Blues-fucking-fest

I'm not normally one to get excited by Bluesfest, but next year, Byron is going to be crazy.

It's already being hyped as the best yet. Here's just the first announcement, the second is meant to be better:

Bob Dylan
B.B. King
Ben Harper & Relentless 7
Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Rodrigo y Gabriela
The Cat Empire
Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Aaron Neville
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band
Robert Randolph & the Family Band
Fistful of Mercy
Mavis Staples
Xavier Rudd
Trinity Roots
Little Bushmen
Tony Joe White
Indigo Girls
Kate Miller-Heidke
Eric Bibb
Washington
Ash Grunwald
Ruthie Foster
C.W. Stoneking
Jeff Lang
Saltwater Band
RocKwiz Live

I've bolded the ones that made me lose my mind. Like, wow. That is just amazing. The man himself, Bob Dylan headlining. B.B. King, the bluesmaster himself. Ben Harper, playing in two of his bands (Relentless 7 and Fistful of Mercy with George Harrison's son), Elvis-fucking-Costello, my dad's top 10 band the Blind Boys of Alabama and one of the greatest slide guitarists you'll ever see (maybe the only if you're not cultured enough) in Robert Randolph and his Family Band.

If you can't tell, I'm massively excited. I don't do camping festivals ever, but this may be an exception. See you in Byron April 21-25!

All the news in one! Because I haven't had time this week

Sunday Afternoon Free Music
At the Powerhouse. From 3:30 catch local boys The Paper and the Plane. I've seen these guys open for some of my favourite bands of all time (From Autumn to Ashes and Brand New) and not to mention they are just tops guys that run the Kill the Music store. Catch them for free at the Powerhouse.

MySpace

Xiu Xiu
Speaking of the Powerhouse, on the 4th of September, one of the strangest electronic/goth/post-rock bands you've never heard of is playing. Xiu Xiu, from the USA are playing as part of the Frankly! pop festival. It's probably not most people's cup of tea, but they do some interesting goth pop music. I hope they play the song Chocolate Makes You Happy.

www.xiuxiu.org

Muse Supports
Muse are playing the Entertainment Centre on the 5th and 6th of December. They announced their supports today, Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro, who seem to be coming down under a lot in the last 2 years. Unfortunately for us, they are playing all of the shows of the tour but Brisbane. Instead we will get the local prog-rockers Dead Letter Circus, fresh from 2 sold out shows at the Zoo. I like them, but at the same time, I feel like we are getting slightly jipped.

Further Seems Forever
Everyone's favourite Christian-emo band of the 90s is back! And for those of you who don't know, the lead singer Chris Carrabba left to go start Dashboard Confessional. And that's when they went shit. But now, he's back, and the band is back in the studio! They've leaked a bit of rehearsal footage:

Spring 2011 from dashboardforever127 on Vimeo.

Ben Harper
...has disbanded his recent band the Relentless7, after their no show at Splendour. However, he has formed a new "super band" featuring a Beatle's son (George Harrison's son to be exact). They are called Fistful of Mercy and will be releasing an album on the 5th of October. Not too bad on first listen:

Free album?
Lastly, Melbourne band the Basics are giving away their new album for free! It's live, but it's a quality recording (and they rate it their best!). http://thebasics.bandcamp.com/