Bluesfest Wanted Kanye West In 2014

13 February 2014 | 11:55 am | Staff Writer

As well as Clapton, Petty and Stevie Wonder.

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In a live twitter Q&A with fans of the festival yesterday afternoon, Byron Bay Bluesfest co-founder and director (and recent recipient of the Rolling Stone Award) Peter Noble has revealed a few secrets about the booking of his event in 2014 as well as some of the issues he has faced in the past.

The event celebrates 25 years of existence in 2014 and over the past quarter of a century has become one of the most renowned cultural events in Australia - it picked up silver in at last week's Australian Tourism Awards - and one of the world's finest music festival.

Perhaps the most revealing comment from Noble's Q&A came early on when he admitted he had wanted to book hip hop star Kanye West for the 2014 event, as well as constantly requested acts Tom Petty and the great Stevie Wonder.

He also said that Bluesfest ask Eric Clapton to perform at the event every single year, prompting Noble to say the only thing that needed to get Clapton on the Bluesfest bill is for him to say yes.

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Another artist on the festival's wishlist is Jack White. Noble says he has heard rumours that White has hesitations playing Bluesfest, but assures him that the festival is well and truly up to scratch production-wise to handle his show.

While Noble expresses interest in bringing over more jam bands in the vein of – and related to – the Grateful Dead, he says the difference in the bands' level of popularity can be an issue.

The Singaporean event Rock & Roots will not be taking place in 2014 due to Noble's partners in the event Timbre Music deciding not to stage it this year, though Noble assures it will be back.

Though getting British ska legends Madness back might be a struggle.

As far as Tom Waits goes? It's not likely he will ever return to Australia, let alone Bluesfest.

Wondering why your band didn't get a spot on Bluesfest this year? Knowing that around 2,000 artists applied might make you feel a little better.

Bluesfest happens over the Easter weekend at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm. Details are in theGuide below.