Bluesfest 2013 just keeps on Rocking:
Jason Mraz & Manu Chao La Ventura (plus more) added to the Magical Festival Line Up!
Today Bluesfest Byron Bay, the Festival that will bring Australia to a standstill over the 2013 Easter Weekend (March 28 to April 1) adds more superb artists to its magical bill.
Just in time for Christmas, Bluesfest 2013 has been hailed as ‘…the greatest Line-Up ever seen on one Festival in Australia’ (Paul Cashmere, Noise 11) dazzles its audience once again.
Headlining this announcement is no other than Grammy winning singer/songwriter Jason Mraz whose song ‘I’m Yours’ has captured the hearts of millions of people across the globe.
His new album ‘Love Is A Four Letter Word’, – which features the heartfelt single ‘I Won’t Give Up’, has quickly proven to be a smash hit this year.
Jason Mraz has been added to the opening day of Bluesfest, Thursday 28th of March.
For those who don’t know yet:
The Thursday of Bluesfest is the official opening day of the Festival and already features Ben Harper, Counting Crows, Trombone Shorty, Grace Potter, Chris Isaak, Robert Cray, Rodriguez, Frank Turner and loads more – it is just an incredible evening of music – amongst Bluesfest greatest ever bills.
Manu Chao & his band La Ventura put the icing on the cake with his performance on Good Friday.
The line up is already star studded on Easter Friday with heavy weights like Santana, Steve Miller Band, Rodriguez and Jimmy Cliff on the bill, but who would not happily make room for such a talented musician as Manu Chao??
Manu Chao with his band La Ventura has been described as one of the most charismatic and energetic musicians around today. His anti-Globalisation and Anti Free Trade stance has won him legions of fans around the world. His music is a blend of Punk, Rock, Reggae, Ska, Salsa, French Chanson and Algerian Rai. His musical message resonates with the dispossessed of the world. It is about immigration, homelessness and drugs- and has strong Leftist leanings. His background is Spanish Basque and his parents emigrated to Paris to escape the Spanish dictator Franco. He is simply a superstar in many parts of Europe – and he sings in Spanish, French, English, Portuguese, Arabic and Wolof.
Already headlining the Dream Bluesfest Line-up are Paul Simon, Robert Plant presents Sensational Space Shifters, Santana, Ben Harper, Steve Miller Band, Iggy & The Stooges, Wilco, Rodriquez, Chris Isaak, Roger Hodgson from Supertramp and so many more.
Peter Noble, Festival Director says:
Announcing Jason Mraz & Manu Chao on top of what we have already released, I feel like I can really say: This is the Best Bluesfest talent bill we have ever had. Their names are music to my ears and what gifted headlining musicians they are, both in their own right.
I am so proud to be able to present such an array of truly brilliant artists from so many areas of our industry, and for all ages, it is just a dream come true for me.
We have really gone out there this year and covered every significant music genre, to make sure the younger audience, as well as the older one, is going to have the time of their life at Bluesfest.
Yes, I really think we nailed it and it’s wonderful to see Bluesfest really coming together now. Plus announcing this many artists before Christmas, has never happened before
I have heard people say that missing out on next Bluesfest would be like missing out on a major highlight in your life, and to hear that is really rewarding.
To me, it feels like Christmas has come early so many times already this year, but now since it really is CHRISTMAS time, there is nothing like a Christmas joy, so I do hope you enjoy this announcement as much as I do.
Tickets ARE selling fast – and I encourage everyone not to wait too long for you to see what just may be the most amazing array of artists to ever appear at an Australian festival.
For Festival line up and the latest playing schedule go to www.bluesfest.com.au
Bluesfest tickets make wonderful Christmas presents. They are easy to purchase and very rewarding for yourself and loved ones!
Secure your Bluesfest tickets on www.bluesfest.com.au or by phoning the office on 02 66885 8310.
LATEST ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT 2013 includes:
JASON MRAZ
MANU CHAO LA VENTURA
MARK SEYMOUR AND THE UNDERTOW
CHRIS SMITHER – CURRENT SWELL – MATT ANDERSEN
GO JANE GO FEAT. KIERAN KANE, DAVID FRANCEY & LUCAS KANE – THE MCMENAMINS
2013 ARTISTS ALREADY ANNOUNCEMENT include
PAUL SIMON
ROBERT PLANT PRESENTS SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS
BEN HARPER – SANTANA
IGGY & THE STOOGES
STEVE MILLER BAND – COUNTING CROWS – WILCO
RODRIGUEZ – CHRIS ISAAK – BONNIE RAITT
ROGER HODGSON THE LEGENDARY VOICE OF SUPERTRAMP – STATUS QUO
DROPKICK MURPHYS – MADNESS – JIMMY CLIFF
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT – TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND
TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE – THE CAT EMPIRE
TAJ MAHAL TRIO – ROBERT CRAY – SHUGGIE OTIS
THE LUMINEERS – BEN HOWARD – KITTY DAISY & LEWIS
THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA – MAVIS STAPLES – ALLEN TOUSSAINT
JON ANDERSON THE VOICE OF YES – JOAN ARMATRADING
FAT FREDDY’S DROP – XAVIER RUDD – GLEN HANSARD WITH THE FRAMES
FRANK TURNER AND THE SLEEPING SOULS – FRED WESLEY AND THE NEW JB’S
THE BREAK FEAT. MEMBERS OF MIDNIGHT OIL, VIOLENT FEMMES, HUNTERS & COLLECTORS
GRACE POTTER – PLAYING FOR CHANGE – BETTYE LAVETTE – RUTHIE FOSTER
WANDA JACKSON – SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK – SOJA – TONY JOE WHITE
LUKA BLOOM – SHAWN COLVIN – NEWTON FAULKNER
MICHAEL KIWANUKA – WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE
ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD – MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA
THE BAMBOOS – BEASTS OF BOURBON – KARISE EDEN – THE BEARDS
JAKE SHIMABUKURO – DAMIEN DEMPSEY – TAV FALCO & THE PANTHER BURNS
JD MCPHERSON – BUSBY MAROU – HAT FITZ & CARA – THE SNOWDROPPERS
KING CANNONS – SETH LAKEMAN – GREY GHOST – THE DUKE ROBILLARD BAND
SASKWATCH – BEN CAPLAN – MASON RACK BAND – ROUND MOUNTAIN GIRLS
THE WILSON PICKERS – WARDS XPRESS – LIL FI & THE DIRTY RASCALS
THE SONGS OF THE HAIGHT ASHBURY STAGE SHOW
ROCKWIZ LIVE
Important: Headliners Paul Simon and Robert Plant will NOT perform in Brisbane or QLD. Their Bluesfest performances are exclusive to that region and tickets to the Festival are now selling fast.
Cancellation – Madness
Unfortunately and with great regret we have to announce that Madness are not able to perform at Bluesfest in 2013 due to a change in their international touring.
Live Nation Australasia
JASON MRAZ
Following Jason Mraz’s phenomenal return to the charts earlier this year with the release of his latest album Love Is A Four Letter Word, we can’t wait to have the GRAMMY® winning singer/songwriter back on the Bluesfest stage after big performances this year at Madison Square Gardens in New York City and 02 Arena in London.
One of the modern era’s most gifted pop troubadours, Jason Mraz’s extraordinary musical journey has taken him from coffee houses to stadiums all over the world, with two GRAMMY® Awards and six nominations already to his credit. His 2008 third album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. was an indelible global blockbuster, earning gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications in 21 countries around the world. The album’s lead single, I’m Yours, holds the record for being the longest-running song in the history of the Billboard “Hot 100” chart. In Australia, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things is certified double platinum, and the hit single I’m Yours is certified three times platinum.
Released in April this year his latest effort, Love Is A Four Letter Word contains a heartfelt, uplifting collection of songs that explores loves ups and downs or as he puts it “ What one does in love to make it work and what one does in love when it is time to let go”, it features the heartfelt single I Won’t Give Up, which, following its quiet debut on Mraz’s site in early January, quickly proved itself to be an undeniable pop smash of the new year. One week from its release in the US, the song debuted in the #1 slot on Billboard’s Digital Songs chart, with sales surpassing 225,000. Not stopping there, it also garnered over 2.5 million YouTube hits in the first week, with numbers now surpassing more than 20 million.
Mraz spent much of 2011 road-testing the songs from his latest album, touring alongside his longtime friend, percussionist Noel “Toca” Rivera. The worldwide trek included performances in North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Among the journey’s many highlights were multiple sold out shows at such iconic venues as Australia’s Sydney Opera House, New York City’s Carnegie Hall, and Spreckels Theatre in Mraz’s adopted hometown of San Diego.
Not stopping there, last month it was announced that in December Mraz will be performing, in conjunction with MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking), a historic live concert in Myanmar to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking.
A keen surfer, yogi and activist, Mraz has made it his mission to celebrate music’s lasting power to inspire change and help others through global citizenship, come and share the Love with Jason Mraz this Easter.
