Jethro Tull, John Legend and ZZ Top are just a few of the acts leading the second announcement for Bluesfest 2010.
You can also add a Bluesfest exclusive performance from Gurrumul, Toots & the Maytals, Pete Murray, Wolfmother, Funky Meters, Irma Thomas, Booker T, Los Lobos, Kasey Chambers, Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, Tim Robbins & the Rogues Gallery Band, The Dingoes, Diesel, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, B.B. & the Blues Shack, Joe Louis Walker. Phil Jones & the Unknown Blues, The Snowdroppers, Ray Beadle, Nat Cole & The Kings and Barrence Whitfield.
That on top of who you already know Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Rodrigo y Gabriela, The Cat Empire, Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Aaron Neville, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Fistful of Mercy, Mavis Staples, Xavier Rudd, Trinity Roots, Kate Miller-Heidke, Washington, Little Bushman, Tony Joe White, Indigo Girls, Eric Bibb, Ash Grunwald, Ruthie Foster, C.W. Stoneking, Jeff Lang, Saltwater Band, and RocKwiz Live.
The word from Bluesfest Festival Director Peter Noble is, “The response to our first announcement has been astounding, in terms of faster than ever ticket sales and comments, indicating that we’ve really captured the imagination of the Australian music lovers this year. But we’re most proud of the depth of the artist quality all the way through our first two announcements – which is why we
often say our headliners might be the reason you buy a ticket to Bluesfest, but it’s everything else going down that makes you rave about it and keeps you coming back!
“Our second announcement really takes Bluesfest 2011 to another level: The beautiful tones of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu will truly light up the festival – and this is exclusive, you won’t see him perform anywhere else. We also have the reggae royalty of Toots & the Maytals, the absolute reigning soul queen of New Orleans Irma Thomas, the stunning soul voice of John Legend who has just recorded a killer album with the Roots, the greatest soul Hammond organ player ever in Booker T, and the preeminent Mexican-folk-meets-rock-and-roll band Los Lobos.
“Nowhere else in Australia will you find so many artists who are the best of the best. You’ll see the band that practically invented funk music: the Funky Meters, a jaw-droppingly great German band with the best blues guitar player in Europe – B.B. & the Blues Shack, Joe Louis Walker – one of the last of the great blues guitar heroes with fans including Mick Jagger, B.B. King, and Herbie Hancock, and the pumped up blues and soul of Barrence Whitfield who’s been described as Little Richard meets James Brown.
“And yes folks, there are still more great announcements to come!”
The 22nd annual Bluesfest will happen from Thursday April 21 to Monday April 25, 2011.
VIDEO: Watch the Undercover video interview with Bluesfest Festival Director Peter Noble here:
VIDEO: What the Undercover video interview with Nat Col and the Kings here:
