MARY J BLIGE has been added to the Blues lineup alongside British singers Corinne Bailey Rae and Michael Kiwanuka.
The artists join the festival’s heavy hitters, New York punk icon Patti Smith, Zac Brown Band and The Lumineers on a long line-up.
The five-day festival, coming into its 28th year at Byron Bay, has also added music collective Nahko and Medicine for the People, RB musician Gallant and 10-piece band The Suffers to the festival bill.
‘With over 50 million albums and 25 million singles sold, 32 Grammy nominations, with nine wins, the greatest female soul singer (Mary J Blige) of our time is coming,’ Bluesfest director Peter Noble said.
‘Her performances are the stuff of legend. To say I am chuffed she is coming to Bluesfest is an absolute understatement.’
Bluesfest organisers have promised more artist announcements to come ahead of the April 2017 event.