Media Release 27 June 2017 Wangaratta to welcome R&B icon Performer announcement – Jon Cleary to perform at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues 2017 New Orleans R&B icon, Jon Cleary, will light up this year‟s Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues. Cleary, the man acclaimed by international superstar Bonnie Raitt as “the ninth wonder of the world”, will headline the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre on Friday 3 November and take centre stage at the Merriwa Park Blues marquee on Saturday 4 November as part of the 2017 Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues. Cleary is the first big name act to be released as the much-acclaimed festival rolls into its 28th year. English-born Cleary recorded his first album of eight tracks in 1989. His profile continued to soar as he scored recording sessions and international touring work in the bands of Taj Mahal, John Scofield, Dr John and most notably, Bonnie Raitt. Cleary is also an acclaimed songwriter and has written songs with both Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal. Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues organisers are expecting a sell-out at both of Cleary‟s performances, with Cleary‟s Saturday show to be performed underneath a massive Hi-Top Marquee in beautiful Merriwa Park, a sure festival highlight. Pre-sale tickets with early-bird discounts for the three-day Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues are now on sale at www.wangarattajazz.com and at the festival box office at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre. The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues will be held over the „unofficial‟ Melbourne Cup Day long weekend from 3-5 November. The 2017 line-up and program will be announced in early July. ENDS MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Royce Communications – Nicolette Baxter e:[email protected] m: 0438 143 342 ABOUT THE WANGARATTA FESTIVAL OF JAZZ & BLUES Wangaratta Jazz & Blues was originally conceived by a group of locals in 1989 as a way to attract visitors and put Wangaratta „on the map‟. The first Festival was held in 1990. Now in its 28th year, the Festival has grown to become an internationally renowned event, attracting around 20,000 visitors each year and more than 300 Jazz and Blues artists from the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia. Wangaratta is renowned for locally grown produce and wines from the region‟s family-owned vineyards. Other activities in the area include the wineries along Prosecco Road in the King Valley, bike rides from Beechworth to Wangaratta and the Milawa Gourmet region 1 .