Bluesfest have come out with their first Artist Announcement for 2018 and we nearly choked on our Weeties when we saw the top two names sitting side by side.
Of course, Bluesfest know what they’re doing. Lionel, former front man of smooth ‘70s soul act the Commodores, was a surprise sensation after being hastily booked for reply of the AFL Grand Final back in 2010, and has been back a number of times since. And whilst Percy - Robert Plant - was here as recently as 2013, fans can’t get enough of him, and his appearance at Bluesfest will mark the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s first live performances in 1968, and will follow the recently-announced Oct 13 release of his new album Carry Fire.
As usual, there’s plenty for everyone at Bluesfest – and this is only the first announcement! Hard-core blues nuts will feel pretty pleased to see Joe Louis Waker, Bobby Rush and Rick Estrin & The Nightcats on the bill, while fans of new acoustic/folk sounds will be looking forward to First Aid Kit and Jose Gonzalez. Funk fans will hail the return of Chic, featuring Niles Rogers and Prince’s former band the New Power Generation. And of course Aussie music fans will look forward to John Butler Trio’s lucky 13th Bluesfest, and the first one for new comer Tash Sultana.
Let’s get ourselves warmed up with Lionel Richie performing his old hit with the Commodores, “Easy” (no, Faith no More didn’t write it!) at that Grand Final replay in 2010, and Robert Plant’s rocking new single “Bones of Saints”. And then let’s dream of what might be with a ripper from Robert’s first tour down under, with Led Zeppelin, way back in 1972 at the Sydney Showgrounds.
