Bluefest 2010 First Lineup Announcement

The first round of artists to perform at the 21st Anniversary Bluesfest has been announced! Australia’s most awarded and internationally renowned festival officially begins a new era (and with any luck another excellent 21 years) with the purchase and move to its permanent new home for the 2010 event – the Tyagarah Tea Tree farm just off the Pacific Highway, 10 minutes north of Byron Bay.

Bluesfest 2010 takes place over Easter from Thursday April 1 through to Monday April 5, 2010. The first artist announcement includes a massive array of the best local and international blues, roots, folk, soul, and world artists – with an emphasis on some of the best guitar players of all time.

The first Bluesfest announcement for 2010 includes:

Crowded House • Buddy Guy • Roger Hodgson from Supertramp • Gipsy Kings • Orquesta • Buena Vista Social Club® • Jeff Beck • Lyle Lovett • RocKwiz • Jimmy Barnes Plays the Rhythm & the Blues • Jessica Mauboy • The Swell Season • Newton Faulkner • Dr John & the Lower 911 • Bèla Fleck’s African Project Featuring Oumou Sangarè & band • Blue King Brown • Al Di Meola World Sinfonia • Gogol Bordello • Fat Freddy’s Drop • Joe Bonamassa • Peter Green & friends • The Flatlanders • Avett Brothers • Justin Townes Earle • Renee Geyer • Colin Hay Band • Old Crow Medicine Show • Lil Band o’ Gold • Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express • AND Robert Gordon & the Gang They Couldn’t Hang – featuring Chris Spedding (Roxy Music) • Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) • Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats).

Festival director Peter Noble said, “We are so energised about the amazing artists in this first announcement – it’s easily our best ever first announcement just looking at the depth across the entire list. We promised a touch of classic rock and a guitar lover’s focus for this festival – and to see how that’s played out, you just have to look at axe shredding maestros like Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Al Di Meola, Peter Green (original Fleetwood Mac founder and hero of BB King, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page!), the Gipsy Kings who are the world’s best flamenco players, Bèla Fleck (stunning banjo virtuoso), and Joe Bonamassa a young blues guitarist who’s recently sold out London’s Royal Albert Hall.

“There’s also tonnes of local and global roots friendly artists too many to mention, Roger Hodgson the incredible singer and songwriter of all those timeless Supertramp hits, Jessica Mauboy who is such an outstanding and genuine artist verified by her recent four awards at the Deadlys and her record seven ARIA award nominations! There’s also Oumou Sangarè who joins Bèla Fleck’s new project and is one the greatest African singers you will ever hear.

“And all this is just the beginning – our second announcement is just around the corner and a stunner too! In fact, we know we have the best Bluesfest bill ever this year, which is a very satisfying way to celebrate our 21st birthday and move to our new home.

“Now at Tyagarah, we’ve got even more room to grow the vision, and give our patrons the REAL festival experience. What we stand for is keeping the counter-culture alive – and the very real notion that music can help heal the world – we’re bringing in artists from Cuba, Mali and even Gypsies all together to support this vision. Longer term, my intention is that Bluesfest will outlive me, and remain a beacon of light that continues presenting the highest quality music on the planet,” concluded Peter Noble.

Tickets can be purchased by: Phoning the Bluesfest office on 02 6685 8310 or visiting the website at www.bluesfest.com.au

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