Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers to play BluesFest 2017

Steely Dan
Steely Dan (Image credit: Danny Clinch)

Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers have been confirmed for this year’s BluesFest.

The event will be held at London’s O2 on October 27-29 and will mark the first time since 2009 that Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s Steely Dan have played live in the UK.

They’ll close the festival on Sunday, October 29, where they’ll be joined by special guests The Doobie Brothers.

BluesFest director Leo Green says: “It’s a real coup for BluesFest to be presenting Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers at this year’s festival – they rarely perform in the UK and are two bands who have influenced so many artists from across the musical spectrum.

“This will be Steely Dan’s first UK show since 2009 and, on an incredible double bill that also includes The Doobie Brothers, we’re hoping that fans of quality music will be as excited about this first announcement as we are.”

Launched in 2011, BluesFest has featured a wide array of artists, including B.B. King, Van Morrison, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Bad Company, Jeff Beck, Robert Cray, Tedeschi Trucks, Mavis Staples and Ronnie Wood.

Tickets go on general sale on May 12 at 10am, while the O2 pre-sale begins on May 10 at 10am. The Live Nation pre-sale begins at 10am on May 11.

Further artists for BluesFest 2017 will be revealed in due course.

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Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.