Bluesfest an ‘economic disappointment’
Festival organisers say this year’s Bluesfest crowd will be ‘smaller than usual’ after hitting some bung notes.
Bluesfest, one of Australia’s biggest multi-day music festivals, has hit some bung notes this year.
Just one day before the festival kicked off, headlining act Elvis Costello & The Imposters were forced to cancel their performance due to a band member contracting Covid-19.
The festival, which made a triumphant return last year after a three-year pandemic lay-off, faced more challenges when it courted controversy for inviting the Sydney indie-rock band Sticky Fingers to the line-up. The band has been accused of a litany of offensive behaviour including allegations of sexism, racism, misogyny and transphobia.
The announcement of Sticky Fingers’ inclusion in the festival was met with criticism from several artists, including Melbourne psych-rock band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and two-time Australian Music Prize winner Sampa the Great, who withdrew from the festival in February, citing the band’s behaviour.
Festival director Peter Noble staunchly defended the band, but eventually, Sticky Fingers withdrew from the line-up.
Bluesfest organisers issued a statement, apologising for the misguided belief that “forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built”.
The festival faced additional allegations when New Orleans brass band the Soul Rebels, hip hop stars Gza and Talib, and Queen of Bounce and Beyonce collaborator Big Freedia claimed that their performances were cancelled without their consent. The Soul Rebels’ management went as far as to claim that the tour was cancelled “in bad faith and in breach of contract”.
Bluesfest director Peter Noble acknowledged that ticket sales for the festival have been sluggish. When asked about the future of the festival, Mr Noble expressed concern for the industry in general, stating that “Bluesfest will get through. We can deliver the event this year – but it’s going forward that I fear.”
Bluesfest remained resolute in its commitment to providing a “fantastic” music experience.
The festival boasts a stacked line-up, featuring Grammy-winning artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Beck, the Doobie Brothers, and Mavis Staples, as well as international heavyweights Counting Crows, Paolo Nutini, and Joe Bonamassa, and the four-time ARIA-winning rock band Gang of Youths.
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