Report: Bluesfest Cancellation Cost Economy A$181.2M

Byron Bay Bluesfest
Courtesy Byron Bay Bluesfest – Byron Bay Bluesfest
Byron Bay Blues Fest, one of Australia’s premier live events, last year for its 30th anniversary was completely plastic-free, as noted first-hand by performer Ben Harper.

The last-minute cancellation of major Australian festival Bluesfest Byron Bay by New South Wales Public Health during the Easter 2021 long weekend cost the Australian economy A$181.2 million ($133.9 million), according to an independent review.

This included a loss of A$97.7 million ($72.2 million) for the Northern Rivers region and A$171 million ($126. 4 million) for the state of NSW.
The 2021 Economic Impact Report, collated by Reuben Lawrence Consulting, also put the loss of full time equivalent (FTE) jobs at 555.6 in the Northern Rivers, 863.3 in NSW and 897 throughout Australia.
The festival still created economic output of A$33.8 million ($24.9 million) and wages valued at A$7.4 million ($5.4 million).
Bluesfest director Peter Noble stated: “You may cancel us – but you cannot stop us from bringing millions of dollars into New South Wales and creating scores of jobs!”
The Easter 2021 cancellation came after the 2020 edition was axed a week out after the NSW government introduced bans on all major gatherings after the COVID-19 outbreak.  
Bluesfest traditionally draws 100,000 over five days.
In comparison, in 2019 Bluesfest generated A$162.3 million ($120  million) in the Northern Rivers, A$272.7 million ($201.6 million) in NSW and A$305.9 million ($226.2 million) in Australia; and generated 858 full-time equivalent jobs in the Northern Rivers, 1,436.1 in NSW and 1,556.8 in Australia. 
The 2021 cancellation coming 24 hours before gates opened – punters had already started to arrive from around the country, 500 campers had set up and the final fairy lights were literally being installed when the order came through – was regarded by the larger live sector as an over-reaction by health authorities.
It came after an individual who tested positive to COVID-19 arrived in the Byron region.
As Noble explained, the individual stayed 35 minutes drive time away from the event and had no ticket to the festival.
Bluesfest 2021 was seen by the live sector as marking the return of major music events.  

Peter Noble
null – Peter Noble
Bluesfest
The irritation over its cancellation was that after the 2020 no-show, Bluesfest had worked closely with NSW Health and relevant authorities and achieved an approved 141-page COVID-19 Safety Plan which included reduced capacities and seated-only performances.
Said Noble, “Our entire industry was traumatized, yet we picked up the pieces, put ourselves back together, paid our bills, including significant payments to the cancelled artists and still delivered major numbers to the economy of NSW in economic output and job creation.
 “In the end we move on because we believe our industry, the live music industry, will come back stronger than ever.”
Bluesfest rescheduled to Oct. 1-4 with a bill including Midnight Oil, Jimmy Barnes, The Cat Empire, Kasey Chambers, Tash Sultana and The Church.
NSW is currently in lockdown due to the Delta strain until at least September.