Bluesfest founder Peter Noble on shock Splendour in the Grass cancellation

Aussie music industry titan and godfather of Bluesfest Peter Noble has opened up on the shock cancellation of Splendour in the Grass – saying it’s “obvious why festivals are hitting the wall”.

Aussie music industry titan and godfather of Bluesfest Peter Noble has opened up on the shock cancellation of Splendour in the Grass – saying it’s “obvious why festivals are hitting the wall”.

Mr Noble, who spoke with NewsLocal just hours into the first day of this year’s Bluesfest in Byron Bay, joked he was the “last man standing” after mammoth music festival Splendour in the Grass was cancelled on Wednesday.

Splendour organisers cited “unexpected events” as the reason for canning the 2024 festival, saying they were “heartbroken” over the decision and “hope to be back next year”.

Mr Noble said the news of Splendour’s cancellation was “unfortunate” and “I do sincerely hope they come back next year.”

Byron Bay Bluesfest founder Peter Noble. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

“The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) have done their job … but they’ve done it on us,” Mr Noble said.

He said rising costs of living had put a strain on Australian families and that “we need to let our government know enough is enough.

“When the RBA is inadvertently putting whole industries in the firing line, there’s a problem. When will Australian families again feel safe and going out and spending rather than having to squirrel away all their money for a rainy day?

“I also need to have a go at the Labor Government here. While they put jobs first and care about social justice, the state of the Australian music industry should really be a wake-up call to them. They are a good government but they could be great.”

Mr Noble said festivals were like restaurants in that “people need the free cash to go out and enjoy them”.

Bluesfest, Australia's largest International Festival of Blues and Roots Music.

“If festival organisers do not see x amount in sales – they pull the pin,” he said.

“And sadly Splendour and other festivals like Groovin the Moo and Falls (Festival) have been the canaries in the coalmine.”

Mr Noble said Bluesfest employed upwards of 2100 people and “whole regional communities rely on festivals for their economy”.

When pressed on how Bluesfest was performing this year in terms of sales, Mr Noble told NewsLocal that he did not have exact figures.

“Look, there were moments earlier on this year when I wasn’t feeling good about it, but the late sales are there. Every day there has been a surge in sales,” he said.

“Last year we were 30 per cent down (in sales), which is not a profitable number. So this year is better than last year.”

He said Bluesfest had arguably suffered the most out of any festival, having been cancelled in a shocking 11th hour move by the NSW Government in 2021 after just one person in nearby Lennox had tested positive to Covid-19 – and was not even a ticketholder.

Following that, the event saw major flooding in 2022 and 2023.

Bluesfest 2024 is held at the Byron Events Farm at Tyagarah every Easter. This year’s event runs from Thursday, March 28 to Monday, April 1 with major acts including Tom Jones, Jack Johnson and Jimmy Barnes headlining the event.

Originally published as Bluesfest founder Peter Noble on shock Splendour in the Grass cancellation