Our 2012 headliner is the American blues artist/actor who has sold more records and appeared in more successful movies than any other blues performer this century: Mr. Chris Thomas King. King has no less than three Grammy awards to his name and his role in the Coen brothers' film ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ in 2001 gained him an international mainstream audience. Telling the story of down-home blues singers in Mississippi, the movie starred George Clooney, and King played the role of Tommy Johnson, a true-to-life blues singer from the 1930s. Of the songs on the movie's Grammy-winning soundtrack, King's ‘Hard Time Killing Floor Blues’ was the only one recorded live during filming. The soundtrack reached number one on the billboard charts and has sold over ten million copies. King closes the Festival Saturday night.

Another worthy newcomer is Sweden’s number one guitar slinger - legendary Clas Yngstrom & Sky High whose career span almost 35 years of rocking the blues. They have tirelessly toured the world and performed with and befriended ZZ Top, BB King, Chuck Berry, Edgar & Johnny Winter, Albert Collins and the list goes on. Need we say more? Sky High will play Friday 24th.

From Ireland comes Grainne Duffy, a young, chic girl rocker whose credentials include the world’s number one festival: Glastonbury. Say no more.

Other newcomers are Australian acoustic blues artist Jack Derwin, Canadian duo Moscowfish and TOKEN – a local Santana tribute band whose guitarist won the 2011 nationwide Santana tribute contest.

Returning by popular demand are Australia’s John Meyer and his Blues Express as well as the amazing seven member band AkashA from Malaysia. Stuart Hill returns this time with his electric band while his 2011 partner Jim Paxton appears acoustic in the hotel lobbies in the afternoons. Local icon Colin Hill returns assisted this time by Jimmy Fame and PJae Stanley. Rockin’ Patrick and his Angels return with USA special guest Mojo Perry .

Performance schedule
Thursday February 23
15:00	Acoustic performances in the lobbies of The Laguna Beach Resort, The Dusit, The Angsana and The Best Western Allamanda hotels
22:00	Festival Warm-up show at Rock City, Patong
Friday February 24
15:00	Acoustic performances in the lobbies of The Laguna Beach Resort, The Dusit, The Angsana and The Best Western Allamanda hotels
17:00	Laguna - Main Gates Open – games, food & drink
18:00	Official Opening - Welcom
18:15	Jack Derwin (Australia)
19:00	Moscowfish (Canada)
19:45	Rockin' Angels w/ Mojo Perry (Thailand/USA)
20:30	TOKEN –A Tribute to Santana (Thailand)
21:30	Sky High (Sweden)
23:00	AkashA (Malaysia)
Saturday February 25
15:00	Acoustic performances in the lobbies of The Laguna Beach Resort, The Dusit, The Angsana and The Best Western Allamanda hotels
17:00	Laguna - Main Gates Open – games, food & drink
18:00	Welcome
18:15	Stuart Bush Band (Australia/Thailand)
19:15	Colin Hill Band w/ Jimmy Fame & PJae Stanley (Thailand)
20:15	Grainny Duffy Band (Ireland)
21:15	John Meyer's Blues Express (Australia)
22:45	Chris Thomas King (USA)
Sunday February 26
21:00	Festival Wrap-up party @ BLISS Beach Club, Bangtao Beach

The Festival is a charity event with funds donated to the Rotary Club of Patong Beach and its children’s education fund.

Two-day advance tickets are available at reduced price from a number of local outlets. Please see website www.phuketbluesfestival.com for details or contact event founder/organizer Andy Andersen, 086 682 2639; email: phuketmusic@yahoo.com for the latest news.

See you at Laguna Phuket 24-25 February!