Music
Big names keep coming for Bluesfest
We thought the Bluesfest line-up could not get any better and then they go and announce an absolute icon of the entertainment industry, Brian Wilson!
The Beach Boys lead singer and co-founder will perform a very special set at the Byron Bay Bluesfest, playing legendary album Pet Sounds in full, alongside a selection of the Beach Boys’ biggest tracks. Brian Wilson will be joined on stage by an 11-piece band that includes original Beach Boys member, Al Jardine, and long-time member Blondie Chaplin.
Joining Brian Wilson on the latest announcement of Bluesfest artists is Taj Mahal, The Residents, Shooglenifty and Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats. The impressive line-up adds to the already enormous list of artists appearing at the festival including Kendrick Lamar, Tom Jones, Noel Gallagher, City and Colour, The National, Melissa Etheridge and Jackson Browne.
Despite the incredible list of entertainers, there is something very special about the announcement that Brian Wilson will perform Pet Sounds in its entirety
Pet Sounds, released in 1966, was the brainchild of Brian Wilson and is now considered one of the most important pieces of popular music history. For its time, the album was highly experimental weaving obscure instruments with the flawless harmonies of the Beach Boys’ vocals. The album features classic tracks such as God Only Knows, Wouldn’t It Be Nice and Sloop John B.
The Beach Boys were one of the most successful bands of their era, bursting onto the scene in the 1960s. They were renowned for their ‘California Sound’ and spawned a huge number of massive worldwide hits including Good Vibrations, I Get Around, Surfin’ USA, Fun, Fun, Fun, California Girls and Barbara Ann.
The addition of Brian Wilson to the Byron Bay Bluesfest line-up is something of a coup, with the Pet Sounds album only being performed in full a handful of times and not for more than a decade.
Bluesfest, which is held at the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm over the Easter long weekend each year, has a reputation for attracting the biggest names in music year after year. Bluesfest is a contemporary Blues & Roots festival and throughout its lifetime has welcomed acts such as Bob Dylan, BB King, Crowded House, Angus and Julia Stone, Paul Simon, Missy Higgins, REM and John Fogerty.
Bluesfest has a huge number of ticket and accommodation packages – from day passes to 5-day festival tickets – which gives live event fans the flexibility to select the package that best suits their needs.
The 2016 Bluesfest will take place from Thursday March 24 until Monday March 28. Click here to read more about this remarkable event and to book your tickets now!
