Bluesfest announce Brian Wilson, Taj Mahal tours

Bluesfest announce Brian Wilson, Taj Mahal tours

The 27th Annual Bluesfest is shaping up to be one of the best festivals yet, and the musical feast ranging from contemporary, blues and roots, legends and soul has tempted music lovers from near and far to make the pilgrimage to Byron Bay next Easter. Stay tuned for the next artist announcement for the festival coming this Thursday 26th November.

For those who love their music and can’t make the trip, Bluesfest Touring has it covered and continues to announce an impressive array of official sideshows happening around the country next March and April.

BRIAN WILSON PERFORMING PET SOUNDS & HIS GREATEST HITS
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF PET SOUNDS & FINAL PERFORMANCES IN ITS ENTIRETY

The legendary musician Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys and the architect of the Californian sound headlines the massive third announcement of Bluesfest sideshows. In the 50th Anniversary celebration of Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson is coming to Australia for the final performances of the resounding masterpiece live in its entirety including the hits; ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, ‘Sloop John B’, and ‘God Only Knows’ as well as his greatest hits.

Brian Wilson performing Pet Sounds is a rare, unforgettable live music experience spanning 2 Parts: Act 1: Pet Sounds and Act 2: His Greatest Hits and will feature his incredible band including original Beach Boys member Al Jardine and long-term member Blondie Chaplin. Bluesfest Festival Director Peter Noble has described bringing Brian Wilson to Australia to perform Pet Sounds as a “pinch me I must be dreaming moment”.

2015 has marked a triumphant return for Brian Wilson with a brand new solo release No Pier Pressure, as well as the release of Love & Mercy – the commended biographical film about Brian’s remarkable life, which has opened up his music to a whole new audience. Long-time fans and those who have just discovered Brian Wilson will be able to see him in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, New Zealand and at Bluesfest with a Sydney date to be announced soon.

Civic Theatre, Auckland NZ – SAT 26 MAR 2016
Palais Theatre, Melbourne VIC – SUN 3 APR 2016
Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide SA – TUE 5 APR 2016
Riverside Theatre, Perth WA – THU 7 APR 2016
*Sydney date to be announced soon*
— Also appearing at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016 —
TAJ MAHAL’s FIRST VISIT TO AUSTRALIA IN 20 YEARS

Blues fans of Taj Mahal will be delighted to hear the composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist will be performing solo and unplugged for the first time in Australia since 1994. Famous for nearly singlehandedly reshaping the definition and scope of the blues, via the infusion of exotic sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and South Pacific, the two-time Grammy winner from Massachusetts has been writing and performing for over fifty years. Taj Mahal will be performing Bluesfest sideshows in Melbourne, Newcastle, Sydney and Perth.

Famous for nearly singlehandedly reshaping the definition and scope of the blues via the infusion of exotic sounds from the Caribbean, Africa and South Pacific, the two-time Grammy Award winner from Massachusetts has been writing and performing for over fifty years.

Taj Mahal formed the Rising Sons, a six-piece outfit that included guitarist Ry Cooder. The band opened for numerous high-profile touring artists of the ’60s, including Otis Redding, The Temptations and Martha and the Vandellas. Around this same time, Taj also mingled with various blues legends, including Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Sleepy John Estes.

In recent years he has collaborated with Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Angelique Kidjo, Los Lobos, Ziggy Marley, Blind Boys Of Alabama, Van Morrison, The Roots, Eric Clapton, Wynton Marsalis and Tedeschi Trucks Band and others – many of whom have been directly influenced by Taj’s music and guidance.

Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne VIC – WED 30 MAR 2016
Lizottes Newcastle NSW – THU 31 MAR 2016
Factory Theatre, Sydney NSW – FRI 1 APR 2016
Astor Theatre, Perth WA – SUN 3 APR 2016 with special guests Ruby Boots
— Also appearing at Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016 —

Category: News