Bluesfest Byron Bay, Australia’s much loved 5 day Easter Festival and recent winner of the ‘2016 Best Regional Event Award’ at the Australian Event Awards, delivers its fans two major and legendary artists, showing Australia and the world there is no stopping Bluesfest now!
Already 3 announcements under its belt, with more to come, the distinguished Santana with his band, as well as the mighty Doobie Brothers have now joined the 28th Bluesfest Byron Bay line up. This announcement comes just a week after Bluesfest added superstar Mary J. Blige to the extraordinary list of artists playing at the festival.
Delivered with a level of passion and soul equal to the legendary sonic charge of his guitar, the sound of Santana is one of the world’s best-known musical signatures. For more than four decades—from Santana’s earliest days as a groundbreaking Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion outfit in San Francisco—he has been the visionary force behind artistry that transcends musical genres and generational, cultural and geographical boundaries
Long before the category now known as “world music” was named, Santana’s ever-evolving sound was always ahead of its time in its universal appeal, and today registers as ideally in sync with the 21st century’s pan-cultural landscape. And, with a dedication to humanitarian outreach and social activism that parallels his lifelong relationship with music, Santana is as much an exemplary world citizen as a global music icon.
The Doobie Brothers are also coming back to rock Bluesfest audiences. The Doobie Brothers’ legacy has been built upon not just hit records, but also an unrivalled commitment to musical integrity and a steadfast allegiance to their enthusiastic fan base. The band’s ability to evolve in a constantly changing industry and connections to generations of audiences is a testament to their craft.
Music lovers from across Australia will visit the beautiful Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, just outside of Byron Bay over the Easter long weekend (Thursday 13th to Monday 17th of April 2017) for Bluesfest. During the festival they will enjoy 12 hours of music each day on multiple stages, incredible food and market stalls, on site camping in a range of accommodation options and free car parking for those who choose to drive.
The festival promises more artist announcements in the coming weeks.
Peter Noble OAM, Festival Director of Bluesfest, comments on the 2017 Bluesfest round three artist release:
“Here it is, after our Soul/R&B announce last week featuring Mary J. Blige, Bluesfest announces two absolute legends this week, Santana & The Doobie Brothers. You can only wonder who will be announced next (week?).
When you hear the first note of Black Magic Woman by Santana – you KNOW who it is you are hearing and the same with dozens of other songs. His signature guitar sound is unlike any other, it simply is his and his alone. It’s the same with everything he creates. Santana is music royalty – one of the greats. A hero to Latin people worldwide, and everyone else who loves his music too. Santana last played Bluesfest in 2013, this performance now legendary. It is one of the GREAT shows, and one that is still talked about. We are beyond proud to present Santana at Bluesfest on Sunday April 16.
The Doobie Brothers blitzed when they last played Bluesfest. They are simply a brilliant live band. They perform hit after hit, leaving their fans both old and new in raptures.
This is the announcement, along with those which came before, which shows that Bluesfest is serious about 2017 being its best line up yet. And there is plenty more to come. It is not a year to hold back on buying tickets. We have gone all out to present our best festival yet…..come join us.”
Peter Noble OAM
Director
Byron Bay Bluesfest
THE THIRD 2017 BLUESFEST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT:
SANTANA
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
2017 ARTISTS ALREADY ANNOUNCED:
ZAC BROWN BAND
PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND PERFORM HORSES
MARY J. BLIGE
THE LUMINEERS
BUDDY GUY EXCLUSIVE
BONNIE RAITT
MAVIS STAPLES EXCLUSIVE
BILLY BRAGG
JETHRO TULL
TROMBONE SHORTY AND ORLEANS AVENUE
RICKIE LEE JONES
GREGORY PORTER
SNARKY PUPPY
ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES
CORINNE BAILEY RAE
MICHAEL KIWANUKA
NAHKO AND MEDICENE FOR THE PEOPLE
GALLANT
BETH HART EXCLUSIVE
LAURA MVULA
ANDREW BIRD
BOOKER T. PRESENTS THE STAX RECORDS REVIEW
ROY AYERS
JOAN OSBORNE
TURIN BRAKES
THE STRUMBELLAS
JAKE SHIMABUKURO
DUMPSTAPHUNK
THE SUFFERS
NIKKI HILL
IRISH MYTHEN
ARTIST BIOS
SANTANA
Delivered with a level of passion and soul equal to the legendary sonic charge of his guitar, the sound of Santana is one of the world’s best-known musical signatures. For more than four decades—from Santana’s earliest days as a groundbreaking Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion outfit in San Francisco—he has been the visionary force behind artistry that transcends musical genres and generational, cultural and geographical boundaries
For forty years and as many albums later, Santana has sold more than 100 million records and reached more than 100 million fans at concerts worldwide. To date, Santana has won ten Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards. He won a record-tying nine Grammys for a single project for 1999’s Supernatural (including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for “Smooth”) as well as three Latin Grammys. He has also received the Billboard Century Award (1996), was ushered into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1998), received the Billboard Latin Music Awards’ Lifetime Achievement honor (2009), and was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors Award (2013).
Among many other honors, Santana has been cited by Rolling Stone as #15 on their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” And, with the 2014 release of Corazón, Santana surpassed the Rolling Stones and is one of only two music acts in Billboard history to score at least one Top Ten album for six consecutive decades from the 1960s on.
Long before the category now known as “world music” was named, Santana’s ever-evolving sound was always ahead of its time in its universal appeal, and today registers as ideally in sync with the 21st century’s pan-cultural landscape. And, with a dedication to humanitarian outreach and social activism that parallels his lifelong relationship with music, Santana is as much an exemplary world citizen as a global music icon.
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
Born out of Northern California’s chaotic, late-1960s musical stew, The Doobie Brothers’ rugged, real and authentic approach to rock and roll made them biker bar stalwarts. But their self-titled debut album in ’71 went beyond just leather and motorcycles, revealing even more musical layers; sweet three-part harmonies and rootsy, introspective, acoustic flavours.
The Doobie Brothers’ legacy has been built upon not just hit records, but also an unrivalled commitment to musical integrity and a steadfast allegiance to their enthusiastic fan base. The bands ability to evolve in a constantly changing industry and connections to generations of listening audiences is a testament to their craft.
While their debut album in 1971 did not chart, just a year a later, their second record, Toulouse Street, became a breakout sensation. From there The Doobies hit the road, tirelessly working their way around the world.
The Doobie Brothers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, have won four Grammy awards and sold more than 48 million records worldwide. Their 1976 Best of the Doobies has sold more than 12 million copies, earning rare RIAA Diamond status. Their No. 1 gold-certified singles ‘Black Water’ and ‘What a Fool Believes’ lead a catalogue of hits that includes ‘Listen to the Music’, ‘Jesus Is Just All Right’, ‘Rockin’ Down the Highway’, ‘Long Train Runnin’, ‘China Grove’, ‘Take Me In Your Arms’, ‘Takin’ It to the Streets’, ‘Minute by Minute’, You Belong to Me’, and ‘The Doctor’. In all, The Doobies have tallied five Top 10 singles and 16 Top 40 hits.
The ability of The Doobie Brothers’ music to connect with the essentials of people’s lives in tuneful, affecting songs has developed an audience that spans generations today. Known for their dynamic live performances, the band plays close to 100 shows a year touring worldwide, delighting concert goers of all ages. Singer/guitarist Pat Simmons notes: “We have a hardcore fan base that has handed our music down through the years to their children and their children’s children. Repeatedly, people go to our concerts and come up to us and say, ‘My dad turned me on to you guys years ago, and I’ve loved you guys all this time, and my kids are listening to you now.”.
The collaborative, almost communal sense of family within the band allowed them to stay fresh and unpredictable over the years, while never forsaking their deep American musical roots, boogie-jams and all.
THE 2017 ARTIST DAILY PLAYING SCHEDULE IS AVAILABLE ON BLUESFEST.COM.AU
All 5, 3 & 1 day festival and camping tickets are now on sale through bluesfest.com.au or by phoning the Bluesfest office on 02 6685 8310