Robert Cray leads Blues on Broadbeach bill
BLUES Hall of Famer and five-time Grammy winner Robert Cray and his band will headline the free 2018 Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival.
Cray is one of five international acts set to join Australian headliners The Screaming Jets and local acts Karl S. Williams, Blues Arcadia, Benny D. Williams and Mason Rack Band for the 17th annual shindig in the streets and venues of Broadbeach from May 17-20.
Former Noiseworks frontman Jon Stevens will also play a special free show in The Star Gold Coast’s main theatre.
The festival bill also boasts Canadian soul/roots/ blues star Charlie A’court and US acts Eilen Jewell, Southern Avenue (hailed as “the most talked about band in Memphis” at the moment) and Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds.
A founding member of The Gun Club and former guitarist for legendary psycho-billy purveyors The Cramps, Kid Congo has also played with Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.
Best-known for his classic Smoking Gun and killer live performances, Cray was a regular visitor to Australia in the 1990s but hasn’t played here for more than 10 years.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been Down Under. We’re really looking forward to coming back,” he said.
The first line-up announcement also features Backsliders, Lloyd Spiegel, 19 Twenty, Karen Lee Andrews, Justin Yap Band, The Satellites, Dreamboogie, PJ O’Brien Band, Christina Crofts Band, Toni Swain, Titan Payne and the Big Zydeco Express, Jesse Valach presents Blue Mountain, Sunny Coast Rude Boys and Hell and Whisky.
More acts will be announced in coming months.
Visit bluesonbroadbeach.coms for details.