Iconic Music Acts Added To Bluesfest 2016 Bill

The first line-up of Bluesfest 2016 boasted an impressive array of talent, and it’s been bolstered today by the addition of a slew of massive acts from all over the musical spectrum including bona fide music legend Tom Jones and rock’n’roll royalty Noel Gallagher, both making their debuts at the Byron Bay event next March.

See the full second artist announcement below. 

Tom Jones

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

Jackson Browne

The Decemberists

Jason Isbell

Sturgill Simpson

Tweedy

Steve Earle & The Dukes

The Wailers

Grace Potter

Lord Huron

Nahko And Medicine For The People

Vintage Trouble

Lucky Peterson

eMDee

Blackberry Smoke

Welsh maestro Tom Jones should need no introduction, having sold over 100 million records over the course of his 50 year career, and churned out innumerable hits including Delilah, It’s Not Unusual and What’s New Pussycat.

Noel Gallagher cut his teeth as chief songwriter for UK Britpop sensations Oasis but these days is found out front of his current band High Flying Birds, who this year alone have featured at the pointy end of festival line-ups all over the planet including T In The Park, Latitude, Hydrogen, London’s Calling, Benicassum and Fuji Rock.

For the first time in ten years, singer-songwriter Jackson Browne makes his return to Bluesfest. In a career spanning over 45 years the US musician has released a whopping nineteen albums . His 1977 classic Running On Empty is seven times platinum. Fans can expect to hear all his favourite tracks live as well as songs from his latest offering, 2014's Standing In The Breach.

Portland indie-folk darlings The Decemberists are also making the trip to Australia next year for the first time, having dropped one of their finest collections to date earlier this year in the form of their seventh long-player, What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World. Their songs are wordy and catchy and jubilant and will invoke many a rousing singalong amidst the beautiful environs of Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm. 

But it’s fans of alt country and Americana who should be most overjoyed with this second announce, because it’s jam-packed with some of that genre’s best talent on the planet. The great Steve Earle needs no introduction to Bluesfest – this will be his sixth visit – and he’s returning once more with his stellar band The Dukes in tow, meaning that the rock’n’roll quotient will most definitely be amped up this time around.

Former Drive-By Trucker Jason Isbell is also returning to the festival, only in the years since his last visit he’s become one of the biggest names in leftfield country music with his smash albums Southeastern (2013) and Something More Than Free (2015).

Jeff Tweedy has also rocked Bluesfest in the past with his acclaimed band Wilco, but is returning for the first time with his recent solo vehicle Tweedy. Abetted by his son Spencer Tweedy on drums, their collaboration released their debut album Sukierae last year and promise to thrill all and sundry with their rich racket.

And, furthermore, cosmic cowboy Sturgill Simpson will finally be making his first trip Down Under, having scooped both Artist Of The Year and Song Of The Year (for Turtles All The Way Down) at the recent 2015 Americana Awards.

Legendary Jamaican reggae icons The Wailers will be playing four of their biggest albums – Exodus, Survival, Uprising and Legend – in their entirety over four nights, and we’ll also experience evocative US singer-songwriter Grace Potter, US folk troupe Lord Huron, socially-conscious world music/hip hop collective Nahko & Medicine For The People, skuzzy R&B ensemble Vintage Trouble, authentic bluesman Lucky Peterson, didgeridoo specialist eMDee and explosive southern rockers Blackberry Smoke.

Tickets for next year's event, running from 24 March to 28 March, are on sale now and can be purchased at the festival website — head to the festivals tab for all things Bluesfest.