Bluesfest Act Cancels After ‘Taking A Bigger Offer’

Veteran Jamaican musician Ernest Ranglin has pulled out of next year's Bluesfest after he denied the agent the tour was booked through represents him, and the festival believes that he's taken a bigger offer.

Ranglin had been booked to tour alongside Sly & Robbie and Bitty McLean as The Jamaican Legends, but after booking the tour through a Jamaican-based agent Bluesfest have been informed that he has accepted European shows through a second agent based in France.

“In dealing with all the artists from any one country in the world, Jamaica has been one of the more difficult over the years for Bluesfest,” a statement said today. “Numerous agents claim to represent Jamaican artists and it is difficult to know who is currently representing whom.”

Ranglin was booked through the agent who the festival had successfully worked with in the past and the agency “insists they have numerous emails between themselves and Ernest Ranglin clearly stating his acceptance of the Australian Tour.”

This is despite Ranglin contacting Bluesfest to say he was never approached for the tour.

“Read into this what you will!” said the festival. “What we read into it, after having successfully toured Ernest Ranglin on two previous occasions via different representatives, among the many who claim to represent him, is that he took a bigger offer after having previously confirmed ours.”

Ranglin's name has been removed from the Jamaican Legends line-up while the festival is “exploring other options”.

Bluesfest's line-up remains very strong. See it here. It will take place Thursday 17 – Monday 21 April 2014.