Bluesfest Adds Names, Announces Collaborations

Artists included British ska band Madness while from the USA are Miles Davis alumni making their Australian debut in Miles Electric Band, Tony Joe White, San Diego’s Slightly Stoopid making its third Buesfest appearance, Trevor Hall, Rhiannon Giddens stepping out of Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Mountain Goats with Iowa-based 21-year-old singer-songwriter Max Jury, Los Angeles band The Record Company and The California Honeydrops making their Bluesfest bows.

In addition, the Patti Smith Group will play the Horses album on the festival’s Thursday April 13 opening night and do an acoustic set the next afternoon, on Good Friday. The UK’s Billy Bragg, already confirmed for a solo set April 15, returns two days later with a collaboration set with Grammy-winning U.S. troubadour Joe Henry celebrating songs inspired by the great American railroad.