Today on Wednesday July 8th Byron Bay Bluesfest releases the largest FIRST Artist Announcement made in the history of the festival. This highly anticipated release includes many of the artists intended for this year’s event and features a total of 50 artists including the Bluesfest Busking Competition and the debut appearance of The Australian Americana Music Honours.
New additions to the top end of the bill are International folk-stars Bon Iver, the god of Aussie rock Jimmy Barnes, festival favourite Michael Franti & Spearhead, and steaming hot off their No.1 debut on the ARIA album chart last May with “Live At The Forum is none other than one of this country’s fastest rising stars The Teskey Brothers.
The Black Sorrows, Melbourne Ska Orchestra and an exclusive performance by Weddings Parties Anything; their first show since 2012, are also new top notch additions to this first announcement.
Last week’s strong start to Early Bird ticket sales clearly demonstrates people are looking forward to leaving the house so they can soak up some much needed food for the soul. The 2021 Bluesfest promises to be a safe and full festival experience running across five stages and including all the trimmings from camping to rainbow tipis, market stalls, the busking competition, great food and the perennial warm good vibes that is Byron Bay Bluesfest.
All ticket types and Add-Ons are on-sale today.
Commenting on the announcement, Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM said, “When Bluesfest 2020 was ordered by the Government to shut-down 2020 we immediately put our noses to the grindstone within days of the cancellation and got on with 2021. This Artist Announce is a testament to that fortitude. As this country’s most highly awarded music festival, we are working with Government to find the best possible outcomes for Bluesfest 2021. We want to present another great event, one that is safe and with best-practise protocols implemented on every level. We need it, the music industry needs it and the greater community needs it. Together we will find the most prudent pathway to revive the live music industry, an industry that is aching to get back to work ASAP.
I am so grateful to all the international artists who want to return and be a part of 2021 Bluesfest, to all the Australian artists and to everyone in our industry supporting us in leading the way back to live music. Above all my thanks go to the resilient Bluesfest team who have been dedicated through what has been the hardest time yet we have experienced in presenting a music festival. Bluesfest 2021 will be much more than the music on stage and the wonderful audience along with all those who present it. It will be an integral part of the return of the live music industry. Many of 2020s line up want to return, so we fulfilled that and included some surprises like Bon Iver, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Jimmy Barnes and The Teskey Brothers to name a few. It’s a long way to next Easter and by that time travel restrictions are sure to be different. In the case of no international travel I’ve programmed a damn good line up of locals and a vibrant festival experience so people can come out and play. Last week’s Early Bird ticket sales proved to me that people are keen for next year’s Bluesfest. Yes the future is uncertain for everyone, but humans need enjoyment, a place they can feel comfortable and trust they are in good hands, and Bluesfest is, and has always been that.
Northern NSW benefits greatly from the people who attend Bluesfest. The festival’s contribution to our community financially is huge and we look forward to sharing the results of the Bluesfest Economic Impact Survey in a detailed report soon.”
A SECOND ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT is expected to follow in the Spring.
2021 BLUESFEST
ALL TICKET TYPES ON SALE NOW: https://www.bluesfest.com.au/tickets/
BON IVER – PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND – JIMMY BARNES
GEORGE BENSON – THE TESKEY BROTHERS
JOHN BUTLER – XAIVER RUDD – THE CAT EMPIRE
KOOL & THE GANG – THE GIPSY KINGS
KASEY CHAMBERS – THE WAIFS – TROY CASSAR-DALEY
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD
THE WAILERS PERFORM SONGS FROM ‘LEGEND’
LP – MORCHEEBA – THE BLACK SORROWS
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE
TORI KELLY – BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE
THEMARCUS KING BAND – CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM
JIMMIE VAUGHAN – JOHN MAYALL
MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA – CHAIN – LARKIN POE
WEDDINGS, PARTIES, ANYTHING – exclusive show
BACKSLIDERS – HARTS PLAYS HENDRIX – ASH GRUNWALD
THE WAR & TREATY – CORY HENRY & THE FUNK APOSTLES
WALTER TROUT – THE BAMBOOS
MICK THOMAS’ ROVING COMMISSION – DAMI IM
PIERCE BROTHERS – EMILY WURRAMARA– ROSHANI – RAY BEADLE
HENRY WAGONS – HUSSY HICKS – PACEY, KING & DOLEY
DANIEL CHAMPAGNE – NATHAN CAVALERI
LITTLE GEORGIA
BLUESFEST BUSKING COMPETITION & WINNERS
THE AUSTRALIAN AMERICANA MUSIC HONOURS
