Bluesfest yesterday launched its first artist announcement with Roger Daltrey at the top of the list of headlining acts.
The iconic lead singer of The Who will perform the band’s legendary rock opera Tommy from start to finish. The Who never played the complete Tommy live.
Other big names from the 70s include soul-funk superstars and multiple Grammy award winners Earth Wind & Fire, and British prog-rock trailblazers Yes (who have just released their first album in a decade).
The 80s are represented by seminal Irish folk-punk legends The Pogues and the 90s by My Morning Jacket and Bluesfest regulars The John Butler Trio.
Buddy Guy will put the blues back into Bluesfest while Maceo Parker will blow it for all he’s worth.
The High Priestess of R & B, Grammy nominee Bettye Lavette, is making her Bluesfest debut.
Troubadour and Bluesfest veteran Steve Earle makes a comeback appearance, as does his son and equally riveting performer Justin Townes-Earle. It remains to be seen whether we will see a family moment on stage.
Other names that are sure to appeal include Rockabilly Riot, G3 (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Steve Lukather), Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Johnny Lang and Yann Tiersen.
Trombone Shorty, The Great Big Sea and The Jayhawks round out the list.
And that’s only the first announcement!
The 23rd Bluesfest will take place between Thursday 5 April and Monday 9 April at its permanent festival home at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm just outside of Byron Bay.
Tickets are on sale now through www.bluesfest.com.au or by phoning the Bluesfest office on 02 6685 8310.
