NEXT artist announcement with Superstars and Classic Music Legends
9 February 2011
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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 approx 25 artists yet to be announced!
The THIRD Bluesfest announcement
for 2011 includes:
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Leon Russell; George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic;
Luciano and the Jah Messenjah Band; Imogen Heap;
Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ernest Ranglin, Raul Malo, Michelle Shocked,
Peter Rowan & The Blue Grass Band; Public Opinion Afro Orchestra,
Eli Paperboy Reed, The Bamboos, The Mad Bastards, Warrior King,
The Hands, Bobby Alu; and Hussy Hicks
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Industry buzz continues to build around Bluesfest 2011! Several commentators wonder if this is the best artist lineup they've seen in their lifetime. At a time when many festivals are doing it tough, Bluesfest is "puttin' the right thing" in the mix, giving the people what they want – and, as a result, our fiercely independent event just keeps getting better and better!
Bring on Easter 2011 with its hip shaking grooves, the best music from the entire planet, and exceptional good times… But be quick tickets will not last!
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Director's Comment on New Artists
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Festival director Peter Noble said, "We're brewing up our marvelous Byron Gumbo using our brand new Roux to give everyone an even hotter and spicier time this coming Easter Hoodoo new moon! The Easter new moon has been celebrated since the dawn of mankind from pagan celebrations until the time it was usurped by Christians. So in a time honoured tradition, we're inviting EVERYBODY to be celebratin' together in Byron Bay.
"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!
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"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!
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"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.
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"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.
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"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!"
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Remember: the first, second and 6th Day Bluesfest announcements for 2011 included:
Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Ben Harper and 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, Little Bushman, Tony Joe White,
Indigo Girls, Kate Miller-Heidke, Eric Bibb, Washington,
Ash Grunwald, Ruthie Foster, C.W. Stoneking,
Jeff Lang, Saltwater Band, and RocKwiz Live.
Grace Jones, Jethro Tull, ZZ Top, John Legend,
Gurrumul (Bluesfest exclusive), Toots & the Maytals,
Pete Murray, Wolfmother, Funky Meters, Irma Thomas, Los Lobos,
Kasey Chambers, Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band,
Tim Robbins & the Rogues Gallery Band, The Dingoes, Diesel,
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, B.B. & the Blues Shack,
Joe Louis Walker, Phil Jones & the Unknown Blues,
The Snowdroppers, Ray Beadle, Nat Col & the Kings,
and Barrence Whitfield.
Paul Kelly; Buffy Sainte-Marie; Tim Finn; Eli Paperboy Reed;
and The Mad Bastards.
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Camping & Ticket News
5-day and 3-day (Sat, Sun, Mon) campers – we have heard your call, and you will not be required to leave the campsite on Tuesday April 26 until 2pm!
Please note: There are still plenty of single day tickets for the Thursday and Tuesday at Bluesfest, while Friday single day tickets are expected to sell out in the VERY near future, all other days are sold out now.
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Bluesfest artists celebrated at the Best of the Beat Awards in New Orleans!
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Big congratulations to our Bluesfest 2011 artists who won last week at the Best of the Beat Awards - essentially the New Orleans Music Awards - hosted by Offbeat Magazine (www.offbeat.com).
Bluesfest 2011 is proud to feature Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, we are seeing the beginnings of a MAJOR STAR of the future here folks. Trombone has just signified generational change in New Orleans by winning no less than FIVE trophies in the hardest town in the world to win anything, given the level of musical competition there. NEVER BEFORE has one N'awlins musician won this many Best of The Beat Awards. Trombone Shorty won Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Backatown), Best R&B/Funk Artist, Best R&B/ Funk Album of the Year (Backatown), and Best Trombonist - nice work!
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Hats off also to our other fantastic Bluesfest 2011 artists, Irma Thomas who won Best Female Vocalist and Mr Funk himself, George Porter, Jr from The Funky Meters who took out top honours for Best Bass Player.
Fundraiser Announcement
Times have been hard around our area and although we thank the gods that Byron has been spared, we don't forget our Brothers and Sisters who are doing it tough. So along with the celebration, we are announcing there will be a fundraiser for Cyclone Yasi affected Aussies at the back room of the Great Northern Hotel in Byron Bay the evening of Wednesday April 20, 2011.
There will also be other fundraising events during Bluesfest for the Brisbane region flood affected folks, so look out for these while you're at the festival. The Byron community along with Bluesfest helped communities in Sri Lanka with relief after the Boxing Day Tsunami several years back, and it was fantastic to give help to many villagers by first providing emergency cover, then on the ground psychological counseling, and by finally helping to build or rebuild homes in their villages. We are now working on targeting specific projects which will be announced in the near future to help those affected by the Brisbane floods and Cyclone Yasi.
The 'Tepee Life' Village
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New premium accommodation option available at Bluesfest 2011: book a recycled tepee in the 'Tepee Life' village!
We can now offer a limited amount of comfortable, recycled tepees for booking at this year's festival, thanks to our friends over at Tepee Life.
Tepee Life provides a unique, premium accommodation option for those who prefer a hassle free camping experience at Bluesfest.
Each tepee sleeps six people comfortably and includes 6x single mattresses, a table, an LED lantern and one campsite parking spot per tepee booking - you just bring your own bedding.
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The price per tepee is $1250 (as low as $30/person/night!) for the duration of the festival and the tepees are located in two separate, prime locations inside the camping grounds. You will need accompanying camping tickets to purchase a Tepee AND if you have not got your camping at Bluesfest secured this is your chance to purchase your camping tickets alongside your tepee. $207 per Adult & $104 per child for 5 day camping. NOTE: Camping bookings are taken through the Tepee Life office not the Bluesfest office. Please read on for further info!
There are two types of tepees available for booking at Bluesfest 2011 - choose between booking a tepee in the Tepee Life village and enjoy the communal facilities, or book one of the solo tepees for a slightly more private experience.
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The limited amount of tepees are expected to book out fast, so don't wait too long if you want to stay in one!
All tepee bookings are taken directly through the Tepee Life office!
Click here to find out more about Tepee Life and to book your tepee now!
Please note: 5 day and 3 day camping available at Belongil Fields Caravan Park, Byron Bay, the former Bluesfest home. Bookings can be made by visiting website www.belongilfields.com.au or phoning Tel (02) 6680 8999. For more info on camping please click here.
About Bluesfest
Bluesfest has grown to be one of Australia's premier music festival events. Held annually for the last 21 years over the Easter long weekend, the 5 day musical extravaganza attracts people from around the World and across Australia to the North Coast of New South Wales, Byron Bay.
From humble beginnings in 1990 attracting a modest audience size of 6,000 music lovers from around the country, Bluesfest has steadily developed its reputation of excellence amongst musicians and concert goers nationally and internationally throughout its 21 year history.