Bluesfest Boss Peter Noble Picks His Top Five Acts Making Debuts Down Under

Byron Bay Bluesfest is almost here for another year, and to get pulses raised ahead of the annual event's return, we asked festival founder Peter Noble to break down some of the acts that have got him the most excited on this year's bill.

So, without further ado, here are his top five artists appearing at Bluesfest this year who have never before performed on Australian shores.

Corinne bailey rae

British singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae has been winning hearts, minds and ears for almost two decades now, so it seems a little stunning that this will be her first-ever appearance Down Under, but it makes for the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with the lauded songstress if you're not already.

Although she got her start back in 1998, it wasn't until 2006 that she released her debut, self-titled album — which netted her two Grammy nominations for the song Put Your Records On, along with a nod for Best New Artist, that year, as well as another nomination in 2008, for Song Of The Year, with hit single Like A Star — before following it up four years later in 2010 with The Sea.

After some time being jostled between record labels, she released her most recent full-length, The Heart Speaks In Whispers, in 2016, earning a #2 debut on the Billboard R&B chart and accolades from fans and critics alike. She has supported Stevie Wonder, had music featured on one of Barack Obama's famed playlists, and was featured on the soundtrack for recent flick Fifty Shades Darker with a cover of Coldplay's The Scientist.

Gallant

Maryland-bred muso Gallant is only 25 years old, but he's already turned heads around the globe for his prodigious musical and vocal talents, and stands as one of the most celebrated voices in alt R&B circles today.

He got his start after moving to Los Angeles back in 2013 to pursue his music career after studying at New York University, releasing his debut EP, Zebra, in 2014. He made it to the Coachella line-up in 2016, and has toured and collaborated with Sufjan Stevens, and has worked with the likes of Jhene Aiko, Seal, SG Lewis, Tablo and Eric Nam, and Zhu.

He released his debut studio full-length, Ology, last year, making a handful of TV appearances in its wake, including on shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Later… With Jools Holland. Naturally, the album earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album because, yes, he is simply that damn good.

Miles Electric Band

The legendary Miles Davis may no longer be with us, but his music lives on in ebullient style through the 10-member strong Miles Electric Band.

The many-membered monument to one of the 20th century's greatest musical creatives focuses on Davis' work from 1969-75, and even features musicians who played with the man during this particularly fertile period, including bassist Daryl Jones (The Rolling Stones, Sting) and Blackbyrd McKnight (Parliament).

The broader line-up of former Davis collaborators includes Miles' nephew, Vince Wilburn Jr, on drums, as well as Grammy-winning trumpeter Christian Scott, keyboardist John Beasley, percussionist Munyungo Jackson, and pianist Robert Irving III. They're flanked by fellow acclaimed musicians including Antoine Roney (saxophone), Debasish Chaudhuri (tabla) and noted turntablist DJ Logic.

The Record Company

LA power-rock three-piece The Record Company deal in deep grooves, big riffs and bluesy vocals, and they do so with the kind of aplomb that makes one scratch their head in awe upon the realisation that they've only been together for a handful of years.

They swiftly outgrew their humble roots of recording live in bassist Alex Stiff's living room, going on to nab support slots for everyone from Buddy Guy to Trombone Shorty and even B.B. King, and knocked over their first European tour before releasing their debut album, Give It Back To You, in 2016.

That release's lead single, Off The Ground, made its way up to #1 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart, and the momentum hasn't slowed from there; they were nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards, have received broad praise in the music press and have been featured in TV shows such as CSI, Shameless, Nashville, Suits and Orphan Black.

The Suffers

Hailing from Houston, Texas, soul outfit The Suffers have established themselves as one of the most exciting, sonically diverse acts of the present day — and they've only been together since 2011.

In that time, they've racked up accolades around the world; after releasing two EPs in 2013 (Slow It Down b/w Step Aside) and 2014 (Make Some Room), their 2016 debut album went on to receive widespread acclaim. They performed at 2015's SXSW event in Austin, have made several late-night TV appearances and even earned a sync deal for the second season of Mr Robot for their track Gwan.

Led by the mellifluous, magnetic Kam Franklin, The Suffers are guaranteed to make a massively memorable splash when they touch down in Australia for the first time for this year's Bluesfest, and — much like with the other acts on this list — it would be well worth your while to take the time to seek them out and have a boogie when they take the festival stage.

Bluesfest 2017 runs from 13-17 April. See the event's website for more information.