Big Sky Blues & Roots Festival Reveals First-Round 2015 Line-Up

The idyllically located Chugg Entertainment and Rob Potts Entertainment-backed Big Sky Blues & Roots Festival has unveiled its first list of acts filling out the line-up for 2015's event in Deniliquin, southern NSW, with the renowned Zac Brown Band, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic leading the charge.

The Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band should be no strangers to fans of rollicking country folk — and not just because they smashed it at last year's Big Sky event, either. With three Platinum-selling albums (Uncaged, You Get What You Give and The Foundation) under their belt, as well as an impressive eleven #1 singles to their name (and more than fifty award nominations from a ream of respected institutions), it's little wonder they've made fans pretty much everywhere they rock up, including Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, who has not been shy about heaping praise on the band for their "unbelievable" performances. You'll have to see them in action to find out for yourself.

The eternally sunny Michael Franti & Spearhead, too, marks a drawcard act returning to the Big Sky fold after last year's successful sophomore event. As would be well known to anyone who's seen his band perform, the near-two-metre-tall barefoot troubadour has a heart and voice as big as his vertical reach, with a live set renowned for its unfailingly evocative nature and irresistably rhythmic vibe. It's been four years since the release of The Sound Of Sunshine, which came out following an extended stay in hospital, and Franti has been making the most of the time ever since, releasing follow-up and eighth studio album with Spearhead, All People, last year.

Backing up Franti and the Zac Brown band is an esteemed cabal of acts and artists, including legendary funksmith George Clinton and his hybrid supergroup Parliament-Funkadelic, veteran songstress Mavis Staples (now entering her seventh decade of performing), regional Victoria's own Benny Walker, Melburnian riff-rockers Dallas Frasca, stalwart bluesman Dale Winters and law graduate-turned-troubadour Harry Hookey.

This year's Big Sky Blues & Roots Festival (formerly Deni Blues & Roots Festival) takes place over the 2015 Easter long weekend, from Saturday, April 4, to Sunday, April 5, featuring two stages and on-site camping across the two days. The festival's location in southern NSW puts it within easy driving distance of several capitals (three hours from Melbourne, four from Canberra, less than five from Adelaide) and has previously played host to such international juggernauts as Santana, John Mayer, Elvis Costello, The Doobie Brothers, Jason Mraz and many more.

Early-bird tickets go on sale tomorrow, October 14, at 9am, and will stay available until 11.59pm next Thursday, October 23. The campgrounds will open at midday on Good Friday, April 3, with a special show from Harry Hookey kicking off festivities at the XXXX Bar that evening.

Keep your eyes peeled for further line-up announcements in the very near future.