The annual Bluesfest has been handed to liquidators, with this Easter’s music festival cancelled just three weeks before the 4-day event was set to happen in Byron Bay.
More than 100,000 people went to the 2025 festival, which featured Crowded House, Vance Joy and the Hilltop Hoods. It was meant to be its swansong after 35 years, but cofounder and festival director Peter Noble decided to hold an encore performance in 2026. It’s not to be
A statement on the Bluesfest website blamed the cancellation on rising production, logistics, insurance and touring costs. Poor tickets sale have reportedly been an issue too.
“It is not possible to deliver the festival to the standard audiences, artists and partners expect,” the statement said.
“We are proud of what we have achieved – the music, our artists, the busking competition, our staff, our community, and everyone who has been part of the Bluesfest journey.”
An as-yet unnamed liquidator has been appointed to deal with vendor and partner obligations.
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Bluesfest said ticket holders, including parking pass customers and campers, will be contacted directly by the liquidator with further information regarding the process for submitting claims and any potential refund.
Split Enz, Crowded House’s big brother, was meant to be the headline act this year.
In recent years, Covid played havoc with the veteran event, which has featured Bob Dylan, James Brown, Grace Jones, Sinead O’Connor, Buddy Guy, R.E.M., Ben Harper, Robert Plant, and Michael Franti, with the NSW government intervening during the pandemic to cancel the 2020 and 2021 festivals.
