You can always count on Byron Bay’s premier festival Bluesfest to spend a solid few months consistently outdoing themselves with ‘holy shit’ extra lineup announces for their week-long extravaganza and today was no exception. Joining the already disgustingly stacked bill at this year’s edition of Bluesfest, which already includes the likes of Patti Smith, Jimmy Buffet, The Doobie Brothers, Courtney Barnett, Mary J. Blige, Santana, Neil Finn (and enough other acts to make your head spin and then also explode everywhere) will be none other than rap deity Nas.
Yes, the Illmatic One has just been announced as part of Bluesfest today by festival organisers, a move that’s sure to have hip-hop heads shitting their collective pants. The 13-time Grammy nominee is set to play alongside New Orleans brass ensemble The Soul Rebels for what is sure to be a batshit insane set. If you’re wondering what that might look like, have a look at this:
There’s no telling what else to expect, but the aforementioned Mary J. will be in the area and the two collaborated a couple of times before to great effect on the former’s Reach Out and the latter’s Love Is All We Need, so perhaps an onstage reunion is in order.
Bluesfest will mark the first time the Queens legend has been in Australia since his Illmatic Tour back in 2015. Also announced today were Australian country music icon Kasey Chambers, Busby Marou, Wouter Kellerman, Little Georgia and local Lucy Gallant.
It’s now just over a month away and the full schedule details are also available via the official Bluesfest website. Jump on there as well to get tickets while they last, as they surely will go absolutely flying now that news of Nas impending takeover is out there.
More Reading: Our 20 Year Retrospective of Nas’ ‘It Was Written’
Image: Acclaim