Despite the battering that northern NSW has received at the hands of tropical Cyclone Debbie, Bluesfest organisers have confirmed that this year’s five-day extravaganza will still be going ahead as scheduled.
In a statement on the Byron Bay bash’s official website, Bluesfest bigwigs explain that the festival site at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm has been spared the brunt of Debbie’s wrath, and should be ship-shape in time for the event’s official kick-off in ten days’ time.
“It’s been a very turbulent few days weather wise and we hope that you are okay, after Cyclone Debbie caused some heavy flooding on the coast!” their statement reads. “Our hearts reach out to all of you who have been affected.”
“As for Bluesfest? It will all go ahead as always, since we have put a lot of weather proofing in place over the years, so our Festival will go as planned, and you – our much valued festival friend – will enjoy a safe and fantastic time. We also did not get the level of rainfall that other near-by areas experienced. If you are camping, please know that our campgrounds have not been damaged.”
ICYMI: the Bluesfest 2017 lineup recently expanded for the umpteenth time with the addition of the Boomerang Festival lineup, who’ll be joining an absolutely monster bill featuring the likes of Neil Finn, Jet frontman Nic Cester, Kasey Chambers, Courtney Barnett, Santana and Patti Smith. View the full updated lineup, below.
Oh and PS Bluesfest also unveiled its 2017 set times earlier this month.
2017 Bluesfest Lineup
Boomerang Festival Lineup
LEONARD SUMNER
OKA
YIRRMAL
AIRILEKE AND RIZE OF THE MORNING STAR
EMILY WURRAMARA
TENZIN CHOEGYAL
TE KOPERE MAORI HEALERS
EXCELSIOR
JANNAWI DANCE CLAN
BUNDJALUNG ARTISTS AND WEAVING
joining…
NAS WITH GUESTS THE SOUL REBELS
KASEY CHAMBERS
BUSBY MAROU
WOUTER KELLERMAN
LITTLE GEORGIA
LUCY GALLANT
joining…
NEIL FINN
VINTAGE TROUBLE
NIC CESTER
PLAYING FOR CHANGE
ELLIS HALL |VASTI JACKSON
REMI
WILSON PICKERS
ROUND MOUNTAIN GIRLS
AUSTRALIAN UKULELE SHOW
IVY
joining…
COURTNEY BARNETT
JIMMY BUFFETT & THE CORAL REEFERS (EXCLUSIVE)
SANTANA
ZAC BROWN BAND
PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND PERFORM HORSES
PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND ACOUSTIC
MARY J. BLIGE
THE LUMINEERS
BUDDY GUY (EXCLUSIVE)
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
MADNESS
BONNIE RAITT
MAVIS STAPLES (EXCLUSIVE)
BILLY BRAGG
BILLY BRAGG AND JOE HENRY
SIR ROSEVELT
JETHRO TULL
MILES ELECTRIC BAND
TROMBONE SHORTY AND ORLEANS AVENUE
RICKIE LEE JONES
GREGORY PORTER
SNARKY PUPPY
SLIGHTLY STOOPID
ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES
CORINNE BAILEY RAE
BETH HART (EXCLUSIVE)
LAURA MVULA
MICHAEL KIWANUKA
ANDREW BIRD
RHIANNON GIDDENS
BOOKER T. PRESENTS THE STAX RECORDS REVIEW
EXPERIENCE JIMI HENDRIX
GALLANT
ROY AYERS
ERIC GALES
MUD MORGANFIELD
DEVON ALLMAN
MAX JURY
NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE
TURIN BRAKES
BLIND BOY PAXTON
TREVOR HALL
JAKE SHIMABUKURO
DUMPSTAPHUNK
THE RECORD COMPANY
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS
TONY JOE WHITE
THE SUFFERS (EXCLUSIVE)
NIKKI HILL THE CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS
JEFF LANG
RAY BEADLE AND THE SILVER DOLLARS LLOYD SPIEGEL
JOAN OSBORNE
GLENN CARDIER AND THE SIDESHOW
DAVY KNOWLES
MELODY ANGEL IRISH MYTHEN
THE STRUMBELLAS
+ More to be announced
Bluesfest 2017
Tickets on sale now
Thursday, 13th – Monday, 17th April
Byron Bay, NSW
Tickets: Bluesfest
