Bluesfest 2013 Lineup – Official Announcement

Byron Bay’s Bluesfest first lineup announcement traditionally isn’t made public for another 6 weeks, but festival organisers are too excited to keep this impressive collection of musical acts under wraps any longer.

Headlining the five-day festival, which will take place over Easter from March 28 – April 1, 2013, is the returning Ben Harper. A Bluesfest favourite, Festival Director Peter Noble is ecstatic to have Harper back on the bill and explains the special bond between the singer/songwriter and the festival.

“There is something about Ben and Bluesfest that cannot be put into words…to hear him perform at the festival that discovered him is almost an experience approaching mysticism…it is transcendental…you have been warned,” said Noble.

Joining Harper at Bluesfest 2013 is guitar hero Santana, who will be making his very first appearance at Bluesfest. Having been a presence in popular music for over five decades, Santana, along with the Rolling Stones (not appearing at Bluesfest just to be clear) are the only two musical acts to have recorded at least one top ten hit in each decade since the 1960s.

Another major act whose origins reach back to the 60s is Iggy & The Stooges. A band perhaps not immediately associated with ‘the blues’, Iggy & The Stooges’ brand of spaced-out acid punk rock will bring an energetic element to the festival while still keeping within the overall vibe of Bluesfest.

Other acts include the smooth crooning Chris Isaak, Boston celtic punk veterans the Dropkick Murphy’s, and alternative rock act Wilco, plus many more as listed, and remember that this is only the first lineup announcement.

Bluesfest 2013 First Lineup Announcement:

Ben Harper

Santana

Iggy & The Stooges

Steve Miller Band

Chris Isaak

Wilco

Bonnie Raitt

Dropkick Murphy’s

Glen Hansard with The Frames

Tedeschi Trucks Band

Newton Faulkner

William Elliott Whitmore

Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls

Grace Potter

Playing For Change

Ben Caplan

Second Announcement

Jimmy Cliff

Joan Armatrading

Rodriguez

Robert Cray

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue

The Blind Boys Of Alabama

Mavis Staples

Allen Toussaint

Wanda Jackson

Fred Wesley & The New JB’s

Michael Kiwanuka

Bettye Lavette

Luka Bloom

Ruthie Foster

Tony Joe White

Sweet Honey In The Rock

The Duke Robillard Band

Shawn Colvin

Seth Lakeman

Bettye Lavette – Just Announced

Third Announcement

Robert Plant (With Band, The Sensational Space Shifters – ‘Playing Led Zeppelin tracks’ )

Status Quo

Roger Hodgson

Jon Anderson

Fourth Announcement

Counting Crows

Ben Harper (solo)

The Lumineers

Taj Mahal

Shuggie Otis

Kitty Daisy & Lewis

Ben Howard

Tav Falco & The Panther Burns

JD Mcpherson

Royal Southern Brotherhood

SOJA

Jake Shimbukuro

Damien Dempsey

Fifth Announcement

Jason Mraz

Manu Chao La Venture

Mark Seymour And The Undertow

Chris Smither

Current Swell

Matt Anderson

Go Jane Go Feat. Kieran Kane, David Francey & Lucas Kane

The McMenamins

Sixth Announcement

Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite

Zac Brown Band

Manu Chao

La Ventura (Second show)

The Music Maker Blues Revue

Leonardo’s Bride

Nicky Bomba’s Bustamento

Skipping Girl Vinegar

Allen Stone

Kim Churchill

Shaun Kirk

Genevieve Chadwick

Brother Fox

Local Artists Announcement

The Cat Empire

Fat Freddy’s Drop

Xavier Rudd

Rockwiz Live

The Break (Feat. Members of Midnight Oil, Violent Femmes, Hunters & Collectors)

Beasts of Bourbon

Karise Eden

The Bamboos

The Beards

Melbourne Ska Orchestra

The Snowdroppers

King Cannons

Grey Ghost

Busby Marou

Saskwatch

The Wilson Pickers

Round Mountain Girls

Hat Fitz & Cara

Mason Rack Band

The Songs of The Haight Ashbury Stage Show

Lil Fi & the Dirty Rascals

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