Plug pulled on another big music festival
A long-running Australian music festival is preparing to pack up and leave the stage, saying next year’s event will be the last.
Organisers of the Bluesfestival held at Byron Bay since 1990 said that it “pained them” to announce that the event on April 17-20, 2025 will be the last.
It follows the shock cancellation of the Splendour in the Grass festival, which was due to be held in July, while other events such as the Falls Festival and Groovin the Moo have also been scrapped.
Bluesfest director Peter Noble declared at the March 2024 edition that the 2025 event would go ahead despite the festival scene’s murky future, but announced on Wednesday its time was up.
“To my dear Bluesfest family, and after more than 50 years in the music business, Bluesfest has been a labour of love, a celebration of music, community, and the resilient spirit of our fans,” he said.
“But after the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter.”
Soaring costs of live music festivals have made running the events increasingly difficult, with high travel costs, climbing overheads like insurance, extreme weather and the cost of living crisis all factoring into their relative weakness.
Speaking after Splendour’s cancellation in March, NSW Music Minister John Graham admitted the events were not in a good way.
“The festival industry is under extreme pressure and I am deeply worried about the health of the festival scene here in NSW,” he said.
Bluesfest has not yet announced its 2025 line-up.
The 2024 edition featured Jimmy Barnes’ first performance since open-heart surgery last December.
Stay informed, daily
Noble urged fans to make the most of the event while they could and attend April’s festival.
“I want to make it the most unforgettable experience yet … if you’ve been thinking about it, now is your last chance to experience our beloved festival,” he said.
Tickets for the 2025 event are on sale.
– with AAP
