The Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival today announced a staggering slew of international talent, adding Classified & David Myles, The Sheepdogs, Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Celebration, Justin Townes Earle and Blackberry Smoke, as well as Matt Andersen & The Bona Fide, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Wintersleep, Mike Zito & the Wheel, Busty and the Bass and nearly two dozen additional acts to its 2016 edition, September 13-18.
“Harvest is kicking off Year 26 by expanding our offerings to even wider audiences, lowering our ticket prices and once again affirming ourselves as Eastern Canada’s premiere musical experience,” said Brent Staeben, Harvest’s Music Programmer. “This is our most impressive line-up to date and we’re thrilled to present this incredible array of national and international headline acts, which positions New Brunswick as a major destination event on the North American festival circuit.”
Greatful marks Juno Award-winning hit-maker Classified’s first effort since five-time platinum David Myles collaboration, “Inner Ninja,” and the two friends will team up for this special show that they crafted especially for Harvest;
Trends come and go, but from their cramped Saskatchewan jam space to the cover of Rolling Stone and platinum records, Juno winners The Sheepdogs remain committed to rock n’ roll excellence;
Five years to the night that Levon Helm delivered one of the most memorable performances in Harvest history, Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Celebration will assemble an incredible cast including Amy Helm, Matt Andersen and Levon’s entire Midnight Ramble Band for an ultimate celebration;
A forefather of contemporary americana, Justin Townes Earle’s raw baritone voice has dazzled across knock-out albums Yuma and Harlem River Blues, and at venues from Bonnaroo to Carnegie Hall;
Building on the Skynyrd southern rock tradition, with a healthy dose of outlaw country and elements of bluegrass, gospel and R&B, Blackberry Smoke return to headline their own Harvest show.
Rounding out its full ticketed schedule, Harvest also announced Hot Toddy, Stephen Lewis & After Funk, Glamour Puss, Ross Neilsen, Vogue Dots, Erin Costelo, Downtown Blues Band, Theresa Malenfant & The Instigators, Matchstick Mike & The Chain Smoking Altar Boys, The Alex Bailey Swing Band, Roxy & The Underground Soul Sound, Earthbound Trio, Laurent Couturier & The Rusty Mikes, Amanda Jackson Band and SG & The Tone Kings. Performers showcased on the Festival’s numerous free stages will be announced later in the summer.
“We understood that fans were going to expect a significant offering of new talent this year, following last year’s celebration of performers from our first twenty five years,” said Staeben. “This schedule is fresh and dominated by artists who’ve never before played Harvest, and who will reach out to new audiences to keep the Festival energized and thriving in the coming years,” he said. “We are very proud to bring this amazing array of talent to Fredericton.”
These artists will join previously announced headliners Drive-By Truckers, Robert Cray, Metric, The Revivalists, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Champion & His G-Strings, Plants and Animals, Stars, The Besnard Lakes and more for the 26th annual Festival.