The mammothByron Bay Bluesfest 2016 lineup today got a serious injection of soul-scratchin, ’70s-tinged blues rock with the inclusion of Eagles Of Death Metal who will be heading our way for the festival for their first Australian shows since the horrific Paris attacks which saw 89 people shot at their Paris show at the Bataclan.
Speaking to Music Feeds today Bluesfest founder Peter Noble described the Eagles Of Death Metal‘s decision to keep touring following the attacks as inspiring. “The fact that they are coming out and playing live, I just can’t think of a braver act by a band,” he said.
Discussing the decision to book the band, Noble says it was very much business as usual. “Those of us in the music industry that feel that this is important, from all around the world have gone out and supported the band’s desire to tour by the simple act of booking them.”
Expressing his immense regard, he was awed that they were continuing to tour despite “the trauma that they went through” and expressed nothing but respect for the band, saying they “will never live down what happened to them”.
“They’re out touring from February this month, and it only happened in November. To think that in less than four months after what happened to them they’re going to be playing Bluesfest, I just go hats off to ya”, he said.
Not all have been so supportive. Some members of Bluesfest forum members have expressed concern over the band’s inclusion on the line-up, concerns that Noble dismisses entirely as ridiculous.
“There are some people there that really need to get a life,” he said. “This is a time to show support. For those of us who love music, the best tribute we can give is to go out and see live music.”
It’s not just Australia that is getting a visit of course, with the band currently preparing to tour Europe, including a return to Paris. With South America to follow before heading our way, the band’s tenacity in the face of tragedy is moving and truly rock’n’roll \m/.
Addressing Bluesfest ticket holders and music fans every Noblel said: “We just need to go out and give a simple statement; that bands really do have to right to entertain and for people to be entertained, and culture should not bow or be stopped by the acts of crazy madmen. It’s that simple.”
Damn straight.
Bluesfest has already announced a number of huge acts including Kendrick Lamar, Modest Mouse, D’Angelo and The National. Check out the full final lineup announcement below and stay tuned for our full interview with Peter Noble, up soon.
UPDATE 05/02/16: Read our full chat with the Bluesfest boss here.
Watch: Eagles Of Death Metal – I Want You So Hard
Bluesfest 2016 Lineup Additions
The Mick Fleetwood Band
Eagles Of Death Metal
Playing For Change Band
Chain
Backsliders
Eugene Hideaway Bridges
Irish Mythen
Digging Roots
Frazey Ford
Marshall Okell
Sahara Beck
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks
Joining…
Modest Mouse
Richard Clapton
Ash Grunwald
Graham Nash
Kamasi Washington
Elle King
Blind Boy Paxton
Dustin Thomas
Wards Xpress
Raw Earth.
Joining
The “Original” Blues Brothers Band
Don McLean
Russell Morris
The Blind Boys Of Alabama
Jeff Martin (The Tea Party)
Archie Roach
Tex Perkins & The Ape
The Mastersons
Hussy Hicks
East Journey
Joining
D’Angelo And The Vanguard
Cold War Kids
Hiatus Kaiyote
Houndmouth
Fantastic Negrito
Con Brio
Kaleo
Mike Love
The Bros. Landreth
Kim Churchill
Mojo Juju
Pierce Brothers
Harts
Steve Smyth
Joining
Melissa Etheridge
Kendrick Lamar
Tom Jones
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
The Decemberists
Jason Isbell
Sturgill Simpson
Tweedy
Steve Earle and The Dukes
The Wailers
Grace Potter
Lord Huron
Nahko and Medicine For The People
Vintage Trouble
Lucky Peterson
Emdee
Blackberry Smoke
Joining
The National – Bluesfest exclusive
City And Colour
UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell, Astro & Mickey Virtue – Bluesfest exclusive
Joe Bonamassa – Bluesfest exclusive
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The Cat Empire
Lukas Nelson & The Promise Of The Real
The Word
Rhiannon Giddens
Janiva Magness
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Allen Stone
The Selecter
Shakey Graves
Songhoy Blues
Thursday, 24th March – Monday, 28th March 2016
Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, NSW
Tickets: Bluesfest
