Easter long weekend is shaping up to be a corker for those music aficionados amongst you lucky enough to have snaffled up tix to the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival aka Bluesfest – especially given the final announcement of acts for the festival.

This year’s Bluesfest takes place at Byron’s Belongil Fields, which equals more space, more stages and ups the comfort factor for punters. The announcement of final acts to the festival bill takes the artist tally to 125 – the most ever presented by Bluesfest.

Bluesfest has a famous tradition of breaking new stars to Australian audiences – historical examples include Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Kasey Chambers, Cat Empire and Michael Franti’s Spearhead. This year’s lineup is no different giving focus to a number of rising stars…

So who is this year’s next big thing?

From the US Bluesfest serves up chart-topping, award winning folk-rock-pop duo Sugarland. There’s also college rock jam-band phenomenon, O.A.R., on their first tour here following two sold-out nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Then there’s Raul Midón, blind American soul/blues artist, who serves up an explosive blend of soul, pop, and jazz, and is completely unmissable.

From the UK there is dreadlocked singer songwriter Newton Faulkner, whose album spent two weeks at Number One in the UK. From New Zealand is the fabulous Hollie Smith, the only artist from these parts signed to the prestigious Blue Note label.

New Aussie rising stars include Deadly Award winner Dan Sultan, The Huckleberry Swedes, award winning Leah Flanagan and Gotye’s side project The Basics

Joining them is breakthrough Canadian act Bedouin Soundclash, art-folk sensation Dan Mangan and award winning “death country” or “black grass” outfit Elliot Brood.

The full list of new artists on this fourth announcement is:
Sugarland (USA), Newton Faulkner (USA), Dan Mangan (Canada), O.A.R (USA), Troy Cassar-Daley, GOCOO (Japan), Chris Wilson, Mojo Webb, Martinez Brothers, Kate Miller-Heidke, Carus & the True Believers, Dan Sultan, Elliott Brood (Canada), Chain, Hollie Smith (New Zealand), Guy Davis (USA), Bedouin Soundclash (Canada), Corb Lund & The Hurtin’ Albertans (Canada), Hat Fitz, San Lazaro, The Basics, Raul Midon (USA),
Will Conner, (USA), Beau Young, Leah Flanagan, Johnny Green’s Blues Cowboys, Johnny Gray’s Rockinitis, Yunasi (Kenya), Tribali (Malta), Hayley Sales (Canada), Collard Greens & Gravy, Worldfly, Lisa Hunt (USA), Kerianne Cox, Mongrels of Passion, Clint Crighton Jess Clements, Lucy Wainwright Roche (USA), eMDEE, Mason Rack, Marshall & The Fro, The Huckleberry Swedes, Ella Thompson, The Re-Mains, Sara Tindley & the Kingfishers, Juzzie Smith, Mahalia Barnes, Bridget Pross, Jason Lowe, The Blues Preachers, Amali Ward, Anni Piper, Tompo, Cody Butler, Jono McNeil

They’ll be joining the fantastic headline artists revealed in earlier announcements which include:

John Fogerty, Buddy Guy, Sinead O’Connor, Ray Davies, Keith Urban, The Cat Empire, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, The Cruel Sea, The Black Crowes, John Butler Trio, Wilco, Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Ozomatli, Mavis Staples, KT Tunstall, London Community Gospel Choir, Maceo Parker, and Stanley Clarke / George Duke Project

Bluesfest 2008 19th Annual International East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival Thursday March 20 to Monday March 24