Harvest Media Center
Los Lobos, Koko Taylor, Susan Tedeschi to Headline 2009 Harvest
June 1, 2009
The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival today dropped ten not-so-subtle hints that the 2009 edition of the event is shaping up to be its strongest yet. The Festival announced the signing of ten top international and national artists including multiple Grammy winners Los Lobos and the legendary Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor as well as two-time Grammy nominee Susan Tedeschi.
The Festival, Atlantic Canada's largest celebration of jazz and blues, is slated for September 15-20. Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 18th at 8:30am.
"It's a line up of legends and emerging superstars," says Harvest music director Brent Staeben. "Whether it's straight up blues, jazz vocals, classic old-school funk, Latin rock or Louisiana Zydeco, this will be a festival that features the best of the best."
Los Lobos, based in Los Angeles, is considered the world's premiere Latino blues-influenced rock band. The 73-year old Koko Taylor is considered the greatest living female blues vocalist, while many consider Susan Tedeschi the finest female blues guitarist-singer on the planet.
Today's announcement included the signing of marquee American artists like New York's blues/folk master Eric Bibb, who mesmerized audiences at the 2008 event; legendary funk band Original P Funk from Atlanta, featuring the original members of Parliament Funkadelic, and Terrence Simien and the Zydeco Experience. Terrence Simien's signing represents the return of zydeco to the Festival.
"In New Brunswick we've got a strong emotional and cultural connection to zydeco and that spirited Louisiana sound. We think our fans will be excited at the prospect one of zydeco's premiere acts appearing here for the first time. Harvest audiences love a good party and Terrence Simien is known for delivering a great time," adds Staeben.
One of the hottest young blues rock acts in the world right now hails from the United Kingdom. Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, from the Isle of Man, are staking a claim to lead the new generation of blues rock performers and the 21-year old Knowles is viewed by many as the next great global guitar hero.
Canadian headliners at this year's event include the much-heralded jazz pianist and vocalist Michael Kaeshammer and Quebec's emerging phenom Nikki Yanofsky. The 15-year old Yanofsky, from Montreal, is being talked about as Canada's next jazz vocal superstar.
Newfoundland's top rising rock band, Hey Rosetta!, will also headline the Festival after winning three East Coast Music Awards this year, including Group of the Year and Recording of the Year.
In addition to a stellar line up that will include more than 150 performances on 20 stages over six days, organizers of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival are promising to expand on the quality of the Harvest experience this year.
"We're making investments in ticketing and admissions systems and what we call comfort infrastructure. Overall, it's going to improve the way our patrons experience some of the best artists in the world," says Festival chairperson Patti Graham.
"We know that Harvest is about two things: great music and a great time. With today's announcement, and with announcements coming in the next few weeks, we're on track to make good on our promise to present Atlantic Canada's finest international music experience," she adds.
Tickets for this year's event go on sale Saturday, July 18th and 8:30am and can be purchased at the Festival store at 81 Regent Street, by calling the Harvest toll free number at 1-888-NBBLUES or online at www.harvestjazzandblues.com with the Festival's new online partner, TicketPro.
