Photo Credit: Boston Lynn
Enter Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia: a part of the world heralded for its’ white, sandy beaches, enormous waves, and necessity for copious amounts of sunscreen. However, sunbathing aside, music lovers can rejoice in the region’s annual contribution to the ultimate live music scene, the Byron Bay Bluesfest.
While the upcoming, five-day festival is scheduled to take place over the long Easter weekend (i.e. April 13th to 17th), the international blues and roots event dates all the way back to 1990, with it’s founder, Keven Oxford, setting up shop at the Byron Bay Arts Factory. With a then, modest, 1500 people turnout, the formally known as “East Coast Blues Festival”, now opens up it’s pearly, sonically-interested gates to roughly an astonish 100,000 attendees from around the world. Former acts of the event’s past lineups include Bob Dylan, Hozier, Paul Simon, Gary Clark Jr., Angus & Julia Stone, Robert Plant, Alabama Shakes, John Mayer, Jurassic 5, James Brown, Zac Brown Band, Joss Stone, David Gray, Trombone Shorty, Angelique Kidjo, John Legend & BB King.
But current organizers of the festival, Peter Noble and company, announced today a truly spectacular list of headlining acts for the imminent festivities in April. Rock legend, Buffalo Springfield and CSNY alum, Neil Young plans to grace the stage, along with part poet, part punk Patti Smith, and the English activist and folk-ey hero Billy Bragg. Madness, Miles Electric Band, The Record Company, and The Mountain Goats (along with a handful more) join the festival’s 2017 bill in a highly anticipated holiday week.
The event is hosted every year at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, just north of Byron Bay, NSW, and welcomes camping for up to 6,000 visitors; while, seven stages and over 200 performers round out five-day event. Tickets are categorized under five, three, and one-day passes that are sequentially listed and priced at 620.00 USD, 420.00 USD, and 179 USD.
UPDATE (1/19): Jimmy Buffett has been added as a headliner for the festival.
Byron Bay Bluesfest 2017:
Jimmy Buffett
Patti Smith and her Band perform Horses
Corinne Bailey Rae
Mavis Staples
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Snarky Puppy
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Rhiannon Giddens
Andrew Bird
Gallant
The Strumbellas
Dumpstaphunk
The Mountain Goats
The Suffers
Nikki Hill
Irish Mythen
Trevor Hall
Neil Young + Promise of the Real
Patti Smith Acoustic Set
Mary J. Blige
The Lumineers
Bonnie Raitt
Rickie Lee Jones
Gregory Porter
Michael Kiwanuka
Roy Ayers
Joan Osborne
Gallant
Doobie Brothers
Zac Brown Band
Buddy Guy (exclusive)
Billy Bragg
Beth Hart
Max Jury
Nahko and Medicine for the People
Turin Brakes
Jake Shimabukuro
Santana
Madness
Jethro Tull
Laura Mvula
Booker T. presents The Stax Records Revue
Turin Brakes
Jake Shimabukuro
Barry Gibb
Miles Electric Band
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
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