February 22nd 2011 – Yes folks, get set for the galactic party of a lifetime to begin as Bluesfest today unveils YET ANOTHER amazing, star-studded line up of musical madness! And watch this space for yet more artists… you may be thinking Bluesfest 2011 is at capacity, but people, we still ain’t finished yet!
Festival director Peter Noble said, “It’s all coming together in a lineup that highlights what makes Bluesfest unique: a joyous, inclusive atmosphere with simply the best musicians on the planet, from multiple cultures, across all generations, who ABSOLUTELY DELIVER the tastiest gumbo mix of blues, roots, reggae, gospel, funk, hip hop, and soul.
“I’m often asked: how does Bluesfest keep growing while staying fresh and relevant? Well, we keep it simple with such great artists you cannot sit still to, who pump up the feel good factor, and who represent the finest musicianship on earth. One look across the 2011 Bluesfest lineup, and well, it ain’t surprising that some industry pundits are asking: ‘Hang on, could this be the best festival lineup in Australian history???’
“Well, for Bluesfest, it may just be… but hey, we’ll leave the speculation to you guys!”
The NEXT Bluesfest announcement for 2011 includes:
Grace Jones (New Date Added – TUESDAY April 26th , Public Holiday. Friday April 22nd, sold out); Little Feat, Fishbone, Cecilia Noël, Osibisa, Leah Flanagan; Kim Churchill, Grace Woodroofe, The Red Eyes, Lowrider, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Jack Thompson & The Original Sinners, Bayjah, The Aggrolites, Wagons, Resin Dogs and Yodelice.
Bluesfest from Byron Bay, Australia’s favourite counter-culture, family-orientated, artistically diverse music festival, today unveiled its next artist announcement – full of music legends, superstars, gifted instrumentalists plus a few surprises thrown in for good measure! And bear in mind folks – there’s still a whole bunch of Artists still to be announced.
Festival director Peter Noble said, “This announcement defines what sets Bluesfest apart: the depth of quality, diversity of cultures and artistic backgrounds and enough music for the young and not so young, that ensures you’ll come with a smile on your face and leave with a smile on your soul!
“Today we’re talking about George Clinton Parliament/Funkadelic – who along with Ernest Ranglin, mentioned below, are both among the most requested artists by Bluesfest fans asking us to bring them back following their KNOCK-OUT previous performances. George Clinton, of course, is the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic and one of the most important innovators of funk music alongside James Brown, Sly Stone and 2011 Bluesfest artists the Funky Meters. And folks, on our Tuesday our 6th day, all 32 of those Parliament/Funkadelic madmen will be performing their renowned 3 hour show!
“We’ve also got Leon Russell –2011 is the year of the re-discovery of Leon Russell, marked by his acclaimed 2010 collaboration album with Elton John called The Union, a feature article in RollingStone, and soon to be followed with his being inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 for "Music Excellence". Leon is the genius musician, arranger, producer, singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and touring musician who has collaborated with hundreds of artists including Joe Cocker, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, J.J. Cale, B.B. King, Gram Parsons, Ike & Tina Turner, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Rolling Stones, and on it goes.
“His first songwriting success was Joe Cocker's 1969 version of "Delta Lady", he then went on to organise Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen Tour – documented in the famous concert film with the same name.
“Leon Russell’s other most well known songs include: “A Song for You” later reinterpreted by Ray Charles, and also in 2005 by Herbie Hancock and Christina Aguilera, "This Masquerade", "Superstar" – best known as a hit for The Carpenters in 1971, plus “Hummingbird”, “Tight Rope” and “Lady Blue”.
“A part of Phil Spector’s studio group that created the famous the 'Wall of Sound', Leon Russell played on many popular successes of the 1960s, including songs by The Byrds, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Bobby "Boris" Pickett, and Herb Alpert.
“There’s the magic of Imogen Heap the Grammy Award-winning British singer, composer and songwriter who is bound to be a big hit with our younger Bluesfest audience. She is known for her stunning singles "Hide and Seek", “Headlock” and “First Train Home” – a brave and adventurous artist this one.
And I know many people will be ecstatic about Ernest Ranglin – the Jamaican guitarist and composer EXCLUSIVE to Bluesfest 2011 folks, and for many, the finest instrumentalist to ever play at our festival – and someone who must be easily the planet’s best 79 year old guitarist! You cannot imagine Jamaican music without mentioning the name Ernest Ranglin – he is the rock on which it was built. Probably after Bob Marley, Ranglin is the most respected musician to hail from that tropical paradise.
“Ernest is just such a delight to listen to… notably blending jazz and reggae to amazing effect. Best known for his session work at the famed Studio One, he helped give birth to the ska genre in the late 1950 and has played on many classic Jamaican recordings, and performed with artists such as Jimmy Cliff, Monty Alexander, Prince Buster, The Skatalites and the Eric Deans Orchestra.
“Bluesfest 2011 is bound to contain so many of those special, defining BLUESFEST moments that people will talk about for years to come. We’re all really proud of our lineup to date – AND you can bet the remaining 25 or so artists to be announced will continue to surprise and delight you – so bring it on!”
Ladies and Gents, the one and only superstar singer Grace Jones has today been added to the enormous bill for Bluesfest 2011 taking place in Byron Bay from Thursday April 21 through to Monday April 25, 2011.
Bluesfest music lovers – be warned, Grace Jones is going to pick you up, hold you tightly in the fist of her hand, and give you one hell of a ride! Bluesfest is very proud to unveil Grace Jones as a major new artist announcement who performs on the main stage on Friday night April 22, 2011.
A Grace Jones performance is not just a concert; it’s a MUST-SEE unique happening you’d be crazy to miss! A special event that’s part musical tour de force, part runway fashion show, and part theatrical drama full of outrageous extravagance. In fact, her appearance at the 2009 Sydney Festival is still being talked about!
Bluesfest fans can expect a voice than spans two and a half octaves from her commanding speak-singing to her soaring soprano, plus music from across her whole career – including tracks from her great and critically acclaimed 2008 comeback album Hurricane, plus her hits "Pull Up to the Bumper", “Love Is The Drug”, "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)", "Slave to the Rhythm" and "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You).
Bluesfest from Byron Bay, Australia’s favourite counter-culture, family-orientated, ethnically and artistically diverse music festival, has today announced a whopper of a signature first artist announcement - and it’s the first of many! Tickets are on sale now for Bluesfest - which just won the Australian Event of the Year for Bluesfest 2010 - and festival dates next year over Easter are from Thursday April 21 through to Monday April 25, 2011.
Once again, Bluesfest 2011 offers its passionate fans a very tasty - almost holy - array of simply the best local and international blues and roots music with its renowned blend of multi-genre, multi-demographic and multi-generational sounds.
Let’s get the party started! The first Bluesfest announcement for 2011 includes:
Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rodrigo y Gabriela, The Cat Empire, Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Aaron Neville, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Fistful of Mercy, Mavis Staples, Xavier Rudd, Trinity Roots, Kate Miller-Heidke, Washington, Little Bushman, Tony Joe White, Indigo Girls, Eric Bibb, Ash Grunwald, Ruthie Foster, C.W. Stoneking, Jeff Lang, Saltwater Band, and RocKwiz Live.
DIRECTOR’S COMMENT
Festival director Peter Noble said, “It’s turning into a MASSIVE year and what a delight it is to bring our fans an uplifting plethora of musical joy with this first of many quality announcements. Folks, this could be an embarrassment of riches - the very first time we’ve had at Bluesfest: Bob Dylan (in planning since 2003, who other than the Beatles has had more impact on 20th century music?), and B.B. King (pinching ourselves at this dream come true - the king of the blues playing for the first time at the king of the blues festivals!), I mean you could not have two greater music icons playing at one festival!”
“Also appearing for the first time is the great Elvis Costello (such diversity and credibility over the years), and the amazing Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi - she a Grammy nominated soul artist, and he a member of The Allman Brothers Band and dubbed ¡°the most awe-inspiring electric slide guitar player performing today” by The Wall Street Journal.
”Speaking of amazing guitarists, funk soul pedal-steel master Robert Randolph also brings his stellar band to Bluesfest. And I should note that both Robert Randolph and Derek Trucks have been a featured guitar player on separate Eric Clapton world tours - well now, you’ll see them for the first time at one festival.”
“Of course, we haven’t forgotten our amazing, younger artists, and who better to lead them than absolute Bluesfest legend Ben Harper. Synonymous with Bluesfest as the festival that introduced him way back in 1996, something magic always happens when Ben plays Bluesfest. In 2011, he’ll play all his wonderful hits and perform in two great bands, Ben Harper & Relentless 7 and Fistful of Mercy, the latter a rock supergroup also featuring Joseph Arthur and George Harrison’s son Dhani Harrison.”
If that’s not enough, we also have two more big Bluesfest favourites - the always inspiring Michael Franti & Spearhead and the rootsy, energising Xavier Rudd, plus the maverick, highly individualistic C.W. Stoneking who recently tore it up in the UK on the Jools Holland show. And this year the ‘church of Bluesfest’ 2011 is also serving up plenty of sacred moments to help save your soul with the likes of multiple Grammy winner soul royalty Mavis Staples, the ever expressive Ruthie Foster back again after impressing so many here a few years ago, the sheer beauty of the Saltwater Band and – here’s a huge one folks - the majesty of the Blind Boys of Alabama paired for the first time ever in Australia with Aaron Neville - the king of soul vocalists. With a huge stack of Grammy awards between them, the Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Aaron Neville concert is set to be a total classic for the ages.”
“There are too many more to highlight, but we must briefly mention reggae/jazz/soul band Trinity Roots, the most successful New Zealand recording artist of this century. Both of their independent albums went Platinum in NZ, and after calling it a day in 2005, they are now reformed and touring Australia exclusively for Bluesfest! Joining them will be the fantastic Little Bushmen, which also features members of Trinity Roots.”
Bluesfest cultural spirit recognised with 2010 Australian Event of the Year win
In October this year, in addition to being named Australia’s Best Cultural or Arts Event, Bluesfest took out the top prize of Australian Event of the Year at the Australian Event Awards. The top gong was even ahead of non-music events like the Sydney Royal Easter Show and the Australian Open Tennis 2010!
As Peter Noble says, “Even though we’ve grown and continue to win accolades, we’re most proud of the fact that we’re still focused on being a homely, hand-made, family friendly, left-leaning, culturally-aware, and non-corporate event! It ain’t about demographics people; it’s always been about the music. The world’s greatest artists love coming here because our audience is truly discerning and truly listens to the music - believe me, that is a rarity. Those wonderful hippy, counter-culture origins of Bluesfest remain dear to our hearts - because the Bluesfest spirit is all about being open, diverse, inclusive, cross-generational, and wildly eclectic - on and off the stage. We encourage our festival goers to help us honour the very best that humanity can be for five days, to dance, to let their hair down, to heal themselves, to share the spirit with their brothers and sisters, and then take that ethos away and spread it around a little . Amen!
So whether you’re an Eco-Warrior or a 9-5 Worrier - come to Bluesfest 2011 and be healed!