Festival lovers rejoice! The 15/16 festival season has officially begun with Bluesfest dropping their first lineup announcement. Bluesfest stands as one of the largest Australian festivals going around, with the whole thing taking place near Byron Bay over the entire Easter Long Weekend. It’s a festival that has seen acts such as Bob Dylan, The Black Keys, Robert Plant, Cold Chisel, and Paul Simon headline the festival.
Bluesfest is also known for it’s enslaught of lineup announcements. Each year the festival gets bigger, more acts get added, and now we have the earliest lineup announcement ever! A full 252 days until the festival begins. If this lineup announcement doesn’t scratch your itch there is no need to worry, because this is just the first of up to 8 lineup announcements they will be dropping over the next 8 months.
We’ve gone through the first lineup and covered each and every act announced, so you know exactly what’s going down at the festival, luckily it begins with…
The National
One of the most respected bands in the world today, and the headlining band on the first Bluesfest lineup. Described as “the most necessary band of their age”, The National will be bringing their visceral and emotional set to the Byron Bay stage. Bluesfest have confirmed that this is an exclusive performance. So don’t wait around for sideshows, because they’re not coming and you don’t want to miss out.
Read our interview with The National here.
City and Colour
Singer/songwriter Dallas Green is no stranger to Australian shores; he’s toured the country multiple times, both as a member of Alexisonfire and as the frontman for City & Colour. His live show presents an “artist that mines the minutiae from dreams of paradise to night terrors, and the emotional territory that likes between them.” His show has grown from a solo live performance, to a full band that helps his songs resonate even further.
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue
Another Bluesfest exclusive, UB40 were a Reggae juggernaught in the 80’s that still stand tall today (albeit with a slightly more confusing name). UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue is exactly what it says on the tin; original members of the band taking the stage to smash out hit after hit after hit. The same lineup toured Australia last year and enjoyed sell out performances everywhere they went (read our review here). So put on your skankin’ pants everybody
Joe Bonamassa
What’s that? You want some Blues in your Bluesfest? Well them, Joe Bonamassa has got you covered and then some. A man who was opening up for B.B. King at age 12, his career has only exploded from there. The Grammy nominated, platinum-selling Blues guitarist of a generation is another Bluesfest Exclusive performance, and his first appearance at the festival in six years.
Read our interview with Bonamassa here.
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The supergroup combination of Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi is a powerful one, and the proof is in the pudding as their 2011 album Revelator scored the Best Blues Album at the Grammys. Derek Trucks is a former member of The Allan Brothers Band, and was listed by Rolling Stone as the 16th greatest guitarist of all time. Susan Tedeschi is celebrating her 20th year in the music industry, sharing her captivating voice with the world.
The Cat Empire
Most well known for writing “that song”, The Cat Empire is also band that has performed around the world for the past 16 years building a strong reputation as a fantastic festival act. They have played Big Day Out, Beat The Drum, Glastonbury, and Bonaroo with their ska/funk/jazz/everything tunes.
Read our interview with The Cat Empire here.
Lukas Nelson & The Promise of The Real
In their first ever Australian appearance, Lukas Nelson & The Promise Of The Real will be bringing their blend of ‘Cowboy Hippie Surf Rock’ to Bluesfest. The band have some impressive accolades, such as being the backing band for Neil Young on his latest album The Monsanto Years, and if the name didn’t give it away, being the son of legendary Country musician Willie Nelson.
The Word
An improvistational Gospel-Jazz supergroup is the perfect band for Bluesfest. Featuring members of the Nother Mississippi Allstars, Robert Randolph, and John Medeski – the band will be jamming all through their set, creating captivating and innovating Gospel/Jazz tunes (and frankly, how could they not with a combo like that)
Rhiannon Giddens
The Grammy Award-winning former lead singer of Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens will be making both her Bluesfest and Australian debut. She will be bringing her dazzling vocal prowess to run through a whole bunch of genre-bending tunes, including elements of Country, Gospel, Jazz and Blues.
Janiva Magness
No stranger to accolades, Janiva Magness has enjoyed 22 Blues Music Award nominations over her 11-album career. She’s a fantastic Blues and R&B singer that is known for her electric live shows, winning the B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year award, and being only the second women ever to win the award.
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Soul sextet St. Paul & The Broken Bones just recently opened up for The Rolling Stones, and now they’re coming to Australia to play Bluesfest for the first time. Paul Janeway’s energetic performances are backed up by a band that remain high-voltage and in-the-pocket at all times.
Allen Stone
A man who is described as one of the most breathtaking Soul artists in the world today. Allen Stone has been making waves all over the US; opening for Al Green, performing with Macklemore, and gracing the pages of the New York Time. Allen Stone is a Soul/Pop buzz artist that could be next in line to become the next big thing.
The Selecter
A band that should (and often is) spoken about in the same vein as Madness and The Specials; The Selecter is a classic Ska 2-Tone band that has been around for decades. Reforming in 2011, they’ve played festivals around the world, and influenced a generation of bands that mixed Ska and Punk.
Shakey Graves
Only in Australia a few months ago, Alejandro Rose-Garcia brought his unique blend of Anti-Folk to the Factory Theatre, and now he is returning to play Bluesfest. NPR called him one of 10 aritsts msuci fans “should’ve known in 2012” with a intimate performance with just himself, a guitar, and a handmade kickdrum built out of an old suitcase.
Songhoy Blues
One of the most hyped World Music bands in the world today. The trio hail from Gao, and present a combination of Rock, R&B, and Blues that’s soaked in a unique Malian influence.
Bluesfest 2016 will take place from Thursday March 24 until Monday March 28, just north of Byron Bay.
