Australia’s 5 day multi-award winning Festival, presents its second artist announcement for 2012. It shows that the Festival is delivering once again with more signature artist announcements yet to come.
“Bluesfest continues to deliver the goods” says Peter Noble, Festival Director. “We keep on combing the globe for the best Blues & Roots artists, as well as all the others that mix into our Festival, to yet again bring you the finest artists from around the world. With our 1stannouncement we hit hard, presenting some of the best guitarists on the planet and much more. This announcement mixes it up from absolute Legends to some of the most superb Roots artists performing today. I’m starting to get real excited about Bluesfest 2012 – and if you think we gonna stop now – no way – there’s a whole lot more to come!”
The second announcement for 2012 includes:
Crosby, Stills & Nash
The Specials
Lucinda Williams – John Hiatt
Donovan – Angelique Kidjo
Seasick Steve – Keb Mo
Nick Lowe – Rosie Ledet
Seth Lakeman – Harry Manx
Fabulous Thunderbirds
Alabama 3
The new names join the first artists announced in November which included:
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 & ORLEANS AVENUE – GREAT BIG SEA – THE JAYHAWKS
Plus many more artists to come!
The 23rd Bluesfest will occur over the Easter Weekend April 5 – 9, 2012 at the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm just outside Byron Bay for the 3rd year running is also announcing 1 day tickets are on sale NOW! Tickets are on sale now through www.bluesfest.com.au or by phoning the BLUESFEST office on 02 6685 8310.
1 day tickets are on sale now for all days of the Festival and there are a limited number ofdiscounted early bird tickets available right now!
To find out when your favourite artists are playing log on to the Bluesfest playing schedule on www.bluesfest.com.au
Tickets are on sale through www.bluesfest.com.au or by phoning the BLUESFEST office on 02 6685 8310.
CROSBY, STILLS & NASH
“It’s been a long time coming” sing CS&N – and it has but finally CROSBY, STILLS & NASH, the world’s first supergroup, still going strong 40+ years on, make it to Bluesfest.
“‘I’ve Seen Crosby, Stills and Nash burnin’ ass,’ Jimi Hendrix declared. Hendrix knew what he was talking about.”- Rolling Stone
DAVID CROSBY played with folk-rock group, The Byrds, STEPHEN STILLS with Buffalo Springfield and GRAHAM NASH sang with the outspoken political group, The Hollies. Three lifelong friends,from a sing-along in either Joni Mitchell or Mama Cass Elliot’s kitchen (the guys differ on this point!) to a debut gig at Woodstock in front of 500,000 plus, have delivered countless hits with their timeless harmonies and melodic folk-rock. Despite the turbulent times in which they existed as well as the often volatile climate of their own inner-workings and personal lives they continue to make music that connects with fans around the world.
Chart-topping hits like: ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’, ‘Marrakesh Express’, ‘Wooden Ships’ and ‘Guinevere’, ‘Teach Your Children’, ‘Carry On’, ‘Our House’, ‘Long Time Gone’ and two magnificent anthems of the Woodstock generation – ‘Helpless’ and ‘Woodstock’ have helped list 2 of their albums in Rolling Stones’ 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, score them a Grammy Award… and see them inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame – TWICE !!!
As outspoken today as they ever were… their political activism has never been a secret and is openly reflected in their songs and their association with political causes.
Remember Woodstock….Remember CROSBY, STILLS & NASH … Remember this BLUESFEST !!
THE SPECIALS
Are you ready for that rocksteady beat .. the ska band that puts energy in your feet … the punk band that brings focus and political stance to the dancehall… then BLUESFEST 2012… you’re ready for the greatest rocksteady band of all …THE SPECIALS
When THE SPECIALS kicked off the first night of their sold out 30th Anniversary tour in April 2009 nobody could have realised just how incredible these live shows would be, and the utterly amazing reaction of fans around the world. The audiences were packed with music lovers who had waited since 1981 to revisit this stunning band alongside SPECIALS ‘virgins’ who had never had the chance to see them live. When the curtains dropped and Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Neville Staple, Roddy Byers, Horace Panter and John Bradbury exploded on stage to Do The Dog dancehalls across Europe erupted with young and old stomping as if their lives depended on it.
Nothing’s changed for 2012…yes maybe it’s a new show…but expect all the classics we know and love;Do The Dog, Too Much Too Young, A Message To You Rudy, Ghost Town, Gangsters, and that great Toots Hibbert cover, Monkey Man for sure will all be there.
BLUESFEST is busy ironing the rude boy suit…. brushing down the porkpie hat polishing the rude boy dancing boots – ready to lay at the dancing feet of the greatest Two-Tone, Black & White Unite rocksteady dancehall band of all …THE SPECIALS.
LUCINDA WILLIAMS
‘America’s finest songwriter’ (Time magazine) LUCINDA WILLIAMS is returning to BLUESFEST with a swag of new songs off her latest work Blessed and we can’t wait.
LUCINDA has been writing since the age of 6, playing guitar since she was 12 and has been performing for the last 37 years. It’s fair to say she has perfected the art of creating intriguing, gritty lyrics to match her distinctive, haunting voice during this time. Blessed is no exception. This alt-country songstress had Elvis Costello among the guest musicians featured on her latest album, playing some scorching electric guitar that only further offset the strength of her spine-tingling voice.
Born in Louisiana of a poet and a pianist, LUCINDA WILLIAMS won the first of her 3 Grammy Awards in 1988 for her single Passionate Kisses from the album LUCINDA WILLIAMS. Following which came a long pause punctuated by one album and various guest appearances, until ten years on in 1998 she hit the road running with Car Wheels On a Gravel Road which not only went gold but won another Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Three years on, in 2001, she earned her third Grammy Award, this time for Best Female Rock Performance for the single Get Right With God, an up-tempo gospel rock song from an otherwise low-key ESSENCE.
With this catalogue of gorgeous albums and truly-unique songs, we are the Blessed ones to feature Lucinda Williams’ sultry songs in this year’s Blues Festival.
JOHN HIATT
We’re thrilled to have one of the most requested and talked about acts of 2008 back at BLUESFEST this Easter. The legendary rock guitarist, piano player, singer and songwriter JOHN HIATT will be bringing his seminal, highly acclaimed new album Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns with him.
HIATT hit the ground running as an 18- year old songwriter in Nashville for artists like the Neville Brothers and Bonnie Raitt. His own highly respected solo career began in 1974 and over the next decade ran through a number of different styles from rock ‘n’ roll to new wave pop before he finally settled on a rootsy fusion of rock ‘n’ roll, country, blues and folk with his 1987 breakthrough album Bring the Family.
That’s not to say only the rock and roll generation can appreciate Hiatt’s cleverness, idiomatic versatility, distinctive gruff and endearing voice, or slashing guitar skills. But when everyone from Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Rodney Crowell and Willie Nelson to Buddy Guy, Flaco Jimenez and Ry Cooder have covered his tunes, it’s quite clear that those who appreciate great song writing and savor a keen wit, narrative flair and refusal to pen a sloppy or sappy line, eagerly embrace John Hiatt’s tunes. And we’re certain you will too.
DONOVAN
We are thrilled to announce legendary folk-rock-pop troubadour DONOVAN’S exclusive BLUESFEST performance.
Beginning his career as an itinerant folk musician in the mid 60’s, DONOVAN soon became known for his rich-poetic and emotive songs like Catch The Wind and Colours and his version of Buffy Sainte Marie’s protest anthem Universal Soldier. He then partook in the transformation of the pop music landscape with a series of enigmatic and wondrous pop masterpieces that have stood the test of time and are used continuously on radio, television and film.
This transition resulted in a phenomenal string of 11 Top 40 hits, including Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman, Epistle To Dippy, There Is A Mountain, Wear Your Love Like Heaven, Hurdy Gurdy Man, Jennifer Juniper, Lalena, Atlantis, and Riki Tiki Tavi.
Don’t think twice about catching this celebrated poet and sing along to all your favourite tunes at his only Australian performance beneath the stars at BLUESFEST.
ANGELIQUE KIDJO
“Her spirit is irrepressible, and she brings life to everything she touches” – Peter Gabriel
BLUESFESTERS will be pleased to see ANGELIQUE KIDJO return. Grammy Award winner, amazing songstress and storyteller: her booming voice and infectious, joyous stage presence make it impossible to stand still.
She is one of the greatest forces in African music: Time Magazine calls her “Africa’s premier diva”: she is listed in The Guardian (UK) newspaper in their Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World and she is a fiery advocate of humanitarianism and women’s rights.
But it’s onstage where this singer/song-writer favourite of ours really shines. Her rich and resonating voice coupled with her powerful mastery of language, results in a unique sound that Mojo Magazine has praised as “a wildly intoxicating musical brew”.
BLUESFEST – go wild and dance crazy with the inspirational ANGELIQUE KIDJO.
SEASICK STEVE
SEASICK STEVE is back!! – With a new album – and even perhaps a new direction!!!
His new UK Top 10 album ; You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks showcases not only SEASICK STEVE’Ssignature array of classic blues styles – but also previously unheard styles of Steve’s; from Appalachian mountains and down home Kentucky Bluegrass to Nashville country gospel via Greenwich Village coffee house folk balladry.
Given the aural evidence of his back catalogue, classifying Steve as a blues artist is pretty understandable, but it does do him a slight disservice. His material, like his life, is drawn from a long rich history of experience and a broad palette of influences. “I got so many damned songs, it’s like a big old train and only part of them get into the station,” Steve affirms. “The rest of them are just waiting for the next station.” And it took a while for that train to reach the first station! After nearly half a century spent in obscurity, SEASICK STEVE — with one electrifying performance on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, New Years Eve 2007 — burst on to the UK scene.
As far as we can figure, this hasn’t ever really happened before — a guy, way past his apparent sell-by date, who has never been famous, suddenly garnering so much attention and success, not just with the older crowds, but equally as much with the young hip festival and concert goers — this is history.
Welcome Back to BLUESFEST Steve!!
KEB MO
Anyone who has seen KEB MO before will remember his mesmerising performance, his rich, distinctive, smoky voice which spins emotive & passionate stories.
This multi Grammy-award winning singer/songwriter/guitarist is bringing with him his highly-anticipated album The Reflection & touring for the first time with a full band.
The Reflection was written and recorded over a period of three years, and is his first release since 2006. Self-produced, the 12-song set features duets with India Arie and Vince Gill, as well as performances by Dave Koz, Marcus Miller, Mindi Abair and world-renowned studio musician David T. Walker.
His music has long been regarded as a living link to the seminal Delta blues, and though his roots are in the Deep South, his success has spread worldwide. KEB MO is one of those performers who have taken the blues beyond its traditional audience, with his wide-ranging, appealing music and infectious performances it’s no wonder he is a BLUESFEST favourite, this performance will stay with you long after the festival is over.
NICK LOWE
“As you get older, it’s more fun to sing the blues. It cheers you up.”
Enduring musician, master songwriter, band-leader-come-solo-artist and seminal producer…NICK LOWEmakes his BLUESFEST début in 2012. He supported Ry Cooder here in 2009 … and won over a legion of new fans with his mature approach to re-inventing himself. Not that he forgets his roots….. with UK band Brinsley Schwartz, in-house producer for Stiff Records (the first 5 Elvis Costello albums, The Damned’s debut album and The Pretenders ‘Stop Your Sobbing’ amongst others), and his solo albums and singles (“ I love The Sound Of Breaking Glass, Cruel To Be Kind” and “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding”) stand testament to Nick Lowe’s lasting impact on the development of the punk scene.
He brings a new album – The Old Magic – and superlative musicians in the form of drummer Robert Trehern, keyboardist Geraint Watkins, guitarist Johnny Scott and Matt Radford on upright bass to make what will undoubtedly be an indelible mark on Bluesfest this Easter.
ROSIE LEDET
ROSIE LEDET & THE ZYDECO PLAYBOYS have quickly become the act to watch on the Zydeco circuit. Brimming with coy sensuality, ROSIE’S music is fresh and daring while still retaining its links to its bayou Creole heritage. ROSIE has a rare combination of talent, not only in the Zydeco world, but in any musical genre.
Over the last 18 years and eight albums, ROSIE has gained a name for herself as both a brilliant recording artist and an amazing front woman and live performer. ROSIE’S sultry presence, brilliant accordion playing and sensual delivery alongside THE ZYDECO PLAYBOYS, has lured and seduced audiences around the globe. Her signature rich lyrically-textured stories, layered with simple, rhythmic accordion riffs and undeniably danceable tempos have coined ROSIE as ‘The Zydeco Sweetheart’.
“Today’s premier female artist is ROSIE LEDET, whose soulful voice kicks her male counterparts’
right out of the club.”—WALL STREET JOURNAL
“If the Allman Brothers went zydeco they would probably sound like ROSIE LEDET.”
– NEW YORK TIMES
ROSIE LEDET is best heard live, so make sure your there to dance the night away for her BLUESFEST début.
SETH LAKEMAN
A ‘New Sensation’ is coming to Bluesfest for the very first time – and we are stoked.
Multi-instrumentalist, virtuoso fiddler, SETH LAKEMAN has been credited with bringing folk music to a whole new audience since his debut album, Kitty Jay, was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in 2005. He followed that with 2006’s gold selling album Freedom Fields – which saw him branded the ‘Poster Boy of Folk’ (much to his exasperation) although it won him a heap of new fans. But there’s so much more to SETH LAKEMAN than ‘poster boy’ tag allows. On his latest album , Tales from the Barrel House. SETH has not only written all the songs for the album, but played every musical contribution himself as well as producing and mixing it in its entirety.
We can’t wait for SETH LAKEMAN and his superbly talented band will bring their own brand of indie-folk and captivating, energetic and undeniably compelling live show to BLUESFEST in 2012.
HARRY MANX
HARRY MANX has been sliding and stomping his way across the globe, picking up inspirations along the way. The result is something truly unique; a combination of ancient eastern musical traditions and contemporary blues.
This modern day troubadour manages to create a rich, layered & exotic sound by effortlessly switching between his Mohan Veena, conventional & slide guitars, harmonica, and the banjo, creating musical short stories that wed the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas.
Over the last 10 years, Harry Manx released 11 Albums and has garnered a room full of awards including, 7 Maple Blues Awards, 6 Juno nominations, the Canadian Folk Award in 2005 for Best Solo Artist and won CBC Radio’s “Great Canadian Blues Award” in 2007.
It’s in the live setting, Manx says, that the bridge between “heavenly” India and “earthy” American blues is most effectively built. “Indian music moves inward,” he explains. “It’s traditionally used in religious ceremonies and meditation, because it puts you into this whole other place. But Western music has the ability to move out, into celebration and dance.”It’s this deadly combination that is hard to resist, easy to digest and that will have you mesmerised and coming back for more.
THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS
For the last 30 years the W.C. Handy award winning ‘Best Blues Band’ THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDShave been winning audiences over worldwide with their unique blend of Texas blues & harmonica laced swamp sounds. Now it’s our turn.
This quintessential American band were instrumental in helping kick-start the blues revival scene during the mid-’80s and after showcasing their high energy, distinctive and powerful music on tour with the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, they won the masses over with hits like Tuff Enuff & Wrap it up. Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation.
In addition to Wilson, the current THUNDERBIRDS line-up features Jay Moeller on drums, Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller on guitar, and Randy Bermudes on bass.
The late 70’s saw THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS release their first self-titled album. Primarily blues influenced, it became a cult classic. In subsequent releases, the band started to incorporate more Cajun, rock ‘n roll and soul influences.
THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, and particularly frontman Kim Wilson, are revered by many of their peers, including Muddy Waters who has long called Kim his favourite harmonica player & vocalist.
“This is a great time for this band,” Kim Wilson says. “We’re looking forward to the future.”
And so are we, you won’t want to miss these guitar driven sounds this Easter at BLUESFEST.
ALABAMA 3:
They are not from Alabama and there are not three of them. There’s usually about 10 in fact …. from Brixton in South London, and each is known by an alias.
They shot to international fame when producers of hit TV series The Sopranos chose a track on their debut album “Woke Up This Morning” for the show’s opening credits. The band became known for a fusion of contradictory styles, lyrics full of ironic intent, outrageous live performances and, of course their aliases : check out Rock Freebase, Harpo Strangelove, The Spirit, Larry Love, Aurora Dawn and LOVEPIPE (well … perhaps not Lovepipe !!)
ALABAMA 3 describe themselves like this: “a pop band, a punk rock, blues and country techno situationist crypto-Marxist-Leninist electro band”.
Time Out say: “They swing like the devil’s own dick … Alabama 3 beat a righteous drum and party like bastards.”
The Guardian simply state : “The best band in the country !”
Now Rock, Harpo, Larry and the lovely Aurora Dawn are bringing that drum to beat BLUESFEST around the ears… we can’t wait !!
Stay tuned for further announcements very soon!