail-end of the 1990s: the group took shape, drawing upon their rich knowledge of classic rock, country, soul and psychedelia, and spinning these influences into fresh, life-affirming rock’n’roll and aching, haunting balladry.
In the wake of this release of their 6th studio album, Circuital, BLUESFEST is proud to welcome My Morning Jacket on to the field of blues for the very first time.
Their live performance will have you in the palm of their hand in no time at all.
YES
YES have just released their first new album in 10 years “Fly From Here”. They are without doubt the best progressive rock band ever and have not toured Australia for a decade.
Rock your memory lane with hits like “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”, “Roundabout”, And You And I”, “Long Distance Runaround”, “I’ve Seen All Good People” and so many more. YES – the worlds’ most quintessential prog-rock band is bringing their surreal musical powerhouse to the spiritual home that is BLUESFEST – for one special appearance.
G3 featuring JOE SATRIANI, STEVE VAI AND STEVE LUKATHER
G3 (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Steve Lukather) -featuring individual sets by each player and culminating with the, now ‘infamous’, “G3 jam.”
Joe Satriani – guitar hero & G3 founder is acknowledged as one of the most technically accomplished and respected players in the history of rock music, with over 10 million record sales and a staggering 14 Grammy nominations to his credit.
Steve Vai – guitar virtuoso – Grammy Award winner. He’s a former pupil of Satriani whose breathtaking facility on the guitar is hailed in the rock world as unique, compelling and uplifting. He has over 15 million in sales and over a dozen Grammy nominations to his credit.
Their special guest on this G3 tour is Steve Lukather- founder member of TOTO. 30 million plus records sold – 5 Grammy Awards as both artist and producer – he’s been session man on over 1500+ records in all styles of music, from Michael Jackson’s Thriller to Miles Davis, Earth Wind and Fire, Cheap Trick, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Don Henley, Alice Cooper, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Larry Carlton (they won a Grammy together in 2001) and so many more.
These 3 great guitar virtuosos will be trading licks and wailing solos across the field of Blues this Easter. Let the Blues ROCKKKK !!! – the guitar heroes are coming to BLUESFEST !!
BUDDY GUY
There are great guitarists …superstar guitarists…legendary guitarists… and then there is Buddy Guy.
A BLUESFEST favourite … and an absolute legend!!!
“Buddy Guy was for me… what Elvis was for others”, said Eric Clapton… and he wasn’t alone in following his ‘mentor’
“Buddy Guy plays from a place that I’ve never heard anyone play” – Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Jimi Hendrix once said: “Heaven is lying at BUDDY GUY’s feet while listening to him play guitar”.
BLUESFEST ….welcome to heaven ….BUDDY GUY is here!
MACEO PARKER
Maceo Parker – Legend!
His name is synonymous with Funky Music, his pedigree impeccable; his band: the greatest little funk orchestra on earth.
He’s played alongside every funk leader, James Brown, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Prince.
In fact ever since JB coined that phrase: “Maceo – I want you to blow !!” , Maceo Parker has been blowing that famous sax funk sound across the globe, collaborating with the likes of Ray Charles, Dave Matthews Band, James Taylor and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
It’s almost impossible to tell which came first, Maceo or The Funk!
We’ve seen him before at BLUESFEST in 2008– so let’s welcome him back – all together now:
MACEO – WE WANT YOU TO BLOW!!!
BRIAN SETZER’S ROCKABILLY RIOT!
The undisputed King of Rockabilly Swing, BRIAN SETZER first rocked us with his 50’s rockabilly revival group, The Stray Cats – with their hits “Stray Cat Strut” & “Rock This Town”. He never lost that feel and passion for all things revivalist and once again knocked the world out with his jazz-oriented big band The Brian Setzer Orchestra. With the rockabilly passions running high he dragged Slim Jim Phantom back into the fold to play with his Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot! outfit.
Comb that hair… beehives, quiffs and dancin shoes a must …It’s rockin… it’s rockabilly … its gonna be a riot at BLUESFEST!
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD
The guitar driven, blues prodigy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd , is coming to BLUESFEST.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd was given his first guitar at 3 years old, was playing by 7 and onstage by 13 when he decided to make a career of it. Since then Kenny Wayne has made 6 studio albums, 3 of which are platinum selling. Praise comes thick and fast for this multi-Grammy nominee, who has earned himself a swag of awards.
Relish the chance to kick back and experience Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s unique blues infused rock at BLUESFEST this Easter.
JONNY LANG
Long-time BLUESFESTERS will remember that ‘Jonny Lang moment’ way back in 2000: the wiry young teenager with the voice of a grizzled ole bluesman, growling through seminal blues songs and spitting out wailing solos – a kid far more mature than his years should allow. Finally Jonny is back for BLUESFEST 2012, – and if current track record is anything to go by – then get ready for your 2012 ‘Jonny Lang moment’.
YANN TIERSEN
Classical composer, virtuoso performer, street entertainer, rock musician – Genius!!?? You’ll have to see him to believe the vast scope that this French avant-garde performer has mastered. Yann Tiersen wrote the soundtrack for the multi awarded film “Amelie”.
This classically trained multi-instrumentalist will shock even his most fanatical fans with his live performance and transfix even the most unenthused amongst the crowd.
“It was one of those rare moments at a live gig when you realise you’ve been in the presence of greatness”. – Michael Hubbard, Music OMH
With a live review such as this … how excited are we that Yann Tiersen is heading to BLUESFEST for the very first time?? !! The answer is …VERY!!!
BETTYE LAVETTE
The High Priestess of R & B
Grammy Award nominee Bettye LaVette is one of the great soul singers. She possesses an expressive voice that one moment will exude a formidable level of strength and intensity and the next will appear vulnerable, reflective, reeking of heartbreak.
Coupled to this she possess an innate ability to take a song and wring its heart out with soulful intensity. Bettye revitalizes songs by legendary artists like Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Elton John, Mick Jagger, Stephen Winwood and many more. Her skilful reworkings expose the humanity that makes the tracks not just pop songs, but enduring works.
Discovered and signed to the legendary MOTOWN label when she was 16,it hasn’t been an easy ride for Bettye. It took 20 years to get her first album released – and then almost nothing was released until the breakthrough album ‘Souvenirs’ in 2000.
Her career has gone only one way since then… up! A WC Handy award for ‘Comeback Blues Album of The Year’ (2003) and a Living Blues critic pick as ‘Best Female Artist in 2004 for starters.
Elton John (whose “Talking Old Soldiers” appeared on her Grammy nominated album The Scene Of The Crime) offers this endorsement: “Bettye LaVette has always been a wonderful singer – I have been a huge fan for many years. To my delight and surprise she recorded an amazing version of ‘Talking Old Soldiers’ – a song that nobody else has covered – and made it her own.”
Music Industry magazine Pollstar writes: Sometimes it takes a long time for the spotlight to find you. Just ask Bettye LaVette who waited 40 years for her turn – but boy is she making up for lost time now.”
A big welcome to Bluesfest BETTYE LAVETTE!
STEVE EARLE
Singer-songwriter, actor, author, political activist, producer –Steve Earle is one of life’s great troubadours! Steve Earle hasn’t wandered this BLUESFEST way for a number of years. In fact, it’s been three albums and three Grammy Awards -since he graced the BLUESFEST stage with his musical tall tales and true. To go with this new album I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive Steve Earle has embarked on a seemingly endless tour (thankfully for us) …and we are lucky and proud to have him return to the BLUESFEST stage for 2 performances, which he has fit in between filming his role in the TV series ‘Treme’, which is about New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina and how the people there deal with its aftermath.
JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE
29-year-old singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle has some serious musical heritage to live up to. He is the son of a multi-Grammy-winning US country singer, actor, political activist and long-time BLUESFEST favourite Steve Earle (also performing at BLUESFEST). After his standout show at BLUESFEST 2010 he is fast becoming a festival favourite. Be warned, he has the power to seduce an audience with his charismatic storytelling and turn curious listeners into die-hard followers with his live performances.
TROMBONE SHORTY
Without a doubt the find of BLUESFEST 2011. Trombone Shorty has become the sensation of New Orleans music scene from playing to 20,000 fans at Jazz fest to claiming the No 1 spot on the Billboard Jazz chart. This gumbo of New Orleans – Funk – Jazz – rock is totally unique and many in the music industry pick him as the next big thing. A superstar in the making. Absolutely don’t miss this one.
THE GREAT BIG SEA
Great Big Sea is a bastard …. by their own admission. Some of Canada’s favourite sons giving Australia their first ever performance. A musical partnership forged in the harsh lands and rowdy pubs of St Johns, Newfoundland – yes NEW-F-F- -F- FOUND-LAND !!. where co-founders Sean McCann and Bob Hallett met while playing traditional folk songs. Now, 17 years and 9 studio albums later – Great Big Sea have won over a global audience for their eclectic mix of traditional Newfoundland folk and original songs. “Our music is of Newfoundland,” explains McCann. “It would be impossible to do what we do if we were from anywhere else. “Our songs come from the sea and the cliffs and the rocks and all the other natural beauties our country provides. Without her we simply couldn’t exist.” But this is no ordinary ‘sea shanty’ band. Their influences range from Bob Marley, The Clash, and Johnny Cash to Fergus O’Byrne and Donal Lunny. Their relentless touring and their raucous live shows have meant an ever growing ‘Great Big Sea’ of fans, all captivated by the obvious and genuine love for the music GBS perform. Let’s welcome this Great Big Sea bastard to BLUESFEST !!
THE JAYHAWKS
Once described as “Hank Williams on speed” The Jayhawks emerged with full force in the mid 1980’s with their unique brand of American alternative country rock – alt rock style. The group quickly turned into one of the most important bands of the post-punk era, contributing a staggering number of original songs and memorable live shows to the Minneapolis music scene.
This is set to be a special show for Jayhawks fans and a memorable performance for a-many future Jayhawks enthusiasts, capturing a rarefied dynamism and fresh take on their unmistakable graceful and bold sounds at BLUESFEST 2012.
…. and this is just the beginning !! Watch out for more announcements soon !!