KOOL & THE GANG

THE GYPSY KINGS
ft. NICOLAS REYES
and TONINO BALIARDO

GUY SEBASTIAN

added to BLUESFEST!

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THERE’S A PARTY GOIN’ ON RIGHT HERE!

10 artists added to the Bluesfest 2020 lineup

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With Christmas around the corner, it’s a fine time to add more musical bows to the tree that is the Bluesfest 2020 lineup, which is already bustling with gifts for all this Easter! Joining the big names such as Crowded House, Dave Matthews Band, Patti Smith and her Band and Lenny Kravitz this Easter will be the iconic Kool & the Gang. They will be guaranteed to get Bluesfesters hips shaking this Easter Saturday in what promises to be a star-studded night which also includes back to backperformances by The Gipsy Kings, George Benson into Kool & the Gang, and with Patti Smith and Her Band along with Ani DiFranco headlining our other main stage, the hardest decision on the night will be who to watch!

JUST ANNOUNCED:

Kool & the Gang
The Gipsy Kings ft. Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Baliardo
Guy Sebastian
Allen Stone
Dweezil Zappa
Troy Cassar-Daley – The Waifs
Erja Lyytinen
Chain – Ash Grunwald

Never one to rest on our laurels, stay tuned for many more announcements in the new year!

Add those to the already star-studded lineup of Bluesfest 2020 and we sure are in for a ‘Jungle Boogie’ this Easter long weekend! For the full lineup so far see bluesfest.com.au/lineup.

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Commenting on the announcement, Festival Director Peter Noble OAM said “I am thrilled to say that our headliners on this announcement have almost 100,000,000 album sales between them. Household names, R&B funk masters, Kool & the Gang are the winners of two GRAMMY Awards and with 70,000,000 album sales – their performance this Easter Saturday is going to be a standout! The Gipsy Kings, the creators of flamenco rumba with one GRAMMY Award plus a Latin GRAMMY Award and with 25,000,000 album sales it makes for a stellar third artist announcement for Bluesfest 2020.

Everyone knows the songs immediately when they hear the first few chords of Kool’s ‘Celebration’, ‘Ladies Night’ or ‘Get Down On It’ or The Gipsy Kings ‘Bamboleo’, ‘Djobi Djoba’, ‘Bem Bem Maria’ and so many more. AND, they are both playing our main stage on Saturday night at Bluesfest with George Benson, back to back – what a night of hits this will be!

We’re lucky enough to have Guy Sebastian are his two incredible ARIA Award wins last week. The mighty Allen Stone, a real-deal Bluesfest favourite who is becoming another breakout star following his numerous appearances over the years. Dweezil Zappa will be playing his Dad’s brilliant record ‘Hot Rats’. Winner of the European Guitarist of the Year – ErjaLyytinen, Australia’s greatest ever blues band – Chain and so much more. Stay tuned for another lot of amazing additions for what is fast becoming one of our greatest lineup’s ever!” 

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Get ready to get your hips shaking to some funky classic 80s and 90s hits such as ‘Hollywood Swinging’, ‘Ladies Night’, ‘Get Down On It’, ‘Cherish’ with Kool & the Gang and their horn-driven jazz, soul, R&B, funk and disco this Easter! Since forming as a jazz ensemble in the mid-60s, Kool & the Gang have done it all. Their grooves have endured like few others, sampled by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Nas and Janet Jackson among countless others while ‘Jungle Boogie’, ‘Celebration’ amongst countless others are peerless as party mix staples. Just as funky as James Brown, Kool & the Gang relied on their jazz backgrounds and long friendship to form a tightly knit group with the interplay and improvisation of a jazz outfit, plus the energy and spark of a band with equal ties to soul, R&B, and funk. Get those dancing shoes on Bluesfesters, there’s a party goin’ on right here…! 

The Gipsy Kings (the real ones!) featuring co-founders Nicolas Reyes (original lead singer-songwriter) and Tonino Baliardo (original lead guitarist and songwriter) who wrote, recorded and performed lead vocals and lead guitar on all their hits are coming to Australia. The band who captured the world’s imagination 25 years ago with their self-titled album became a genuine phenomenon around the globe. The salsa lovers introduced listeners to a unique, irresistible blend of traditional flamenco styles with Western pop and Latin rhythms. Since then, the band have gone on to perform live in almost every corner of the globe and we’re thrilled to be welcoming them back to Byron Bay celebrating their remarkable two-and-a-half decades at the top in a category that’s all their own. The Gipsy Kings – residents in Montpellier, France and are the highest selling recording artists in the history of French music. Expect Latin American beats combined with flamenco to continue those hip-shaking moves this Easter!

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Singer, songwriter and producer Guy Sebastian is arguably Australia’s most successful male solo artist. Guy is the only Australian male artist to have ever achieved six number one singles and two number one albums in ARIA chart history. Guy has achieved over 30 x Platinum singles sales in Australia and well over 7,000,000 combined units sold worldwide. Since 2003, Guy has been nominated for 29 ARIA awards, has been awarded five, and in November Guy successfully hosted the 2019 ARIA awards to much acclaim, where he took away the two coveted and prestigious awards, Video Of The Year & Song Of The Year for Choir. Guy’s smash hit single, ‘Choir,’ was released in May and instantly captivated the country with its message of resounding hope through love and loss. It continues to dominate Australian Radio Airplay with heavy rotation across the nation and was the number one song played on radio for six consecutive weeks. Guy’s soulful brand new single, ‘Let Me Drink’ ft. The Hamiltones & Wale was just released in November. It is an instant classic that’s impossible to ignore.  We cannot wait to welcome him to the Bluesfest stage this April!

The evolution of an artist is a powerful process to observe. Allen Stone’s journey and evolution has been part pain and beauty. From the basements and small clubs of Seattle to sold out shows across the world, including Australia and New Zealand, Allen has taken the long tireless road to building an audience and dedicated fanbase that is there for every word. On his new album ‘Building Balance’, Allen’s live show is combined with the art of song craft, and the results are a thing of beauty. Allen’s recent performance at Bluesfest earlier this year still has fans talking, so his return armed with a new album to share is highly anticipated. Allen Stone loves playing Australia and we are excited to welcome him back with open arms.

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Bluesfest 2020 truly is the year of the guitar! As a son of Frank Zappa, it was inevitable from the moment he was born that Dweezil Zappa was going to be a musician. He has long undertaken a mission to celebrate the sounds of his infamous father in a fresh context whilst keeping true to Zappa Senior’s unique and impeccable sonic heritage. Now, in celebration of 50 years since the album’s release (the year he was born), Dweezil is bringing his iconic ‘Hot Rats’ Live’ tour to Australia this April. Featuring his father’s 1969 album in its entirety as well as more of Frank Zappa’s choice cuts, the show will be a real treat for all Zappa fans.

Troy Cassar-Daley’s passion to pen stories about this land and what lies at the heart of it has been a driving force in his career which has encompassed 10 studio albums. Troy’s natural authenticity is in the bloodline of his music that endears him to his ever-growing number of fans from every walk of life. Having bagged numerous accolades over the years including 37 Golden Guitars, four ARIAs, two APRA Country Song of the Year Awards among many others, it is with open arms that we welcome Troy to the Bluesfest 2020 lineup.

Aussie trio, The Waifs will be hitting the road again to make their way to Byron Bay this Easter. The bands country roots have shone through over the years as they journeyed across the country in their well-travelled combi van winning them loyal fans along every step of the way over a quarter of a century later. Get ready for some more classic sing-along hits including ‘London Still’, ‘Lighthouse’ and many others.

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Finnish vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Erja Lyytinen is going to be one of the discovery highlights at Bluesfest 2020. Just a couple of years ago, she took home the much-coveted European Guitarist of the Year Award. As an artist, Erja Lyytinen’s musical growth pushes boundaries without fear of exploring new sounds and musical ground. A bonafide star in her homeland, Lyytinen will soon become a household name to all Bluesfesters. Having recently supported Sir Tom Jones on tour after a run of shows in Canada and the UK, we’re thrilled to say Erja is bringing her incredible live performance to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm this Easter.

The Godfathers of Australian Blues, Chain featuring Matt Taylor and one of Australia’s finest axeman Phil Manning, have reached another milestone as they enter their 52nd year since forming in 1968. As the only blues band to have a number one on Australian charts (Black ‘n’ Blue) as well as a number two (Judgement) they also have the distinction of having possibly the longest permanently released album in Australian rock history. Chain’s new material retains the earthiness of the 70’s while including the insights and musicality expected from a lifetime of experience in the blues genre. With four decades of albums and live performances under their belts, it doesn’t get any more quintessentially Oz Blues than this! 

Acclaimed as one of Australia’s finest storytellers and live performers Ash Grunwald is set to ignite the Bluesfest stages with his unique storytelling capabilities and an avalanche of rhythmic fury on guitar. Backed by his impeccable band, Ash Grunwald’s signature soul-drenched vocals have the power to move mountains and create positive change. 

We can’t wait to welcome you to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm this Easter among like-minded music lovers of all ages, passionate performers, creators, artists, musicians and that unforgettable Byron Bay vibe. Stay tuned for more details and announcements over the course of the next few months as we prepare to make Bluesfest 2020 ‘a celebration to last throughout the years’!

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We can’t wait to welcome you to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm this Easter among like-minded music lovers of all ages, passionate performers, creators, artists, musicians and that unforgettable Byron Bay vibe. Stay tuned for more details and announcements in the next few months as we prepare to make BLUESFEST 2020 the best yet!

THE BLUESFEST 2020

Lineup So far:

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – CROWDED HOUSE – PATTI SMITH AND HER BAND
LENNY KRAVITZ
GEORGE BENSON -BRANDI CARLILE – JOHN BUTLER
THE WATERBOYS – XAVIER RUDD – THE CAT EMPIRE – MORCHEEBA
JOHN PRINE – BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE 
ZUCCHERO – JIMMIE VAUGHAN 
EAGLES OF DEATH METAL – ANI DIFRANCO
FRANK TURNER – JOHN MAYALL – AMADOU & MARIAM
CORY HENRY & THE FUNK APOSTLES 
THE ALLMAN BETTS BAND – THE MARCUS KING BAND – WALTER TROUT
LARKIN POE – THE WAR AND TREATY
JENNY LEWIS – YOLA – CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM 
  GREENSKY BLUEGRASS – TAL WILKENFELD 
JOACHIM COODER – STEVE ‘N’ SEAGULLS

For further information on the lineup or artists HERE

BLUESFEST 2020 is being held from 9 – 13 April 2020. Tickets are on sale now HERE

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About Bluesfest Byron Bay

Showcasing music from around the world every Easter in Byron Bay, Bluesfest just celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2019. From the humble beginnings in 1990 as a one-day event, the festival now takes place over five days, with over 200 performances in front of a crowd of up to 125,000 patrons in Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm – just 10 minutes north of Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. Bluesfest is Australia’s most awarded music festival ever!

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AMNPLIFY – DB