Australia – Anticipation for the 2008 East and West Coast Blues n’ Roots Festivals has hit a another high note with the announcement that the sole remaining and original Wailer, the legendary Bunny Wailer and The Solomonic Reggaestra is to play both Festivals and a string of Bluesfest side shows.
Born Neville O’Reily Livingston on 10 April, 1947, Bunny shared most of his childhood leisure time with the late Bob Marley and Peter Tosh; a relationship which would later turn into one of the world’s first renown reggae acts, The Wailers. After many years of touring, recording and taking reggae music from Jamaica to the western world, Bob, Peter & Bunny would eventually disband with each starting their own studio.
It wasn’t until 1973 that Bunny released his debut solo single ‘Searching for Love’ under his own label, Solomonic Productions, and 1976 saw the release of his first studio album Blackheart Man with Island Records, a must-have album for all reggae lovers. In the years 1990, 1994 and 1996 Bunny picked up Grammy Awards for Best Reggae Album, finally gaining recognition for his dedication to years of work within the reggae industry.History will be made in 2008 when Grammy Award winner Bunny Wailer performs for the first time in Australia at The East and West Coast Blues n Roots Festival’s and three one off side shows with the infamous Bedouin Soundclash in Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns.
Tuesday 18 March – Palace Theatre, Melbourne
Tickets through Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au
Wednesday 19 March – Big Top Luna ‘Rasta’ Park, Sydney
Tickets through Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au / Big Top Box Office 02 9033 7600 or www.bigtopsydney.com
Thursday 20 March – Brothers, Cairns
Tickets through Brothers Cairns 07 4053 1053
or tickets@brotherscairns.com.au
More information at: www.bluesfest.com.au
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
