Australia’s Byron Bay Bluesfest To End In 2025 After 36 Years

In a surprise move, Bluesfest director Peter Noble announced August 14 that its 36th installment, April 17 to 20, will be its last.

Noble did not offer an explanation, but promised that the lineup, announced next week, would be among the best and be “a celebration of everything that Bluesfest has stood for over the past 35 plus years – music, community, and unforgettable experiences.”

Past bills saw attendance exceed 100,000 and box-officed by Pollstar as among the Top 10 in the world some years. This year, cost of living saw attendance down to below 70,000, its financial sustainability mark.

Artists included BB King, Buddy Guy, Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, Santana, Mavis Staples, Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Plant, Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, Crowded House, Kasey Chambers, Dave Matthews Band, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, John Mayer, Mary J Blige, and Kendrick Lamar.

In 2023 and ’24, Bluesfest expanded to include branded, indoor “sideshows” in Sydney and Melbourne featuring artists including Snarky Puppy, Meshell Ndegeocello, and The Blind Boys Of Alabama

Certainly the COVID pandemic took a toll on one of Australia’s premier events, as did the global economic upheaval that has followed, which forced the festival to cancel 2020 and 2021. And massive flooding in New South Wales threatened it again in 2022.

See also: Peter Noble On Byron Bay Bluesfest Exceeding Expectations

However, Bluesfest returned April 14-18, 2022, with one of its strongest turnouts ever.

Noble budgeted for an attendance of 85,000. A ticket spike in the last 10 days, however, saw the figure rise to 101,024, among its best turnouts ever.

“That last minute surge of over 16,000 patrons was very important, for our future and our confidence,” Noble told Pollstar at the time. “Before that, we were worrying, ‘People have bought tickets but will they show up at the door?’”

There was still a possibility of a last-minute fourth cancellation by authorities. Two weeks earlier, heavy rain continued around the region, compounding the worst flooding in its history, which led to entire towns being submerged and evacuations being ordered.