Bluesfest director and promoter Peter Noble has broken news to the Australian music community that the festival will officially end after 35 years following its final edition in April 2025. Noble had confirmed following the 2024 edition of the festival that a return next year was imminent – however, only today (August 14th) comes the confirmation that the 2025 Bluesfest will also be the last.
“Bluesfest has been a labour of love, a celebration of music, community, and the resilient spirit of our fans,” said Noble in a press statement addressing the festival’s imminent conclusion. “As much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter. To my dear Bluesfest family: I want to make it the most unforgettable experience yet. If you’ve been thinking about it, now is your last chance to experience our beloved festival.”
The statement also notes that the first line-up announcement for Bluesfest 2025 will take place at some point next week, and the dates of Thursday, April 17th through to Sunday, April 20th were confirmed for the festival’s final run.
Bluesfest’s Peter Noble: “Now Is Your Last Chance”
Bluesfest has proven to be one of the few Australian festivals to run successfully in 2024, alongside the likes of WOMADelaide and Knotfest. By and large, however, 2024 has proven disastrous for Australian music festivals. Groovin’ The Moo, Falls Festival, Dark Mofo, Tent Pole, Spilt Milk, Wanderer Festival, Harvest Rock and Now & Again are just some of the festivals to either cancel outright or take a year off in advance.
The 2023 iteration of the Byron Bay-based festival was plagued with issues. Alongside low ticket sales and the loss of a headlining act in Elvis Costello just days before it began, the festival also drew criticism for its booking of Sticky Fingers – a band with longstanding allegations of abuse, racism and transphobia against them. Both Sampa The Great and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard withdrew from the festival in protest, before the band was ultimately removed outright.
Bluesfest originally began at Byron Bay’s Arts Factory in April 1990, headlined by American blues musician Charlie Musselwhite and Canned Heat. Frequently booked acts across the festival’s decades-long run included Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, John Butler (with and without his Trio), the Blind Boys of Alabama, Michael Franti, Steve Earle, Kasey Chambers and Buddy Guy.
Further Reading
Bluesfest Is The World’s Eighth Highest Grossing Music Festival
Bluesfest Is The Only Australian Event Up For International ‘Music Festival Of The Decade’ Award
