Exchanging Words In Australia

A war of words broke out in the hippie haven of Byron Bay between East Coast Blues & Roots Festival co-founder Peter Noble and promoters of the Falls Festival in Victoria and Tasmania.

Falls promoters helped resurrect the Byron Arts & Music (BAM) festival after 12 years.

Noble was angered by reports that acts were told to play BAM or they wouldn’t be booked for the two Falls events. He accused Falls of “misrepresenting” itself to Byron Bay authorities by saying BAM is a cultural event when it was actually another rock festival.

Falls’ Simon Daly denied both charges, saying BAM was a “boutique festival” that would “make a much needed financial, social and cultural contribution to the Byron Bay community.”