Peter Noble, the man behind Bluesfest, is furious that the line-up headlined by Bob Dylan and B.B. King was leaked this morning by Fairfax media.
An official announcement for Bluesfest 2011 was due tomorrow (November 4) but Fairfax broke the embargo and published the line-up this morning.
The good news is that the line-up is the strongest ever for Bluesfest. The bad news is that the company was not prepared for early announcement and have been fielding calls all day from punters.
Noble tells Undercover that he has been chasing B.B. King for Bluesfest for 14 years. “He finally said yes,” Peter said. “Unlike a concert promoter, a festival promoter can only sign artists who can make it at the time of the festival. A concert promoter can tour an act whenever the act is ready. I’ve waited 14 years to get B.B. King”.
Unfortunately, Robert Plant, who Peter earlier told Undercover was going to be on the bill cannot make the festival in April, 2011. “I’ve been trying to get Robert for 4 years and we almost had him but at the last minute he decided to tour America at that time,” he said.
The 2011 line-up is incredible. “If you took Bob Dylan and B.B. King off the list, then we still have a strong line-up,” Peter said.
Other international acts in the first announcement include Blind Boys of Alabama with Aaron Neville. “This will be special,” Peter says. “Aaron will be singing Gospel songs with the Blind Boys. This will be a unique performance.”
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band will play together. “They are married,” Peter says. “In his own rite, Derek, who is also the guitarist in the Allman Brothers, is one of the best guitarists in the world.”
Fistful of Mercy will perform with Ben Harper. Fistful of Mercy features Dhani Harrison, the son of Beatle George Harrison.
Elvis Costello, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Robert Randolph Band, Tony Joe White, Mavis Staples, Eric Bibb, Ruthie Foster and Indigo Girls make up the rest of the international names.
Australian artists The Cat Empire, Xavier Rudd, Washington, Kate Miller-Heidke, Ash Grunwald, C.W. Stoneking, Jeff Lang and Rockwiz Live are also in the round one announcement.
Bluesfest 2011 is on from Thursday April 21 to Sunday April 25 at the Tyagarah tea farm site.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (November 5) at the Bluesfest website.
Watch C.W. Stoneking perform for Undercover Usessions.
