Final artist announcement makes 20th
Bluesfest a music lover’s paradise
Now over 100 artists with 200+ performances on 6 stages over 5 days!
Easter Long Weekend 9th – 13th April 2009, Byron Bay
March 2009 – It’s shaping up to be a simply massive year for Bluesfest – quite fittingly for the icon event’s 20th birthday bash taking place over the Easter long weekend just 5 weeks away.
And demonstrating Bluesfest’s commitment to unbeatable value for money for the world’s finest entertainment, today’s final artist announcement takes the tally to more than 100 artists with 200+ performances, on 6 stages, over 5 days!
The new list of headliners now includes:
BEN HARPER and RELENTLESS7, John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins, Jason Mraz, Lucinda Williams, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, Xavier Rudd, Zappa Plays Zappa, Angelique Kidjo, Paul Kelly, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Drive-By Truckers, Booker T and the DBTs, Eric Bibb , Augie March, Seasick Steve, Tinariwen, James Hunter, Ruthie Foster, Tim Finn, Toni Childs, Tony Joe White, Ayo, Blues Traveler and Fishbone.
The Daily Playing Schedule…
is also now up online – which means you can plan your whole weekend and festival in minute detail. For a full list of artists playing and to see the daily schedule – visit
www.bluesfest.com.au.
New artists announced today include recent Grammy award winning Zydeco master Terrance Simien, the toast of the last Tamworth music awards Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, well-known Kiwi icon of sheer songwriting quality Tim Finn, ska-punk-funk legends Fishbone (exclusive Bluesfest performance), singer / guitarist from the righteously popular Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, and one-man rhythm and groove band, and absolute hit of the recent Woodford festival, That 1 Guy.
Festival director Peter Noble said, “We’re all thrilled with how strong our lineup is for our 20th anniversary. There’s such a depth of talent and a huge cross section of blues and roots genres – absolute legends, standard-bearers, up and coming stars, chart-toppers, underground trail-blazers. For me, I can’t wait for Easter so I can enjoy all these great artists and just soak it up.”
Exclusive Ben Harper and other performances
Remember, Ben Harper will make an exclusive Australian appearance at Bluesfest with two special performances to debut his new band billed as BEN HARPER and RELENTLESS7. Bluesfest 2009 will also host the only concert performances on Australia’s East Coast for Michael Franti & Spearhead, John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins and Fishbone.
2 new stages for Bluesfest 2009!
Bluesfest 2009 introduces a brand new Cabaret stage featuring international and local artists including – Mic Conway’s National Junk Band, Mojo JuJu & The Snake Oil Merchants, Opposable Thumbs, Old Spice Boys, Pugsley Buzzard, Kush Cabaret and a further assorted motley crew of jugglers, fire eaters and twirlers, ferals and real live hippies!
Bluesfest also introduces in 2009 the new InDIG stage following a partnership investment from Events NSW. The InDIG stage showcases the country’s Australian and Southern Pacific Rim Indigenous heritage, and will include performances by Saltwater Band, Christine Anu, Archie Roach & Ruby Hunter, Dan Sultan, Te Vaka, Yilila, Tribe of Jubal, Buddy Knox Blues Band, Stiff Gins, Ngaiire, Marlene Cummins, Tommee, Rode Worx, Matty Devitt Band, and Paul Patten.
Bluesfest 2009 also presents a number of exciting newer artists under the banner of Catch A Rising Star including Grace Woodroofe and Tom Freund (both chosen by Ben Harper), Carney, The Haciendas, Mishka, State Radio, Carney, Paul Greene and The Inspector Cluzo. This collection continues the tradition of introducing stars of the future to Bluesfest audiences (think Ben Harper, Jack Johnson John Butler Jason Mraz, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers), so for festival goers, “you can say you saw them when!”
Ben Harper & John Butler guest program at Bluesfest!
And if that’s not enough, in a first for Bluesfest, as well as any other music festival in Australia, two of its major 2009 acts will help program up to seven bands that play prior to their own headlining set on the festival main stage, the Mojo Stage.
Guest programmed by Ben Harper to play prior to BEN HARPER and RELENTLESS7 on Saturday April 11, 2009: Grace Woodroofe, Tom Freund, Tinariwen, and AYO.
Guest programmed by John Butler to play prior to John Butler Trio on Sunday April 12, 2009: Paul Kelly, Blue King Brown, Saltwater Band featuring Geoffrey Gurrumul, State Radio, Jeff Lang, Ngaiire, and Nicky Bomba.
Do you still need to see more? Bluesfest Side Shows…
Catch the following Bluesfest acts at additional performances at the following venues:
The Blind Boys of Alabama
Sydney - Monday 6th April 2009
The Factory Theatre
Tickets available from: Ticketek:
www.ticketek.com.au phone 132 849
The Factory Theatre:
www.factorytheatre.com.au or phone 02 9550 3666.
Melbourne Tuesday - 7th April 2009
National Theatre
Tickets available from: The National Theatre
www.nationaltheatre.org.au 03 9525 4611 or Ticketek
www.ticketek.com.au phone 132 849
Drive-By Truckers and Booker T & the DBT’s
Melbourne - Friday 10th April 2009
The Prince of Wales Hotel, Melbourne Doors open 7:30pm
Tickets available from: Ticketek
www.ticketek.com.au phone 132 849 or the Prince box office see:www.princebandroom.com.au phone 03 9536 1168 for details
Sydney -Saturday 11th April 2009
The Factory Theatre
Tickets available from: Ticketek
www.ticketek.com.au phone 132 849 or The Factory Theatre:
www.factorytheatre.com.au or phone 02 9550 3666.
Angelique Kidjo with Special Guest Ayo* (Ayo appearing Syd Show only)
Melbourne - Monday 6th April 2009
Hamer Hall
Tickets available from: Ticketmaster:
www.ticketmaster.com.au or phone 136 100.
Sydney - Sunday 12th April 2009
Opera House
Tickets available from: Opera House:
www.sydneyoperahouse.com For more information, please visit:
www.bluesfest.com.auFor further MEDIA information please contact
Gaynor Crawford on (02) 6699 3437, or
gaynor@gaynorcrawford.com