Bluesfest Under Fire For Controversial New Daily Parking Fee

Byron Bay Bluesfest is facing criticism over the introduction of a daily parking fee for its upcoming 2019 event, which some ticket-holders have described as “a rip-off”.

Fairfax Media reports that Bluesfest added a new section to its website on Wednesday, 12th December (after tickets had been on sale for months), announcing that onsite parking would cost $50 a day (or $25 a day if booked online), adding up to $250 to the festival price. Parking had previously been free for ticket-holders.

Last week, organisers reportedly said the decision to introduce a parking fee will help reduce the site’s carbon footprint, but that didn’t sit well with some ticket-holders, many of whom say they will now park nearby and walk to avoid paying the parking fee.

“Shame, shame, shame on you Bluesfest! The parking charge is a total dog act,” said Facebook user Hayley Brimelow‎. “Why was this not mentioned when ‘Early Bird’ tickets were sold??? Sad times.”

“$50 Parking – are you kidding? That’s not being green, it’s being a rip-off,” said Gavin Goeldner‎.

While the ‘Paid Parking’ topic appears to have disappeared from the official Bluesfest online forum, some ticket-holders have continued to share their frustrations on the site.

“The cost of the ticket should cover all aspects of attending the festival,” one wrote.

Others were a bit more open to the idea.

“It was free this year but it won’t be next year. I guess it was going to happen eventually,” one said.

“I’m happy to pay $50 a day parking if it means they can afford to bring [Kan]Ye [West] over to play the fest,” said another.

Bluesfest organisers declined to comment when contacted by Music Feeds.

Bluesfest made its third major lineup announcement in November, and will return to Byron Bay’s Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm in April with performances from the likes of Iggy Pop, Norah Jones, Paul Kelly, Hozier, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals and Ray LaMontagne.

View the full lineup down below, and all of the Bluesfest sideshows right here.

Bluesfest 2019 Third Lineup Announcement

Iggy Pop

Norah Jones

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Imelda May

Melbourne Ska Orchestra

Archie Roach

Pierce Brothers

Backsliders

Fantastic Negrito

The Marcus King Band

Thando

Little Georgia

Benny Walker

Dallas Woods

Joining…

Bluesfest 2019 Second Lineup Announcement

Paul Kelly

Hozier

David Gray

Julia Stone

Gary Clark Jr.

Mavis Staples (exclusive)

Flogging Molly

Meshell Ndegeocello

Ruthie Foster (exclusive)

Shakey Graves

Anderson East (exclusive)

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Samantha Fish (exclusive)

The War And Treaty (exclusive)

Mojo Juju

Caiti Baker

Deva Mahal (exclusive)

Melody Angel

Hussy Hicks

Joining…

Bluesfest 2019 First Lineup Announcement

Jack Johnson (Exclusive)

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals (Exclusive)

Ray LaMontagne

George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic (Exclusive)

Snarky Puppy

Kasey Chambers

St Paul & The Broken Bones (Exclusive)

Nahko And Medicine For The People

Tommy Emmanuel

Colin Hay

Arlo Guthrie

Keb’ Mo’

Tex Perkins

Allen Stone

Richard Clapton

Russell Morris

Kurt Vile & The Violators

Vintage Trouble

The Black Sorrows

The California Honeydrops

Trevor Hall

I’m With Her

Larkin Poe

Irish Mythen

Elephant Sessions

Greensky Bluegrass

Rockwiz Live

Bluesfest 2019

Thursday, 18th April — Monday, 22nd April

Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay

Tickets: Official Website

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