Bluesfest’s Noble Threatens Legal Action

Bluesfest co-founder Peter Noble is threatening Australia’s Byron Shire Council with legal action over its plans to limit the number of major music events in the region each year.

Only three events drawing more than 6,000 patrons will be allowed this year.

The region hosts Bluesfest, which draws 90,000, and Splendour In The Grass, which this year moved back to the area and draws about 20,000.

Both festivals have permanent sites, on which to host smaller cultural events.

Noble, who invested up to A$9 million on his site at Tyagarah Tree Farm, was enraged to learn that promoter Michael Chugg abandoned plans to stage a major show with Sir Elton John at the site and is instead looking at regional Queensland.

More than 10,000 signatures have appeared on Bluesfest’s petition condemning the move, which is set to be voted on by Council May 24.