ADDING THE FINAL TOUCHES TO THE POWERFUL BLUESFEST 2016 LINE-UP:
Including The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, Eagles of Death Metal, Playing For Change Band and more!

Bluesfest, one of the most exceptional and highly awarded music festivals in Australia, is giving the nation a brand new artist announcement, including renowned artists from overseas and our home shores.

Bluesfest, which is held at its festival site just outside of Byron Bay, are opening the gates in seven weeks for its Easter long weekend celebration (Thu 24th to Mon 28th of March) and acknowledges one of the key ingredients to a successful festival: an eclectic and diverse line-up which speaks to people of all ages and musical tastes.
Topping this announcement is THE MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND Featuring Rick Vito. Mick, drummer and co-founder of the iconic Rock band Fleetwood Mac, with former Fleetwood Mac member Rick Vito, as vocalist and lead guitarist, along with Lenny Castellanos on bass and Mark Johnston on keyboard, will be delivering a world class blend of Blues and Rock to the Bluesfest audience. The Grammy Award winning MICK FLEETWOOD BLUES BAND Featuring Rick Vitocelebrates Mick Fleetwood’s Blues heritage and typical sets include original Fleetwood Mac songs plus great Blues standards such as; ‘Oh Well’ (Fleetwood Mac), ‘Rattlesnake Shake’ (Peter Green- Fleetwood Mac), ‘Eyesight to the Blind’(Sonny Boy Williamson), ‘Love That Burns’ (Fleetwood Mac), ‘Songbird’ (Fleetwood Mac), ‘Black Magic Woman’ (Peter Green- which was later covered by Santana), ‘When the Levee Breaks’ (Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy ) , ‘World Turning’ (Fleetwood Mac) , ‘Stop Messin’ Around’ (Fleetwood Mac ) , ‘Shake Your Moneymaker’ (Elmore James ), with encores including classic Fleetwood Mac tracks like ‘Go Your Own Way’ (Fleetwood Mac ) ‘Tusk’ (Fleetwood Mac) and ‘Don’t Stop’ (Fleetwood Mac).

Californian band Eagles of Death Metal will be making their Bluesfest debut in 2016. The band was formed by singer Jesse Hughes and drummer/guitarist Josh Homme (Queens of The Stone Age) in 1998, after Homme wondered what a cross between the Eagles and a death metal band would sound like. The Eagles of Death Metal recently released their first new studio album in seven years, Zipper Down and coming to Bluesfest is front man and guitarist Jesse Hughes along with touring band, Eden Galindo, Dave Catching (Queens of The Stone Age) on guitars, Matt McJunkins on bass and Julian Dorio on drums.

The Playing for Change Band is returning to Bluesfest for the fourth time in a row. Playing for Change stand for so much more than just music. It is a movement created to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music. Playing for Change supports music schools and programs that are created and operated by the local community and then purposefully connect those communities around the world. The band is made up of musicians from all walks of life coming from all over the world and the Playing for Change Band 2016 line-up who are bringing new material to Bluesfest includes; Grandpa Elliott – Vocals (USA), Clarence Bekker – Vocals (Netherlands), Mermans Mosengo Vocals/Guitar/Percussion (Congo), Jason Tamba – Vocals/Guitar (Congo), Titi Tsira – Vocals (South Africa), Tula – Vocals (Israel), Roberto Luti – Guitar (Italy), Peter Bunetta – Drums (USA), Juan Carlos Portillo – Bass (Venezuela) and Keiko Komaki – Keys (Japan) plus special guests!

Also topping this announcement is the legendary and famous Australian Blues band Chain. Since the late sixties and early seventies Chain has been the most influential Blues and Rock band in Australia. Heading to Bluesfest is founding member and guitarist Phil Manning, lead singer and harmonica player Matt Taylor, drummer Trevor ‘Trapper’ Draper and Dirk Dubois on bass guitar.

Another of Australia’s best Blues outfits, the Backsliders are also putting the Blues in Bluesfest this year. Coming to Bluesfest is slide guitarist, multi‐stringed instrumentalist, songwriter and vocalist, Dom Turner, (also the the founding member of the group). Dom will be joined by drum and percussion virtuoso and songwriter Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil), an acclaimed name synonymous with the best of Australian music, who has been with Backsliders for 16 years. Joining Dom and Rob is one of Australia’s most innovative and dynamic harmonica players; ARIA award winning harmonica genius Ian Collard (Collard, Greens & Gravy)

Born in New Orleans, Blues troubadour Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges is returning to Bluesfest for his eighth visit, delivering his joyous celebration of American Blues Music to his many fans. He’s one of the finest Soul, Blues, Gospel, singer and song-writing guitarists you will come across. Eugene’s latest album Hold On A Little Bit Longer was released in 2015 in memory of his father, Othineil Bridges Sr. aka ‘Hideaway Slim’, a Preacher and Bluesman.

Irish Mythen, born and raised in County Wexford, Ireland, is joining the Bluesfest line-up for the first time after being the hit of the recent Woodford Folk Festival, receiving standing ovations and performing multiple encores by public demand. Think back to a time in your life when you heard music that was so powerful and beautiful you were instantly engaged. That very well could have been an Irish Mythen show, an experience in the joy of everything.

Also included in today’s announcement is Canadian group Digging Roots, consisting of husband and wife duo Raven Kanetakta and ShoShona Kish. Digging Roots blend Folk-Rock, Pop, Blues and Hip Hop influences and after winning the JUNO award for Aboriginal Album of the Year in 2010 for their album We Are, they are back with their latest album For The Light.

The Canadian talent continues to be announced at Bluesfest with the addition of Frazey Ford, a founding member of Folk trio The Be Good Tanyas. The singer-songwriter, who majestically blends Soul, Folk and Country genres, released her solo debut Obadiah in 2010 and her latest album Indian Ocean (2014) was recorded in Memphis with Al Green’s band, the Hi Rhythm Section.

Marshall Okell, who offers up a deep, raw, honest, dirty Blues sound that grabs you by the throat and then soothes you with a sweet, honey-tasting musical medicine, is coming to Bluesfest. Marshall Okell released his fourth album Sipping on Rocket Fuel in 2015, recorded in his home town of Byron Bay, right near the home of Bluesfest.

Sahara Beck is an Australian singer songwriter, who at 19 years of age is capturing audiences all over Australia with her stunning voice and performance. Sahara is an independent artist in the truest sense of the word – an artist finding her own sound and in the process emerging as not just another remarkable voice. Sahara has a new album, Panacea, recorded in Byron Bay and set for release in May 2016.

Deadly Award winning vocalist, Emma Donovan is of Naaguja, Yamatji and Gumbainggir/Danggali heritage and is coming to Bluesfest 2016 with Melbourne rhythm combo The PutBacks. Emma Donovan and The PutBacks released the Soul LP Dawn in late 2014, which tells tales of grief, struggle and redemption. Emma Donovan and The PutBacks are set to enthral the Bluesfest audience with their powerful vocals and rich Soul sound.

Statement from newly awarded Order of Australia Medal Recipient (OAM) Peter Noble, Festival Director of Bluesfest;

“Wow…..Mick Fleetwood’s Blues Band doing the early songs of Fleetwood Mac, when they were a Blues Band, plus current Blues Award nominee for Best Contemporary Blues album, Eugene Hideaway Bridges. Then add Australia’s two greatest Blues bands ever, Chain and the Backsliders, Playing For Change, who continue through their good work and constant touring to build music schools in third world countries for young people to learn instruments, and literally play their way out of poverty, and showing great bravery to get out on the road, the Eagles of Death Metal – that’s an announcement. I have lost count, I think that’s our ninth, and of course, the other artists announced in this one are cracking too.

Along with Kendrick Lamar, Joe Bonamassa, The National, City and Colour, D’Angelo, Jackson Browne, Melissa Etheridge, Brian Wilson performing Pet Sounds, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tom Jones and so many more, Easter at Byron Bay Bluesfest is the only place to be in 7 weeks’ time.”

All 5, 3 & 1 day festival and camping tickets are on sale through www.bluesfest.com.au or phone the office on 02 6685 8310.

Tickets are also available through Moshtix www.moshtix.com.au and Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.com.au.