Following in the steps of All Tomorrow’s Parties, The East Coast Blues and Roots Festival has announced that Ben Harper and John Butler have had a hand in programming the bands that play before their respective headline sets.

Both the musicians have worked closely with the festivals director, Peter Noble, to hand-pick seven artists that will perform before them on the mainstage. Harper expressed his excitement at helping curate one of his favourite festivals: “It’s a huge honour… (and) it’s exciting as hell. I am so confident of the music I’m putting on, I would do that for Peter every year because I love him and I love the festival”

Additions to the “Harper stage” include up and coming blues artists, Grace Woodroofe and Tom Freund, African blues band Tinariwen and soul-folk reggae wunderkind AYO. Rounding out the “Butler stage” will be talented locals State Radio, Jeff Lang and Ngaiire, and Nicky Bomba.

The 20th Annual Bluesfest
Easter Weekend 2009 – April 9-13