Deni Blues and Roots Festival 2013! John Mayer, Dr Joh, the Doobie Brothers and more!

John Mayer, Dr John & The Nite Trippers,
The Doobie Brothers, Edward Sharpe and the
Magnetic Zeros, Gary Clark Jr, Russell Morris,
Jasmine Rae and Cash Savage and the Last Drinks
confirmed for
Deni Blues & Roots Festival 2014!

TWO DAYS OF NON‐STOP MUSIC, ONSITE CAMPING, TWO STAGES
EARLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY, 16 OCTOBER, 2013!

After an Award winning first year the Deni Blues and Roots Festival is confirmed to return over the Easter Weekend of 2014 - Saturday 19 April and  Sunday 20 April - in Deniliquin in southern New South Wales.  The first artists to be announced for the 2014 Festival are John Mayer, Dr John & The Nite Trippers, The Doobie Brothers, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Gary Clark Jr, Russell Morris, Jasmine Rae and Cash Savage and the Last Drinks with Early Bird Tickets going on sale next Wednesday, 16 October, 2013.

The two day Deni Blues & Roots Festival is unique for southern NSW and utilises the massive Deni Ute Muster site, which has had millions of dollars of permanent staging and lighting infrastructure installed in recent years. Both events have been underpinned by overwhelming community support, with an army of volunteers, contributions from many local businesses and great vision from the steering committee that established and built the site.

Iconic musicians from the US and UK, including Santana, Status Quo, Jason Mraz, Chris Isaak, Bonnie Raitt, Zac Brown Band and Newton Faulkner, descended on Deni earlier this year helping the Deni Blues & Roots Festival to take out the Best Festival Award at the Inland Tourism Awards earlier this year.

Co-promoter, Michael Chugg from Chugg Entertainment said “It’s very exciting to be announcing the 1st acts for the 2nd Deni Blues & Roots Festival in April 2014.  It was a great 2 days at our 1st Festival earlier this year and I can't wait to announce more acts!  It will be an awesome line up of some of the world’s best musicians and bands.  I’m very excited about the great young OZ acts that will strut their stuff alongside John Mayer, the legendary Dr John and more”

Harold Clapham, Chairman of Deni Play on the Plains Festivals said “After the success of the Inaugural Deni Blues and Roots Festival and the recent 15th Anniversary Deni Ute Muster, where American superstar Alan Jackson left a record breaking crowd spellbound, we can’t wait to have you “yawl” back in Deni at Easter.”

Co-promoter Rob Potts, CEO, Rob Potts Entertainment said “It’s quite amazing to see the line-up if massive international artists that have performed at Deniliquin (Deni) in the last two years which also includes Kelly Clarkson, Alan Jackson, Joe Nichols and Cob Lund as well as the list of artist who played the inaugural Deni Blues and Roots Festival.

“It’s a testimony to the great concert and camping facilities and easy to get to location that the community has built to welcome concert and festival goers. Deni Blues & Roots 2014 is set to add another great list of local and international performers to this impressive list at Easter 2014, a time when Deni also has its best weather every year.”

The first round of artists confirmed to appear at the Deni Blues & Roots Festival in 2014:

JOHN MAYER

John Mayer is a seven time Grammy Award winner and the accolades don’t stop there. The list of nominations and global honours are seemingly endless and no wonder, with such classics as Your Body is a Wonderland, Waiting on the World to Change, Gravity, Daughters, Belief and No Such Thing, scoring him awards and an ever-growing army of fans at every turn.

His first six albums, Room For Squares, Heavier Things, Continuum, Battle Studies, Born & Raised and the live set Try as The John Mayer Trio have set Mayer on a pathway to dizzying career heights in a relatively short space of time.

He’s collaborated and played alongside an outstanding array of cross-genre musical talent including The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, Common, Buddy Guy, Katy Perry, B.B. King, Frank Ocean and Eric Clapton as well as Australia’s Keith Urban and Guy Sebastian and we are thrilled to welcome him to the Deni Blues & Roots Festival stage in 2014.

DR. JOHN & THE NITE TRIPPERS

Dr. John is back in town – and he is armed with his incredible new album Locked Down and is heading to the Deni Blues & Roots Festival in 2014.

Dr. John’s very colourful musical career began in the 1950s when he wrote and played guitar on some of the greatest records to come out of the Crescent City including recordings by Professor Longhair, Art Neville, Joe Tex and Frankie Ford. A notorious gun incident forced Dr. John to give up the guitar and concentrate on organ and piano. Further trouble at home sent him west in the 1960s, where he continued to be in demand as a session musician, playing on records by Sonny and Cher, Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin to name a few.

The Dr. John legend was truly born with his breakthrough 1968 album Gris-gris, which established his unique blend of voodoo mysticism, funk, rhythm and blues, psychedelic rock and Creole roots. His many career highlights include the masterful album Sun, Moon and Herbs in 1971 which included cameos from Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger and 1973’s In The Right Place which contained the chart hits Right Place Wrong Time and Such A Night.
THE DOOBIE BROTHERS

The Doobie Brothers are one of the great American music stories. Since their story began in the 1970s, The Doobie Brothers’ propulsive roots-based, harmony laden, guitar driven style have sold an estimated 40 million records over the course of four decades.

With their songbook full of classic rock staples: Listen To The Music, Black Water, Long Train Runnin’, What A Fool Believes, Jesus Is Just Alright, China Grove, Little Darlin’ (I Need You), Taking It To The Streets and Minute By Minute to name just a few, it’s going to be hard to find anyone who has not heard a Doobie Brothers song.

Their latest release World Gone Crazy (produced by the legend Ted Templeman) is another chapter in this great American music story, but it’s neither comeback nor nostalgia. An exhibition of aggressive and emotional performance, evocative storytelling, unapologetic attitude and world class musicianship, the collection is its own justification.

With founding members Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons, and 30 year-plus veterans John McFee and the late Michael Hossack, the “Doobies” have perfectly honoured the band’s legacy with an offering that grows in unexpected new directions. Expect the unexpected they say, but one thing’s for sure the roof is going to lift off when The Doobie Brothers rock onstage at the Deni Blues & Roots Festival 2014.

EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS

Feel good folk has never been more fun to dance to than with the truly unique Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (ESATMZ). With live shows that are nothing short of joyous affairs, comparisons continue to be drawn to the soulfulness of The Supremes’ Where Did Our Love Go, the raw exuberant pop of The Beatles Yellow Submarine and the psychedelic echoes of Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow. Upbeat and full of spirit, the band have embodied the communal essence on stage that has since defined a new sound that could quite easily slip into the golden era of the aforementioned comparisons.

If there was ever a band made for festivals this is it – the gospel chorus harmonies, raw, wailing vocals and deep-in-the-pocket rhythms saw them captivating Mumford and Sons fans on their tour here last year and winning over audiences at festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Leeds and Austin City Limits.

And their name? Edward Sharpe is a fictional character out of a book that frontman and producer of ESATMZ, Alexander Ebert was writing. The Magnetic Zeros are a 10+ piece “family” that have collaborated to create songs heavily laden with folk-rock hooks, gospel overtones and infectious lyrics. But the word Alex uses to describe their music, live performances and recordings is “rambunctious”.

Come and join the family at Deni Blues & Roots Festival 2014 for what could only be described as a rambunctious affair and if you’re not already – it’ll only be a matter of songs before your converted and dancing the night away with the rest of us.

GARY CLARK JR.

Gary Clark Jr was weaned on John Lee Hooker, Lightnin Hopkins, and T-Bone Walker in Austin, Texas, and fuses his deep blues influence with a love of classic hip-hop and contemporary soul. His voice weaves between a melodic lilt and a seasoned blues howl with his guitar licks dancing and dodging between and behind the beat as if the essence of Snoop and Dre loom in his head by way of the Mississippi Delta.

Gary Clark Jr exploded onto the music scene with an incendiary debut performance of his song “Bright Lights” at Eric Clapton's 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival and has gone on to find a flood of fans, among peers and public alike, with the likes of Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Ron Wood, Alicia Keys, Damian Marley, Citizen Cope and Questlove (The Roots) adding their voices to the list.

Funky, hip, and badass, Gary Clark Jr is a rocking soul man for a new generation.

RUSSELL MORRIS

Russell Morris is one of Australia's most enduring singers. In 1969 he had a major hit with the Johnny Young penned, Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum produced, psych rock excursion The Real Thing and in 2012 Morris is still recording, although charting vastly different territory.

Famous for hits such as The Real Thing, Wings Of An Angel and Sweet, Sweet Love, Russell’s latest release Sharkmouth, which features special guests Renee Geyer, Troy Cassar-Daley, Mark “Diesel” Lizotte and Chris Wilson, is a ground breaking blues album which has climbed the ARIA charts and given Russell his first Top 10 album.

Sharkmouth sees Morris wading in to the great expanse of blues music and in the process he peels back the decades to bring to life some of the major Australian characters of the 20’s and 30’s. The album title gets its name from petty thief and scam artist Thomas ‘Shark Jaws’ Archer, who graces the cover in a photograph sourced from NSW police forensic photography archive.

Don’t miss Russell Morris as he brings Sharkmouth to life, and performs all his hits, at the Deni Blues & Roots Festival 2014.


JASMINE RAE

Two-time ARIA Award nominated singer-songwriter Jasmine Rae is setting the charts on fire with the release of her third studio album If I Want To. Within an hour of release, the album shot directly to No. 1on the iTunes Country Albums Chart and finished No. 1 Country Album on the ARIA Digital Albums Chart after its first week on sale.

If I Want To marks Jasmine’s highest ever debut on the ARIA Charts, claiming No. 2 on the ARIA Country and No. 23 on the ARIA Album Chart (beating her previous high of #35) and an impressive No. 21 on the ARIA Physical Albums Chart.

The album’s lead single and title track is also topping the charts; The music video currently sits at No. 1 on the Country Music Channel Top 30, where it held for four weeks, making this Jasmine’s fastest rising chart-topper to date. Jasmine Rae is the first Australian artist to maintain the CMC No.1 position for four consecutive weeks since 2005.
CASH SAVAGE AND THE LAST DRINKS

Acclaimed jewel of dark country blues Cash Savage, released her second LP The Hypnotiser to critical acclaim and the Deni Blues & Roots Festival look forward to her bringing her soulful confessions and impassioned cries of love, loss and despair to the stage in 2014.

As The AU Review described “It’s almost like watching Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Burning with a violent passion one minute, then self-effacing the next … And it’s somewhat fascinating to watch. It’s like she’s possessed …”

Together with her band The Last Drinks, Cash Savage is surrounded by a group of musicians who have created a work that alludes to an undercurrent of drunken kinship polished with hard yards, while still retaining the soul for which Cash is known. Engineered by Melbourne-based Japanese-born Nao Anzai and produced by Nick Finch from Graveyard Train, the result is a searingly honest, powerful release of uncompromising heartbreak and unbound love that becomes more alive and personal with each listen.

Early Bird tickets for the Deni Blues & Roots Festival 2014 go on sale from 9.00am on Wednesday, 16 October, 2013 until 11.59pm on Sunday, 20 October, 2013.

General public tickets go on sale at 9.00am on Monday, 21 October, 2013

Deni Blues & Roots Festival
Conargo Road, Deniliquin, NSW
Saturday, 19 April 2014
- and -
Sunday, 20 April 2014

Tickets available from www.denibluesfestival.com, the Deniliquin Ute Muster Office or 03 5881 3388

www.denibluesfestival.com
Facebook.com/denibluesfest
Twitter: #denibluesfest

Toby Keith 2014 Australian Tour

Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, Chugg Entertainment and Foxtel’s Country Music Channel (CMC)are thrilled to announce that American superstar TOBY KEITH will be making his first ever concert appearances in Australia in 2014, bringing his Hammer Down Under Tour to Australia for a series of massive arena concerts next March. Keith will also headline the 2014 CMC Rocks the Hunter festival at the Hope Estate in NSW’s beautiful Hunter Valley.

Joining Keith on the tour will be special guest international stars ELI YOUNG BAND (USA) and KELLIE PICKLER (USA). 

CEO of Entertainment Edge, Rob Potts said, “The Outlaws of country music have always been huge with Aussie fans. No surprise this country started out as a convict settlement. So we know why the fans are so excited about Toby’s first ever tour here. They love his larrikin outlaw attitude and the fact that he doesn’t take himself too seriously. We’re super excited to have him touring in March and know the fans will go wild when he rolls out his incredible catalogue of hits. It’s also terrific to welcome back Eli Young Band and to have Kellie Pickler on her first visit down under”  

Executive Chairman of Chugg Entertainment, Michael Chugg said, "Toby Keith is one of the biggest artists in modern country music. We’ve been hearing about his rowdy, rockin’ live show in this country for many years. One of the biggest songwriters in any genre, Aussie audiences have really connected with his irreverent humour. We still think “he’s as good as he once was”- and with three international heavyweights on one bill, this is going to be the country tour of the year - my mate Jimmy Buffett said he is not to be missed!”

Singer/songwriter TOBY KEITH is one of the most consistently successful artists in country music history, with over 35 million album sales and 31 US No. 1 singles in two decades of recording, including Should’ve Been A Cowboy, How Do You Like Me Now?!, Beer For My Horses, I Love This Bar, As Good As I Once Was and Red Solo Cup. Winner of multiple CMA, ACM and American Music Awards, the Billboard Country Artist of the Decade is renowned throughout the globe for his swaggering party songs, soulful ballads and rowdy, high-energy live performances. Toby will also be performing songs from his new album, Drinks After Work, which will be released in Australia on 1 November, 2013. 

The ELI YOUNG BAND honed their skills as an Eagles-esque live force in the Texas Red Dirt scene, building up an enviable fan following, before breaking into the mainstream country scene with their album, Level, in 2005. The Southern quartet blew us away in 2012 on their first trip down under and they’ve since moved into an even higher gear, with hits including the monster smash Crazy Girl, Even If It Breaks Your Heart and their latest release, Drunk Last Night. 

Since rocketing to fame on American Idol, KELLIE PICKLER has been charming the public with her inimitable twang, cheeky charisma and powerful country pipes. Her hits include Red High Heels, I Wonder, Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful and Best Days of Your Life, and she has run the gamut from soul-baring vulnerability to girl power anthems and she constantly reaches for more honest, powerful and dynamic ways to tell her story. The CMT Music Award winner and ACM and CMA nominee, Pickler has also triumphed on television, as the 2013 winner of the USDancing with the Stars.

 

TICKETS FOR ALL SHOWS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, 4 OCTOBER AT 9.00AM

Friday, 14 March, 2014
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.auor 132 849

 

Sunday, 16 March, 2014

CMC Rocks the Hunter Festival, Hope Estate, Pokolbin, NSW

(Friday 14 March, Saturday 15 March and Sunday 16 March)

Tickets available from www.cmcrocks.com
*ON SALE NOW*

 

Tuesday, 18 March, 2014
Allphones Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.auor 132 849

 

Wednesday, 19 March, 2014
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne VIC
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.auor 132 849

For more information go to:

 

www.tobykeith.com