horsescover_custom95bd29494bd12ecab828302378aa305f62fb5ccfs900c85
Iconic
Credit: Robert Mapplethorpe
Punk icon, author, activist and artist Patti Smith will perform her critically-acclaimed 1975 debut album Horses in entirety as part of her top tier appearance at the 28th annual Byron Bay Bluesfest. Smith will headline a festival bill, announced this morning and taking place over the Easter long weekend in April, that also includes legendary blues guitarist Buddy Guy alongside artists like Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples, Billy Bragg and Beth Hart.

Bluesfest director Peter Noble OAM remarked the process of securing Smith for the festival has been many years in the works, saying “It must be hard to believe, but it is very true, that months, and in a few cases, years of work have gone into this artist announcement.

“It has taken over three years to get the very in demand Patti Smith confirmed, a similar time also for Billy Bragg. Patti will perform her acclaimed album Horses in its entirety.”

Other acts of note listed on the bill include The Lumineers, Laura Mvula, Turin Brakes and Andrew Bird. You can view the full lineup here.

Bluesfest 2017 will take place from Thursday April 13 to Monday April 17, 2017. Tickets are on sale now

Tile image: Patti Smith, Horses by Robert Mapplethorpe
Cover image: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images