ARIA Award-winning blues and roots artist John Butler will perform at Newcastle's Rising Tide People's Blockade on November 23 as organisers plan to scale up their fight against the fossil fuel industry.
Rising Tide is planning seven days of protest in Newcastle Harbour, followed by three days at Parliament House in Canberra from November 19 to 29, and is aiming to attract 10,000 people across the event.
A part of the 10-day protest will be the "Protestival" music festival in Newcastle from November 22 and 24. Butler is donating his performance free of charge and will be joined by other Australian acts Tijuana Cartel, Crooked Fiddle Band and Midnight Tea Party as they perform from a stage on Horseshoe Beach.
Butler, 49, has a long history of being involved in political activism and environmental causes. He's actively supported causes such as the Wilderness Society and Save Ningaloo Reef and has performed concerts as part of campaigns to protect the Kimberleys in Western Australia and Bentley in the northern rivers of NSW from gas and mining exploration.
"I'm very happy to be a part of this blockade," Butler said on social media.
'I've been lucky to have been at a few blockades over the years and I've found that without a few passionate people willing to really stand against the madness, our society and culture doesn't evolve to consider all life and justice for all.
"Justice for our future generations. Justice for country and culture. Justice to get a more true and just political system that represents people and community not corporate profit first.
"I am really honoured to be asked to be a part of this moment."
Butler has recorded four ARIA No.1 albums and scored hits with his John Butler Trio tracks Zebra, Better Than, Betterman and Used To Get High.
Newcastle-based Rising Tide coordinator, Naomi Hodgson, said it's hoped Butler's involvement and the family-friendly Protestival will expand interest in the movement.
"He's a well-known and a well-loved musician and he's environmental values and commitment are also well known, so we're really happy that he's made this commitment and do hope it encourages more people to attend and get involved," she said.
More music acts are expected to be announced before November.
Last year an estimated 1500 protesters took to Newcastle Harbour in kayaks and rafts to prevent ships from entering the world's largest coal port from more than 30 hours.
Protesters claimed they prevented eight ships carrying half a million tonnes of coal from leaving Newcastle Harbour. Police charged 109 people for staying in Newcastle Harbour beyond Rising Tide's climate protest permit deadline.
Rising Tide is demanding an immediate cancellation of all new fossil fuel projects, a 75 per cent tax on export profits from coal and gas companies to "fund community and industrial transition, and pay for climate loss and damage" and an end to all coal exports from Newcastle Harbour by 2030.
