Bluesfest Byron Bay, Australia’s multi award winning 5 Day Festival, held over the Easter long weekend (17 – 21st of April) at its home, the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, north of Byron Bay, announces a sixth additional major stage for its 25th Anniversary – the return of the mighty Juke Joint Stage.

Bluesfest Director Peter Noble says:
“For the first time there will be six major stages at Bluesfest on our 25th Birthday Festival plus our Buskers stage. Of course all the 5 ‘usual suspects’ will be back (from Mojo Stage, Jambalaya, Crossroads, APRA to Cavanbah but we are stoked to be bringing back the much loved and missed Juke Joint Stage.

It has been a few years since Bluesfest presented the legendary Juke Joint Stage.

What incredible memories we have of this small Bluesfest stage at the Byron Rugby League ground – where the access for musicians was through a large window at the rear of stage – and where over the years some of our best ever shows occurred featuring the legendary Johnny Green’s Blues Cowboys, Music Maker, RL Burnside and Ash Grunwald’s first Bluesfest shows, as well as Hat Fitz and so many others.

The stage grew a little in the first few years at our permanent site and featured artists like Fishbone, The Aggrolites, The Secret Sisters, the reformation of Phil Jones & The Unknown Blues and of course so much more.

At Bluesfest we have listened to your requests and in 2014 are bringing back the Juke Joint – the way you want it – as a pure Blues ‘N Roots stage, and we are announcing a whole bunch of new Blues and Roots artists who will be performing at the Juke Joint.

They include the one artist performing for his 22nd straight year at Bluesfest, who built his reputation out of our Juke Joint Stage – Hat Fitz – and his partner in crime Cara.”

VISIT THE BLUESFEST WEBSITE: WWW.BLUESFEST.COM.AU

Artists already announced performing on the Juke Joint Stage include:
The Charlie Musselwhite Blues Band – who just won a Grammy Award, North Mississippi All Stars, Music Maker Relief Foundation featuring Pat wilder, Cool John Ferguson and Little Freddie King – WOW, Chain, The Paladins, Eric Bibb, CW Stoneking, Glenn Cardier, Devon Allman, Valerie June, Candye Kane, Nikki Hill, Seth Lakeman and more – it’s going to be an entire Blues festival within Bluesfest.

PLUS – there are loads of other Blues and Roots artists playing all across Bluesfest this year including:

Buddy Guy, Dr John, Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville, Boz Scaggs, Gary Clark Jr (who just won a Grammy Award), Jimmie Vaughan, James Cotton, Govt Mule, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Terrance Simien (who also just won a Grammy Award), Booker T. Jones, Beth Hart, Robben Ford, Larry Graham & Graham Central Station, The Black Sorrows, KT Tunstall, The Soul Rebels, Walter Trout, Saidah Baba Talibah, Matthew Curry, Phil Manning and more to be announced.

Peter Noble continues:
“We have put the BLUES back into BLUESfest – with our BEST EVER Blues & Roots bill of artists so far in our 25 year history, and let me tell you a little secret – Bluesfest 2014 is beginning to really sell out – so if you are thinking about coming – and with this bill how can you not be coming – don’t wait too long or the day you want to come might just be sold out if you wait too much longer.

So what are you waiting for?

This is the BEST Blues & Roots ‘coming together’ of artists anywhere in the world this year – and we can’t wait to present it on our new (recycled) stage – The Juke Joint”

News from Bluesfest HQ is that Tickets are reported to be selling extra fast with Saturday night headed for an early sell out.

Bluesfest playing schedule is available on www.bluesfest.com.au
All Festival and Camping tickets are on sale through www.bluesfest.com.au or by phoning the office on 02 6685 8310
Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster on www.ticketmaster.com.au