Australia’s Big Sky Fest Axed

In the Dec. 17 announcement, Chugg Entertainment and Rob Potts Entertainment Edge cited problems securing multiple headline artists. Blue Sky was the rebranded name of Delinquin Blues & Roots, which the two promoters staged in the town of Delinquin, New South Wales, the past two years.

They used drawcards including John Mayer, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, The Doobie Brothers, Steve Earle and The Dukes, Boz Scaggs, and Michael Franti and Spearhead.

This year’s event drew 6,000.

Big Sky had in October already announced Zac Brown Band, Michael Franti & Spearhead, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Mavis Staples, Benny Walker, Dallas Frasca and Dale Winters.

“Following several of the headline artists that were due to be touring next April cancelling their plans, we have made the decision not to proceed with the festival in 2015,” Sydney-based Michael Chugg said. “We’d love to put the show on with the great artists we have already secured, but it’s just not financially viable without the super line-up that we had always planned for.

“The Big Sky Blues & Roots Festival is a key event in our calendar and the last thing we want to do is push ahead with anything less than an amazing line-up.”

Chugg emphasized that Big Sky would return in 2016, “bigger, better and louder.” Chugg and Potts tapped the name Big Sky to emphasise the striking location and views of the area.

The NSW Government had thrown its support behind the festival through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.