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Mary J Blige Leads Huge 2nd Bluesfest 2017 Announcement

Byron Bay’s Bluesfest has once again outdone itself, consistently presenting Australia with an amazingly extensive, thoroughly impressive lineup of artists from all across the musical globe. Although the event has traditionally focused on blues, roots, folk and rock, recent years has seen t extend itself toward R&B and even hip-hop, with the great Kendrick Lamar headlining the 2016 event.

The second huge lineup announcement has now been released, and leading the charge is the one and only R&B queen Mary J Blige. Joining her will be Michael Kiwanuka, who was recently in town for Splendour in the Grass, along with Corinne Bailey Rae, Nahko And Medicine For The People, Gallant and The Suffers.

These are the latest in an already-fantastic lineup for Bluesfest 2017, which already announced an enormous bill including Patti Smith (performing Horses), The Lumineers, Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples, Jethro Tull, Andrew Bird and more.

Mary J Blige’s last planned visit to Australia was for the now-defunct Soulfest in late 2015. Unfortunately the event was cancelled just days before it was meant to kick off.

Typically there’s six or seven Bluesfest lineup announcements, so this is just the beginning. And that’s pretty damn awesome.

Bluesfest takes place on the Tygarah Tea Tree Farm from April 13 to 17, 2017. Tickets and more details can be found at the official website.

Bluesfest 2017 second lineup:

Mary J Blige
Michael Kiwanuka
Corinne Bailey Rae
Nahko and Medicine for the People
Gallant
The Suffers

Joining:

Zac Brown Band
Patti Smith and Her Band Perform Horses
The Lumineers
Buddy Guy (only Aus show)
Bonnie Raitt
Mavis Staples (only Aus show)
Billy Bragg
Jethro Tull
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Gregory Porter
Snarky Puppy
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Beth Hart (only Aus show)
Laura Mvula
Roy Ayers
Booker T Presents The Stax Records Revue
Andrew Bird
Rickie Lee Jones
Joan Osborne
Turin Brakes
The Strumbellas
Jake Shimabukuro
Dumpstaphunk
Nikki Hill
Irish Mythen

Image: steveharvey