Harvest Unleashes Blues Blast, Adding Eighteen Acts for 2017

The Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival today announced an explosive array of northeastern US and regional blues talent, adding 18 new acts including Matt Andersen, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer (NYC), Sonya Rae and the Sleepwalkers (Boston), The National Reserve (NYC), Matt Minglewood Band, and more than a dozen additional Atlantic Canadian blues performers to its 2017 edition. These artists will join previously announced blues headliners Colin James and The Marcus King Band as the big blues contingent at Harvest’s 27th edition, September 12-17.

“So many blues lovers flock to Harvest to catch established artists like Colin and Matt Andersen, the hot up-and-comers like Marcus, Brandon, Sonya Rae and the National Reserve and their favorites from this region’s deep blues tradition like Garrett Mason, Matt Minglewood, Keith Hallett and Joe Murphy,” said Brent Staeben, Harvest’s Music Programmer. “We’ve crafted this schedule to cover the full spectrum of blues from acoustic delta mastery through to powerful electric styles to southern soulful grooves to R&B to Cajun-infused blues.  We’re really excited to be debuting some hot new acts that are making waves at festivals across North America like the Marcus King Band, the National Reserve, Sonya Rae and the Sleepwalkers as well as bringing Brandon “TAZ” Neiderauer back after last year’s incredible debut. We’re just as excited to be presenting some of the region’s best for the first time at Harvest like Buck Tingley from Halifax, the Gary Sappier Blues Band from Tobique and ECMA nominees Earle and Coffin from St. John’s Newfoundland.”

Rounding out its roster of blues talent, Harvest also announced the Downtown Blues Band for the 27th straight festival, Christine Campbell, Amanda Jackson Band, The Honeyboys, Laurent Couturier & The Rusty Mikes, a reunion of early Festival stalwarts Blind Dog, and Quinn Bonnell.  Harvest will reveal its full 2017 schedule on May 11, during its annual Festival Launch, 11am (AST) at Dolan’s Pub.

These artists will join previously announced headliners Colin James, Bruce Cockburn, Steve Earle and the Dukes, Martha Wainwright, Sloan, The Revivalists, Lettuce, The Marcus King Band, and Terra Lightfoot for the 27th annual festival.