VAN MORRISON AND MICK HUCKNALL TO JOIN FORCES IN 

ALL STAR TRIBUTE TO BOBBY BLAND 

GRAMMY AWARD WINNING NATALIE COLE JOINS THE BILL 

PLUS STEVE CRADOCK, BIG BOY BLOATER AND HUDDLED MASSES 

TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER – FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2013 

TICKETS ON SALE AT 9AM FRIDAY 30 AUGUST 2013 

Available at www.livenation.co.uk 

London, 28 August 2013: BluesFest 2013 announces that The Ronnie Wood Band will close the event in a huge grand finale on Friday 1 November. Natalie Cole is also announced as part of a special co-headline show with the sensational Gregory Porter, while Van Morrison and Mick Hucknall partner up for an All Star Tribute to blues and soul legend Bobby Bland. Other exciting additions include Steve Craddock, Big Boy Bloater and Huddled Masses for one huge celebration of Blues and everything it has inspired. BluesFest takes place at London’s Royal Albert Hall 29 October – 1 November 2013. Tickets go on sale this Friday 30 August available at www.livenation.co.uk. 

Fresh from touring with The Rolling Stones, Ronnie Wood is announced for BluesFest 2013. Last year Ronnie Wood brought the house down with an incredible celebration of the legendary Chess Records. This year promises to go one step further, as Ronnie and his band return to perform a special tribute to one of the most influential bluesmen of all time – Jimmy Reed. Ronnie will lend his boisterous riffmanship and incisive vocals to some of his favourite Jimmy Reed tracks in an incredible grand finale to BluesFest.  

Ronnie Wood commented: “Jimmy Reed was one of the premier influences on The Rolling Stones and all the bands that love American Blues from that era until the present day. It is my honour to have the opportunity to celebrate his life and legacy with this tribute.” 

Grammy Award winning soul diva Natalie Cole will make an exciting debut appearance at BluesFest, performing in a co-headline show with Gregory Porter on Wednesday 30 October. Expect classic hits including ‘This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), ‘Inseperable’ and ‘Our Love’ plus some surprises. Van Morrison and Mick Hucknall are confirmed to team up for an all-star tribute to a man who has influenced everyone from Otis Redding, to Paul Weller, to Van himself - the one and only Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winning, Bobby Bland.  Steve Craddock, Big Boy Bloater and Huddled Masses are also confirmed across the four days. 

BluesFest will take place for the first time under one roof at the Royal Albert Hall.  Throughout the day, four rooms will feature a variation of one-off intimate sessions from Blues & Soul inspired acts including James Hunter, Marcus Bonfanti, Georgie Fame, Huey Morgan, Dr Feelgood.There will also be ‘In Conversation With…” sessions,a showcase from North American Guitars featuring some of the finest instruments around from their unique collection of handmade acoustic and electric guitars, plus exclusive BluesFest sessions from a variety of emerging new talent. The Royal Albert Hall will open its incredible vault of memorabilia showcasing rock and roll artefacts from Eric Clapton, The Stones, BB King, Muddy Waters and many more. 

In the evening, two concerts will take place during the early and late part of the night. Held in the main auditorium, the concerts are headlined by Robert Plant, Van Morrison, Bobby Womack, The Ronnie Wood Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Chris Rea and more. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 30 August and start from £30 for headlines shows, with a separate adult Daytime Stroller ticket available for £10 and free Daytime entry for children. Visit www.livenation.co.ukor www.royalalberthall.com to get yours. 

BLUESFEST LINE UP:  

TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER

DAYTIME STROLLER 1.00pm doors: RAY GELATO GIANTS, MATT SCHOFIELD BAND, BIG BOY BLOATER, SMOOVE & TURRELL, NATE JAMES 

6:15 doors: TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND & SPECIAL GUEST MAVIS STAPLES & HER BAND

10.30PM doors: BOBBY WOMACK

WEDNESAY 30 OCTOBER

DAYTIME STROLLER 1.00pm doors: JAMES HUNTER SIX, DR FEELGOOD, MARCUS BONFANTI BAND, JO HARMAN, NATALIE WILLIAMS, LIANE CARROLL

6.45 PM doors: VAN MORRISON 

10PM doors PM SHOW: NATALIE COLE | GREGORY PORTER & HIS BAND 

THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER

DAYTIME STROLLER 1.00pm doors: ROYAL SOUTHERN BROTHERHOOD, GEORGIE FAME, IAN SEIGAL, BEN POOLE, WORLD PARTY, HUDDLED MASSES

6.45 PM doors: CHRIS REA

10PM doors: ROBERT PLANT PRESENTS SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS

 FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER

DAYTIME STROLLER 1.00pm doors: HUEY MORGAN & THE NEW YORKERS, CERYS MATTHEWS, NELL BRYDEN, THE MOTIVES FEAT. MATT TAYLOR, JESS ROBERTS 

6.45 PM doors: VAN MORRISON & MICK HUCKNALL’S ALL STAR TRIBUTE TO BOBBY BLAND 

10PM doors: THE RONNIE WOOD BAND TRIBUTE TO JIMMY REED 

Now in its third year, BluesFest has seen the likes of BB King, Robert Cray, Dr John, Jamie Cullum, Booker T, Tom Jones, Erykah Badu and Southside Johnny take to the stage for some mind blowing performances. 2013 is set to be the event’s biggest year to date! 

--ends-- 

Royal Albert Hall

Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP

Box Office 020 7589 8212
www.royalalberthall.com  

For further information please contact Karen McNamara at LD Communications: 

E: Karen.mcnamara@ldcommunications.co.uk

T: 020 7734 7222 

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Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster.com, Live Nation Concerts, Artist Nation Management and Live Nation Media/Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com/investors.  

Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. Its breathtaking auditorium hosts over 370 shows a year by the world’s greatest artists. The magical atmosphere combined with inspired artists creates legendary events.Opened in 1871 as part of Prince Albert’s vision for a centre for the Arts and Sciences, the Hall is a registered charity which operates without public funding, remaining true to his founding ambitions within a modern context. Extending the brand with 200 events outside the auditorium, the Hall has broadened its appeal to younger, diverse audiences whilst still engaging its existing customers.The Hall also offers the Elgar Room, a state-of-the-art small-scale performance space which hosts performances of classical music, jazz and world music, comedy, dance and hush, a series of gigs for just signed bands throughout the year. In the main auditorium, it offers the Albert Sessions, an initiative that encourages up and coming acts to play at the Hall by offering reduced rental fees to promoters and lower ticket prices to encourage younger audiences to visit the Hall. It also works extensively with schools, young people, disadvantaged groups and partners such as Music For Youth through its Education programme, reaching over 100,000 participants each year as part of its extensive public benefit remit. It has also been appointed by the Arts Council as one of the country’s regional music education hubs. For more information, please visit www.royalalberthall.com. Registered charity number: 254543.