Blues sky mining: Bluesfest unveils 2018 playing schedule, Peter Noble provides his own guide

Bluesfest Byron Bay this morning unveiled its 2018 playing schedule.

The festival’s media release lets fly with both barrels: “(It’s) going to be one of their most exciting and dynamic festivals yet.

“This year’s line up features a rich depth of talent, the likes of which have never been seen in Australia before.”

On Thursday, recently announced soul sensation Leon Bridges and Gomez open the festival.

Friday night sees Robert Plant and Ms. Lauryn Hill provide an incredible double bill.

Saturday features Bluesfest fan favourites Michael Franti and Spearhead as well as singer/songwriter Jackson Browne.

Sunday is jam packed with Australian talents Tash Sultana and John Butler Trio, as well as Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge.

Monday finishes things off with the one and only Lionel Richie, Chic featuring Nile Rogers and Dan Sultan.

In total there are over 70 artists performing at Bluesfest 2018!  

Bluesfest Director Peter Noble OAM provides his own guide:

“Will it be a contemporary tour you are coming to see?

“We have Rag ‘n’ Bone Man (who just won the BBC Album of the Year Award in the UK), Tash Sultana, Gomez, the incredible José González, Ásgeir, First Aid Kit, Harts, Holy Holy and many, many more…

"Or maybe Americana/Jam Bands are more your style.

"Bluesfest 2018 will feature 2018 two-time Grammy winner Jason Isbell, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real (Neil Young’s band that everyone in the business is saying has next big thing written all over them) plus Warren Hayne’s Gov’t Mule, Hurray for the Riff Raff ...

“Or is it the Roots...you can see diamond standard legend such as Jimmy Cliff, The Wailers, South America’s Juanes (winner of 23 Latin Grammys!), and Brazil’s Seu Jorge, not to forget Africa’s greatest artist Youssou NDour.

“Have we got you salivating yet?

“WELL, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING we have women here in force...from Ms. Lauryn Hill, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, All Our Exes Live in Texas, the mercurial Caiti Baker and Mia Dyson for starters.

“First Australian artists include Dan Sultan, Yirrmal, Benny Walker, Eric Avery, Move it Mob Style plus loads of others at our Festival within a Festival; the beloved Boomerang and at other stages through the event.

“You can also see many wonderful returning artists ...from Steve Smyth through to The John Butler Trio.

“I’m just as excited about my new discoveries such as Elephant Sessions who just won Album of the Year at the BBC Scots Trad Music Awards - think Celtic Cat Empire, the Teskey and Hanlon Brothers, Benjamin Booker and the guy who formed his first band with Prince...Andre Cymone.

“As always, we’ve got the legends…from Seal and Jackson Browne to the man who wrote (with Michael Jackson) We Are The World’, take a bow Mr Lionel Richie!

“Of course there’s plenty of Blues too...starting with the 2017 Blues Grammy winner Bobby Rush, and Rick Estrin & The Nightcats who have been nominated for a record-breaking seven Blues Music Awards!

“Plus Joe Louis Walker, Eric Gales and Chain performing on their 50th Anniversary tour and Canned Heat too.

“We are also so happy to have the Original Blues Brothers Band returning, those who were there in who were with us in 2016 know just how fantastic their closing set that year was!

“For those who want to dance we have Funk and R&B as well. From Prince’s band NPG (New Power Generation), to Dumpstaphunk, Con Brio, Leon Bridges, plus the incomparable Ms. Lauryn Hill.

“And that’s nowhere near everything! I feel this is one of the best bills I’ve ever booked. Now is the time to sit down and decide who you will see, who you won’t .... or how much of an artist’s set you will see, before you run to another stage.

“Bluesfest is the only Australian music festival to be nominated 6 times in a row for Pollstar’s International Music Festival of the Year, and to win the NSW Tourism Award for Best Major Festival & Event three years in a row, giving Bluesfest entry into the illustrious NSW Tourism Hall of Fame.”

This morning also saw Kesha pull out of the festival, as well as her solo dates through ANZ due to an injury she sustained at a concert in Dubai in February 9.