With just nine short weeks till Bluesfest, organisers are putting the finishing touches on the festival line-up, and they are excited to announce that the following 18 artists will be joining the already stunning bill:
BOBBY ALU is a local favourite that holds the crowd captive with a fresh, simple sound with tastes of Polynesian ukulele, Pacific beats, catchy songs, thoughtful harmony, and powerful log drumming on a bed of slick style.
DAMI IM is playing Bluesfest for her second time. Dami is renowned for her emotive and powerful vocals since capturing hearts when she won The X Factor Australia. She went on to become ‘Eurovision Royalty’ in 2016 when she earned the highest score ever achieved by an Australian entry with her smash hit ‘Sound of Silence’ charting in 38 countries across the globe.
DOG TRUMPET featuring Reg Mombassa and Peter O’Doherty, original members of Mental As Anything, Bernie Hayes and Jim Elliott from the Cruel Sea. Bluesfesters can expect to hear songs from Dog Trumpet and Mentals favourites.
FRANK SULTANA: Dripping with pre-WW2 mojo, dark, dirty guitar tones and a voice that has the grit and soul of the characters he sings about. This year, Frank won the solo/duo section of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, among a field of 150 artists worldwide. He is the third Australian to win in the event’s 38-year history.
HUSSY HICKS: Straddling the line between Folk, Blues, Country, and Roots, Hussy Hicks have earned themselves a mighty reputation, growing from festival openers to festival favourites, seeing the group now appear at the most significant blues and roots festivals in Australia, The USA and across Europe while selling out their own tours across the three continents.
STEVE’N’SEAGULLS: Dubbed the band you didn’t know you missed but the band you know you want to hear again, Steve’n’Seagulls rose to fame in 2014 when they filmed live music videos back on their farm. One video, with their unique take on AC/DC classic Thunderstruck, took the internet by storm. Since then, their music videos have gathered close to 280 million views on YouTube alone.
Bluesfesters will also have the chance to see Paolo Nutini (Thursday), whose album, Last Night In The Bittersweet, was declared Album of the Year by The Sun, UK. Counting Crows (Easter Saturday), the legendary Buddy Guy playing his last ever Bluesfest (Saturday), PLUS Gang of Youths (Friday) and The Doobie Brothers (Monday), to name a few.
It will be a Bluesfest to remember with some of the world’s finest contemporary and legendary Blues, Roots, Soul, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, World and Americana music artists… and more!
