Jay Z might not be your first guess for a headline act when it comes to Byron Bay’s Bluesfest, but an email from the festival organisers has plenty of people hoping for HOV’s return in 2018.
Director Peter Noble sent an email to subscribers this week, writing “It is always a big moment when the first headliner confirms for the upcoming Bluesfest. We had that wonderful moment occur last week, when a top line headliner confirmed for Bluesfest 2018.”
“He is a beauty and it will be an absolute pleasure to bring him to Bluesfest. That only leaves around 99 artists to go,” he continued.
Many have been taking Noble’s reference to ’99 artists’ as a nod to Jigga’s iconic hit ’99 Problems,’ and thus, the rumour has been born. In recent years, Bluesfest have booked other hip-hop heavyweights on their bill, including Kendrick Lamar and Jay’s former arch-nemesis, Nas – so it isn’t too farfetched to think that he could be on the Bluesfest radar.
The news also arrives in the midst of Jay Z announcing a new album titled 4:44, which is set to be released next week. The stars seem to be aligning for the New York legends return, which will mark his first visit to the country since supporting U2 way back in 2010. Keep your fingers crossed, and hope that Jay Z appears on that Bluesfest announcement:
