:: Bluesfest 2010

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

The latest announcement of artists to perform at the 21st Anniversary Bluesfest has been announced. One of Australia’s most awarded and internationally renowned festivals will be held at its permanent new home – the Tyagarah Tea Tree farm just off the Pacific Highway, twelve minutes north of Byron Bay. The Easter weekend dates are Thursday April 1 through to Monday April 5, 2010.

Festival goers should also note that the new and updated playing schedule is now online, and one day tickets are now also on sale. This announcement marks the first time so many artists (over 50) have been unveiled this early, along with the playing schedule – giving fans more time than ever to plan their Easter holidays.

The second Bluesfest announcement for 2010 includes:
The Fray, John Butler Trio, Jools Holland & His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Taj Mahal, John Mayall Matisyahu, Angus & Julia Stone, 10cc, Bebel Gilberto, Rodriguez, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Ross Wilson’s Five Decades Of Cool, The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, Josh White Jr, Patty Larkin and The Greencards.

The new names join these other artists already announced:
Crowded House, Buddy Guy, Roger Hodgson from Supertramp, Gipsy Kings, Orquesta, Buena Vista Social Club®, Jeff Beck, Lyle Lovett, Jimmy Barnes Plays the Rhythm & the Blues, Jessica Mauboy, The Swell Season, Jack Johnson, Donavon Frankenreiter, Ozomatli, Galactic, A.L.O (Animal Liberation Orchestra), Matt Costa, Zee Avi, Newton Faulkner, Dr John & the Lower 911, Bèla Fleck’s African Project Featuring Oumou Sangarè & band, Blue King Brown, Al Di Meola World Sinfonia, Gogol Bordello, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Joe Bonamassa, Peter Green & friends, The Flatlanders, Avett Brothers, Justin Townes Earle, Renee Geyer, Colin Hay Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, Lil Band o’ Gold, Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express, Neil Halstead, and Robert Gordon & the Gang They Couldn’t Hang - featuring Chris Spedding (Roxy Music), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), and Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats).

Festival director Peter Noble said, “You can’t have your 21st birthday party without having a line-up that is on par with your best ever bill – and we’re overjoyed with how this one has come together! Our most loyal fans talk about 2004 and 2008 in hushed, reverent tones, and I think 2010 is right there or even better."

More room for camping in the Heart of Bluesfest!
Remember – Bluesfest 2009 was held at Belongil Fields and accommodated 1,800 campers. Bluesfest 2010 looks forward to welcoming patrons on its own land – and will accommodate approximately 6,500 campers! The very spacious and natural environment is right next to the festival grounds and will include a general store, showers and toilets.

The festival itself will feature more space, more music, more stalls, and more areas to chill out, but is all about keeping in the Bluesfest tradition, which is about creating an environmentally sound, peaceful, relaxed and happy home for everyone. Regular shuttle buses will be included to and from the festival into Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and surrounding towns.

The Bluesfest 21st event will be a massive party – but it will also be a responsible one. September 2009 again saw Bluesfest recognised as an international winner in The Greener Festival awards. This was for an impressive three years in a row, more than any other Australian festival - and a tribute to the event’s ongoing and long-term commitment to environmental sustainability.

Bluesfest was also the first music festival to be nominated for a prestigious Australian Events Award. Bluesfest was nominated for the Best Cultural or Arts Event alongside the Sydney Festival 2009 and Adelaide Fringe 2009. The award eventually went to the 16th Biennale of Sydney. Bluesfest was also recently nominated as the Best Overseas Festival in the UK Festival Awards!

Unlike any other Australian event, Bluesfest has twice had the honour of being nominated as Best International Music Festival by US concert bible “Pollstar” in 2005 and 2006 alongside world renowned events such as Britain’s Glastonbury and Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival. And closer to home, Bluesfest has twice won the prestigious Helpmann Award for Best Contemporary Music Festival in Australia, also in 2005 and 2006.

Tickets can be purchased by:
phoning the Bluesfest office on 02 6685 8310 or visiting the website