Bluesfest announced their first line-up batch this morning with some old Bluesfest favourites, some more recent additions and a couple of awesome Bluesfest debuts.
The first of many line up announcements includes the legendary George Benson making his Bluesfest debut and the incredibly talented Brandi Carlile who hasn’t graced the Bluesfest stage since 2008.
So without further ado, the Bluesfest 2020 first artist lineup is: Dave Matthews Band, Crowded House, Patti Smith, John Butler, Xavier Rudd, The Cat Empire, Morcheeba, John Prine, Jenny Lewis, Frank Turner, John Mayall, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Marcus King Band, Walter Trout, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, Greensky Bluegrass, Larkin Poe and The War & Treaty.
Both Larkin Poe and The War & Treaty were phenomenal at the 2019 event. Both acts were a family affair (Larkin Poe are sisters and The War & Treaty’s Michael and Tanya Trotter are a couple), both played their debut Blues and both performed unforgettable standout sets at Tyagarah. (Fingers actually crossed that there’d be a return in 2020)
Festival director Peter Noble says he has been so pleased to hear all the positive feedback from the 30th Anniversary event in 2019. ‘I hope to take that to the next level in 2020.’
‘We are so excited to welcome the legend that is George Benson to Bluesfest.’
Since 1977, George Benson, who is recognised as one of the world’s greatest guitarists, has won 10 Grammy Awards – and has been nominated for an additional 15 and three-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, performer and producer Brandi Carlile is currently in the midst of a landmark year following the release of her Grammy-winning album, By The Way, Forgive You.
John Butler, singer-songwriter, producer and activist has been a member of the Bluesfest family for nearly 20 years. This time around, John Butler will be performing solo and Xavier Rudd who has captivated audiences for two decades will deliver his unique and exciting experience when he takes the stage next Easter.
The singer-songwriter John Prine’s first record is famously known to be full of protest songs, written during the Vietnam War when there was heightened political unrest in the White House. The animating spirit of that early music is threaded throughout John Prine’s new work and Jenny Lewis has confirmed her highly anticipated return with her fourth solo album On The Line out mid-2019 on Warner Bros. Records.
So much to wax lyrical and musical about from this first announcement, it’s going to be a great Easter in 2020 with more exciting acts to be announced in the coming months.
Bluesfest’s 31st outing is being held from 9 – 13 April 2020. Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix.
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