Bluesfest was already filled to the brim with unstoppable talents like legendary Neil Young or the eccentric Jethro Tull, but the iconic Australian festival has just updated their lineup for the sixth time, bringing 12 more acts to the enormous list. With 12 hours of music each day, delicious food stalls, exciting market stands, camping on the scenic plains of Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm in Byron Bay, and these new lineup additions, 2017’s edition of Bluesfest is not one to miss.
Madness are one of the first bands to come with this announcement, an act renowned for their punchy ska, pop and soul blend. With their status as British ska revival phenomenon of the ’70s and ’80s recently reclaimed, Madness are ready to bring their rowdy pop back to Australian shores.
Following Madness is the Miles Electric Band, the nine-member group created in association with the Miles Davis Estate and featuring the likes of Grammy-winning Robert Irving III and Parliament-Funkadelic guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight. They’re bound to bring Davis’ music to new generations with an engrossing concert experience.
Famous punk-poet Patti Smith and her band are also set to grace the stage at Bluesfest in an Australian exclusive. The stripped back performance will give Patti Smith fans the intimate set needed to connect with her hallowed lyricism.
Not only that, political songwriter Billy Bragg will be teaming up with Americana favourite Joe Henry, with musical melting pot Slightly Stoopid also delivering their hybrid funk and punk extravaganza to Byron Bay audiences for the third time. Country musician Rhiannon Giddens will return to Bluesfest in 2017, and will be followed up by Deep South Blues crooner Tony Joe White, soul-filled, small town up-and-comer Max Jury, raw blues rockdogs The Record Company, and the moving indie-folk stylings of The Mountain Goats. R&B balls of energy The California Honeydrops and spiritual acoustic rocker Trevor Hall will cap off the massive 2017 lineup update.
The diversity of this announcement will make sure there’s something to see for everyone, with a bunch more updates in store for festival-goers. Head to www.bluesfest.com.au for tickets and more information on the 28th annual Bluesfest.
NEWLY ANNOUNCED:
Madness
Miles Electric Band
Patti Smith and her band (Acoustic set)
Billy Bragg and Joe Henry
Slightly Stoopid
Rhiannon Giddens
Tony Joe White
Max Jury
The Record Company
The Mountain Goats
The California Honeydrops
Trevor Hall
ALREADY ANNOUNCED:
Neil Young + Promise of the Reel
Barry Gibb
Santana
Zac Brown Band
Patti Smith and her band perform Horses
Mary J. Blige
The Lumineers
Buddy Guy (Exclusive)
The Doobie Brothers
Bonnie Raitt
Mavis Staples (Exclusive)
Billy bragg
Jethro Tull
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue
Rickie Lee Jones
Gregory Porter
Snarky Puppy
St. Paul & the Broken Bones
Corinne Bailey Rae
Michael Kiwanuka
Nahko and Medicene for the People
Gallant
Beth Hart (Exclusive)
Laura Mvula
Andrew Bird
Booker T. Presents the Stax Records Review
Roy Ayers
Joan Osborne
Turin Brakes
The Strumbellas
Jake Shimabukuro
Dumpstaphunk
The Suffers
Nikki Hill
Irish Mythen
*exhales*
