One of Australia’s longest-running music festivals has announced it is time to draw the curtain after 35 years.
Organisers of Bluesfest said on Wednesday the Byron Bay event, which has been held since 1990, would celebrate its final show in 2025.
Festival director Peter Noble said it “pained” him to make the decision, but it was “time to close this chapter”.
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“Bluesfest has been a labour of love, a celebration of music, community, and the resilient spirit of our fans,” he said.
“To my dear Bluesfest family, 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.”
The Easter weekend celebration has brought big names such as Bob Dylan, Hozier, John Mayer, John Legend and Kendrick Lamar to the stage over the years, as it grew from just 6,000 punters in its first year to more than 100,000.
This year’s festival featured talent such as Jack Johnson and Tom Jones, with Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes also making his return to the stage following open-heart surgery.
For its final event, Bluesfest organisers promised a stacked lineup of “many of our greatest artists, plus a bunch of first timers”.
The cancellation is the latest loss for Australia’s hard hit live music industry, after major events including Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival and Spilt Milk all pulled the pin for 2024.
Adelaide’s Harvest Rock music festival was cancelled just last week ahead of its October event over concerns about the organiser’s financial position.
Bluesfest has not yet announced its 2025 lineup, the first names of which will be dropped next week.
The final festival will take place over Easter at its home at the Byron Events Farm in Tyagarah.
Fans of the festival shared their heartbreak on social media.
“This festival has been a titan of the Australian landscape for such a long time,” one person said.
“Too many wonderful memories to count from this festival alone.”
Another person added: “What is happening to Australian festival scene? This is devastating news.”