First Sydney Blues & Roots Festival Names Announced

In its fifth year, the Sydney Blues & Roots Festival continues to provide a pretty incredible line up of acts that always manages to offer something a little different to its audience – no mean feat given the number of festivals that are a part of the blues landscape across Australia these days.

This year the event will be headline by Wilson/Diesel who will team up for the first time in goodness knows how long to perform songs from their acclaimed 1996 LP Short Cool Ones. Both Chris Wilson and Diesel will also appear with their own projects throughout the festival weekend as well.

The unstoppable Russell Morris adds this event to his busy schedule, as does recent APRA Award winner Ash Grunwald. There are some legendary Australian blues names involved in the bill this year, including Dave Hole, The Cyril B. Bunter Band and a special tribute to the work of Muddy Waters, which will feature Dom Turner, Ian Collard, Kevin Bennett, Don Hopkins and Mal Eastick.

The brilliant Leszek Karski helps bring 42-year-old Sydney blues institution the Foreday Riders out for the show while the always entertaining Continental Blues Party will have the dance floor shaking, as will Reg Mombassa and Peter O'Doherty's Dog Trumpet, no doubt.

A few international acts have been confirmed for the event, longtime favourite of Aussie audiences American blues man Charlie Parr makes his return, as does Scottish singer (and former chart topper) Sandi Thom. Canadians Tim Chaisson, Charlie A'Court and Andy Brown will also make the trip to Australia in October.

The full line up (so far) is as follows:

Wilson/Diesel – Short Cool Ones, Russell Morris, Diesel, Ash Grunwald, Dave Hole, The Cyril B. Bunter Band, Charlie Parr, Foreday Riders Feat. Leszek Karski, Chris Wilson, The King Bees, Sandi Thom (Scotland), Muddy Waters Tribute Feat. Dom Turner, Ian Collard, Kevin Bennett, Don Hopkins, Mal Eastick, Dog Trumpet, The Continental Blues Party, Ginhouse Blues Band, Tim Chaisson, The Pigs, Benjalu, Charlie A'Court, The Lazys, Backwood Creatures, Andy Brown, Bec Sandridge, Penny & The Mystics, The Childs, Two Girls Will, Richard Calabro's Alpha Omega, Glowing Embers, Johnny Cass

There are still heaps more names to be announced, but things are off to a very nice start indeed. The festival takes place in Windsor, just outside of Sydney, from Thursday 24 October through to Sunday 27.

Early bird tickets are available from the festival website and right now you can get a four day pass for just $129, which is kinda ridiculous.