Paul Simon to headline Bluesfest on Easter Monday

Just weeks after confirming Robert Plant as a headliner, Bluesfest head honcho Peter Noble has announced that Paul Simon will headline the event’s Easter Monday. And going on just before the man you can call Al is another new addition, Canada’s Rufus Wainwright. 

The two join a lineup that includes Santana, Ben Harper, Jimmy Cliff, Iggy & The Stooges, Wilco and Mavis Staples. It is expected that Bluesfest will break the 100,000 attendance mark again over the long weekend. 

Noble declared, "Adding Paul Simon to Bluesfest 2013 is pretty mind blowing, even for me, your Festival Director. I knew the line-up was going to be massive, but it just keeps getting bigger. So many incredible artists are going to perform at Bluesfest, it really is every Festival Director’s dream come true and I am so humbled. Announcing Robert Plant a couple of weeks ago and now adding Paul Simon, it’s like: wow…we are really doing it this time, and I actually think we are breaking all previous records. This is going to be the best Bluesfest of all time and guess what? There are at least another four announcements to come featuring major artists."

Simon last toured Australia in 2009 with Art Garfunkel. Overseas he’s been doing shows based around his Graceland album, although it’s not certain what format his Bluesfest set will be. 

The 24th Bluesfest will take place between Thursday March 28 and Monday April 1 at Bluesfest’s permanent home at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, just outside of Byron Bay.

For those who can't make it to Bluesfest next year (or just want to see their favourites in a more intimate setting) sideshows have been announced for a number of Bluesfest artists - check them out here. 

- Christie Eliezer, The Music Network