Revealed: Millions lost in 2021 Bluesfest Easter cancellation

The last-minute cancellation of the 2021 Bluesfest Festival has now been totalled with the heartbreaking lost costing our region millions.

The last-minute cancellation of the 2021 Bluesfest Festival cost organisers an estimated $225.4 million, according to new analysis.

In a devastating Economic Impact Report by Reuben Lawrence Consulting, the Covid-19 related cancellation of the Easter festival, on March 31, one day before it was due to go ahead cost the iconic event $181.2 million plus the loss of 897 jobs costing a hefty $44.2 million.

Despite this, the festival still managed to bring an economic output of $33.8 million to the region and create $7.4 million in wages.

It was a decision Bluesfest Director Peter Noble OAM believes never should have happened.

“We were heartbroken when we first got cancelled in 2020, but the last-minute cancellation in 2021 was catastrophic,” he said.

“We lost so much when Bluesfest was cancelled less than 24 hours out by NSW Public Health Order.

“Our entire industry was traumatised, 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 New South Wales 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.

“There is simply nothing that equals the experience of live music.

“Live music will return and we will be at the forefront.”

The report also listed the direct and total economic impacts associated with the Northern Rivers with a loss of $14.2 million felt in Byron Shire, $17.9 million on the Northern Rivers, $27.4 million in New South Wales and $33.8 million in Australia.

The festival still brought an estimated $2.1 million in wages to Byron Sire and $3.2 million in wages to the Northern Rivers and approximately 33.4 full-time employment positions and 53.6 in Byron and the Northern Rivers respectively.

In comparison, 2019 Bluesfest generated 858 full time equivalent jobs and generated $162.3 million in the Northern Rivers in the Northern Rivers, the last day the event was run fully.

Organisers have still not commented on the upcoming rescheduled October Bluesfest Festival amid Covid-19 concerns.