Arlo Guthrie, Gurrumul Announced for Blue Mountains Music Festival

They're back for their colossal eighteenth year, and next March, the Blue Mountains Music Festival of Folk, Roots and Blues will brag some fine performances from great international and home-grown acts, stretching three jam-packed days.

Headlining the bill is the counter culture icon and son of legend Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, the American folk-rocker making his way to Australian shores. He'll be joined by an national icon and ARIA-winner Gurrumul who will grace the Blue Mountains' audience with his spell-binding musicianship.

Audiences will be treated to the sounds of a mixture of acts from Ireland, the UK, the States and Canada, as well as a host of folk performers from Down Under. Here's the full first lineup, with more to come:

Arlo Guthrie (USA), Gurrumul, Luka Bloom (IRE), Zoe Keating (CAN), Chris Smither (USA), London Klezmer Quartet (UK), Seth Lakeman (UK), Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion (USA), Joseph Tawadros Trio, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas (UK). Ngaiire, Spooky Men's Chorale, Red Molly (USA). Kieran Kane, David Francey & Lucas Kane (USA/CAN), Sean Taylor (UK), The Popes (IRE), The Volantinsky Trio, Liz Stringer, Kim Churchill, Sue Ray, The April Maze, Jack Carty, Fiona Boyes, Mike McClellan, Perch Creek Family Jug Band, Nick and Liesl, A,J, Leonard's Tropical Lounge, Bellyache Ben and the Steamgrass Boys, The Field, Gabe Andrews, Imogen Clarke, Laura Zarb, The Three Sisters.

The Blue Mountains Music Festival will take place in beautiful Katoomba from the 15-17 March next year. For all ticketing information, check out the festival's page.

ARLO GUTHRIE:

Like his father, Arlo Guthrie is known for singing protest songs and is well-renowned for his eighteen minute talking blues song Alice's Restaurant. Residing in Washington, Massachusetts, he has performed on the Woodstock Folk Festival stage, been joined in performance by the likes of Willie Nelson and Pete Seeger and even had a small film and television career – now bringing his talents to NSW in March.

GURRUMUL:

Born blind, this amazing performer has taken Australia by storm with his unconventional musicality and beautiful Indigenous vocals. Elcho Island's Gurrumul is an established musician of the drums, keys, right-handed played left-handed guitar and didgeridoo, and have made fans of some of the world's biggest performers, such as Elton John and Sting.

LUKA BLOOM:

Born Kevin Barry Moore, Bloom is the younger brother of Irish folk singer Christy Moore, and has racked up twenty of more album releases, including compilations and DVDs ranging from 1978-2012. This March, he will bring his electro-acoustic folk-rock from Ireland all the way Down Under, guaranteeing the Blue Mountains an original and poetic set.

ZOE KEATING:

Canadian Zoe Keating brings her unique performance to the festival in 2013, utilizing a loop pedal to record layers of cello, creating awesomely haunting and intricate music that will set her apart from other acts on the bill – we're sold.