News March 11, 2018

Bluesfest heads for sell-out days, more local acts added as sideshow supports

At least two of Bluesfest’s days over the Easter long weekend are heading for sell-outs, the Byron Bay festival has revealed.

As reported in TMN, it is ranked by Pollstar magazine as Australia’s biggest international festival by constantly drawing a collective 100,000+ punters.

Friday March 30 is close to full capacity, with headliners Robert Plant and Ms. Lauryn Hill.

Bluesfest has also denied speculation that Hill is about to announce a full-scale national tour.

“This is an exclusive appearance, and there will not be any other performance in Australia scheduled for 2018,” organisers said.

Sunday April 1 is also close to a sell-out, with the firepower of Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, John Butler Trio, Tash Sultana, First Aid Kit, Ziggy Alberts, Seal and José González.

Sultana is now also doing a second set, closing the main stage on Thursday March 29

Aside from her Easter Sunday show, Tash Sultana will also do another set.

She’ll close the main stage on Thursday March 29 on a day which also sees sets from Gomez, The Original Blues Brothers Band, Leon Bridges, Jason Isbell and Rag ‘n’ Bone Man.

The four original Wailers will now play each night of the festival.

They worked with Bob Marley creating his classics, and have worked at keeping his legacy alive since his death.

Bluesfest will be an historic event – this many original Wailers have not played together since the early 1990s.

The Wailers will be led by Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett on bass.

In addition to being an original Wailer, he worked on some of Marley’s classic albums including Exodus (1977) and Confrontation (1983).

Family Man is joined by keyboardist Tyrone Downie who joined Bob Marley and The Wailers in the 70s.

He’s also known for being the subject of Grace Jones’ song ‘My Jamaican Guy’.

Guitarists Donald Kinsey and Junior Marvin who played with Marley throughout the 70s also make the trip to Byron Bay this month.

Additionally, a slew of local acts have been added to Bluesfest touring headline shows, with Gomez, Newtown Faulkner, The New Power Generation, Morcheeba and Canned Head among the touring acts to announce supports.

The new support shows are as follows:

Tia GostelowsupportsGomezin Sydney and Melbourne

Riley Pearce & Carla GenevesupportGomezin Perth

Cosmo ThundercatandMANEsupportGomezin Adelaide

TimberwolfsupportsNewton Faulknerin Adelaide

ILUKAsupportsNewton Faulknerin Sydney

James BennettsupportsNewton Faulknerin Newcastle

Tom RichardsonsupportsNewton Faulknerin Melbourne

The Hunting BirdssupportNewton Faulknerin Perth

Frank SultanasupportsThe New Power Generationin Sydney

Miss Rene SimonesupportsMorcheebain Sydney

Frank SultanasupportsCanned Heatat The Basement in Sydney