End of an era: Bluesfest falls silent after 35 years

Next year’s Bluesfest will be the last, bringing down the curtain on the much-loved festival’s 35-year history.

The shock announcement was made on Wednesday morning by Bluesfest director Peter Noble.

Peter Noble has made the shock announcement that next year’s Bluesfest will be the last.Credit: Joseph Mayers Photography

“As much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter,” said Noble, who has helmed the event since 1994. “As I said earlier this year at Bluesfest 2024, next year’s festival [2025] will be happening, and it definitely is, but it will be our last.”

Noble admitted it had been a hard decision, adding: “Don’t forget that I’m 75 years old and I’ve been in the business a very long time. I’ve no reason to be sad. Now I’m just thinking about doing a great [final] Bluesfest.

“My greatest fear is what our live music industry is going to look like in a couple of years if we don’t get disposable income to a point where people will spend their money.”

Bluesfest has been staged in the Byron Bay area since 1990 and in that time has drawn some of the biggest names in blues and roots music from both Australia and overseas.

International stars who have appeared over the years include Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull, Paul Simon, Kendrick Lamar and Tom Jones, while local talent has included Cold Chisel, Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers, Midnight Oil and Dan Sultan.

Peter Noble has urged fans to make the most of their last chance to attend Bluesfest.Credit:

The festival was hit particularly hard by COVID. The 2020 festival was cancelled due to the pandemic, then the following year organisers were forced to pull the pin just a day before gates were due to open after a COVID-19 case was discovered in the area. A replacement event that year was also cancelled.

Next year’s festival has already been trimmed by a day to four days, with organisers blaming cost increases, high interest rates and changes in ticket-buying behaviour after the pandemic.

Jack Johnson got his first break at Bluesfest and has been a regular attender since.Credit:

The demise of Bluesfest comes after a raft of festivals around the country have closed their doors recently.

Splendour in the Grass, also based in the Byron area, shuttered earlier this year, joining Groovin the Moo and Falls Festival, among others.

Soundcheck, a survey from the government agency Music Australia in April this year, found young people were deserting music festivals in alarming numbers.

In the financial year 2018-19, 41 per cent of audiences at festivals were made up music fans aged 18-24. By 2022-23, that had tumbled to just 27 per cent.

The survey names operational costs, lack of funding, insurance and extreme weather as the main factors causing problems in the industry.

Meanwhile, Noble was at pains to stress Bluesfest 2025 would still happen and urged fans to take the chance to attend.

“To my dear Bluesfest family, I want to make it the most unforgettable experience yet,” he said. “If you’ve been thinking about it, now is your last chance to experience our beloved festival.”

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