Peter Noble: ‘Bluesfest 2025 doesn’t have to be the last’
After announcing that Byron Bay Bluesfest would bow out next year, Peter Noble now says that the 2025 edition of the Australian festival “doesn’t have to be the last”.
In an open letter, the festival director issued a call to save the long-running institution ahead of the “final curtain call” in April 2025.
“I want to make it clear that it was never my intention to end Bluesfest,” says Noble in the letter. “I have always believed in its future, and I still do. But the current circumstances make it impossible to continue the festival in its current form.
“That said, I firmly believe Bluesfest is something worth preserving – not just for today’s music lovers, but for future generations, including those who haven’t even been born yet. The arts, and events like Bluesfest, are worth protecting. It’s something we believe is worth fighting for.
“I firmly believe Bluesfest is something worth preserving for future generations”
“Although we’ve announced that 2025 will be our last festival, it doesn’t have to be. Under current economic conditions, we simply cannot continue and that’s why we have asked for NSW government support.”
Adding that Bluesfest isn’t seeking a “handout” but a “hand up” as the music industry grapples with an ongoing cost-of-living crisis and other challenges, Noble continued, “Bluesfest has contributed over a billion dollars in inbound tourism to the state of NSW. To the government, I ask: is that not worth saving?”
Revealing the numbers from this year’s event, Noble stated that Bluesfest contributed $235 million in inbound tourism to NSW. “This is an amazing achievement, not only for the Byron Shire but for the entire state, demonstrating just how significant Bluesfest is to our local and state economies, yet in 2024 Bluesfest lost money, and we still delivered an amazing result for NSW.”
The statement concluded, “Thank you for your continued support as we work together to keep the spirit of Bluesfest alive.”
Noble’s statement arrives a week after Tamara Smith MP, the local member for Ballina, started an E-Petition to save Bluesfest. Smith called on the NSW Government to offer Bluesfest a rescue package in the petition.
“Bluesfest has contributed over a billion dollars in inbound tourism to NSW. To the government, I ask: is that not worth saving?”
If the petition receives 20,000 signatures, NSW Parliament must address the future of Bluesfest via a debate. As a press release notes, “This is our chance to rally together and ensure that one of Australia’s most iconic music festivals continues to thrive for years to come.”
The ending of Bluesfest is perhaps the most severe blow yet for Australia’s beleaguered festival sector, which has been left in disarray following a flurry of cancellations. Adelaide’s Harvest Rock became the latest Australian festival to pull the plug on its 2024 edition last week, following in the footsteps of other high-profile casualties such as Splendour in the Grass, Groovin The Moo, Coastal Jam, Summerground, Vintage Vibes, Tent Pole: A Musical Jamboree and ValleyWays.
In response, Australia’s House of Representatives has launched an inquiry into the struggling scene.
Bluesfest will return between 17-20 April 2025 with a line-up including Crowded House, Crowded House, Vance Joy, Tones and I, Ocean Alley, Here Come The Mummies, The California Honeydrops, Taj Farrant, Cimafunk, Neal Francis, Pierce Brothers, WILSN, and 19-Twenty.
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Bluesfest bows out: ‘The industry needs help’
Byron Bay Bluesfest organiser Peter Noble says he wants the long-running Australian institution to “go out on a high” after revealing the festival’s next edition will be its last.
Noble has confirmed the event’s “final curtain call” will take place from 17-20 April 2025, with the first artist announcement to be made next week.
Launched in 1990, the festival has attracted a who’s who of music legends such as BB King, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Earth, Wind & Fire, Paul Simon, Robert Plant, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J Blige and Tom Jones.
“Bluesfest has been a labour of love, a celebration of music, community, and the resilient spirit of our fans. But after the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter,” Noble said via the festival’s social media channels.
Elaborating on the decision, Noble expressed his pride that Bluesfest had won more awards than any other festival in Australian history.
“We work at a certain level, and we want to continue to work at that level,” he told ABC. “I will be presenting a festival at that level in 2025. However, to continue doing it beyond then, a number of things would have had to have happened, and they just didn’t fall into place.”
The news comes as perhaps the most severe blow yet for Australia’s beleaguered festival sector, which has been left in disarray following a flurry of cancellations. Adelaide’s Harvest Rock became the latest Australian festival to pull the plug on its 2024 edition last week, following in the footsteps of other high-profile casualties such as Splendour in the Grass, Groovin The Moo, Coastal Jam, Summerground, Vintage Vibes, Tent Pole: A Musical Jamboree and ValleyWays.
“The industry really needs help right now. I just can’t see the future… for the whole live music industry without real intercession from the powers that be”
In response, Australia’s House of Representatives has launched an inquiry into the struggling scene, and Noble stressed the need for government intervention.
“The industry really needs help right now, and I just can’t see the future – for not only me, but the whole live music industry – without real intercession from the powers that be,” he sad. “They need to get involved. They need to actually say there’s a vision for the future of our industry. And whilst I can’t see that, then I would rather go out on a high and buy a one-way ticket to Bali.”
Noble finished by sharing some of his standout moments from 35 years of Bluesfest, namechecking performances by Tom Jones, BB King, James Brown, Buddy Guy and Kendrick Lamar.
“We’ve always been cutting edge, and I want it to remain that way. I’m very proud of my contribution and my team’s contribution – they are so incredible – but we want to continue doing at a certain level right now,” he added. “We don’t think we can be on next year without got some real things happening. And so it’s better we go out on the high rather than perhaps find ourselves not at that level in a few years’ time.”
The promoter previously discussed his concerns for the domestic festival business during the inaugural Variety Live Business Breakfast in Sydney earlier this year, warning it was facing an “extinction event”.
“We’ve really got to be as one as an industry,” he said. “We need to speak to government. We need to say this is the time you support our industry because we are facing an extinction event and that event can be looked at during the times of Covid, government delivered a lot of funding. Come on government, give us a hand up, we don’t want a handout. We can get through this because our industry is worth it.”
Tickets are on sale now for Bluesfest 2025, with early bird four-day passes priced A$472.90 (€284.30).
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Byron Bay Bluesfest caught up in fresh controversy
Australia’s Byron Bay Bluesfest has become embroiled in a second controversy after four artists claimed they were axed from the festival’s 2023 line-up “in bad faith and in breach of contract”.
The Soul Rebels & Friends, with special guests Freedia, GZA and Talib Kweli, were booked for the 6-10 April festival at Byron Events Farm, but have since been taken off the bill.
Bluesfest director Peter Noble says the acts – who were also due to perform a series of theatre shows promoted by Bluesfest Touring – were removed “because they did not comply with the contractual terms”.
However, according to a statement from the artists’ representatives, seen by publications including Billboard and The Music Network, the US touring party had “fully executed signed contracts” with Noble and “had already booked travel to Australia”.
“Peter Noble removed the artists and the tour without further communication or reason from Bluesfest other than him stating his decision to not want to pay the artists,” it continues, adding: “These are all Black artists, and Big Freedia is an LGBTQ icon.”
“It appears the tour may have been replaced by other artists including Sticky Fingers”
The letter goes on to address the booking Australian band Sticky Fingers, whose inclusion was criticised in light of past allegations of racism and violence against frontman Dylan Frost, and led to Sampa the Great and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard both boycotting the festival.
“It appears the tour may have been replaced by other artists including Sticky Fingers,” reads the statement, which was released prior to Sticky Fingers being removed from the line-up last week. “We are uncertain about who else on Bluesfest may have also been cancelled.”
It adds: “Peter Noble’s cancellation of the tour of the aforementioned artists and on Bluesfest has resulted in significant financial loss to the artists. Peter’s egregious treatment and disregard of his contractual and moral obligations and disrespect can be completely supported by his actions and written communications.”
“The Soul Rebels contract was terminated because they did not comply with the contractual terms”
However, Noble denies the move had anything to do with Sticky Fingers.
“The termination of the Soul Rebels contract by Bluesfest has nothing to do with the announcement of Sticky Fingers playing at Bluesfest 2023,” he says in a statement. “The Soul Rebels contract was terminated because they did not comply with the contractual terms. By that, we mean, Soul Rebels, Big Freedia, GZA and Talib Kweli.”
Next month’s festival is scheduled to feature artists including Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Jackson Browne, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Paolo Nutini, Lucinda Williams, Beck, Gang Of Youths and Tash Sultana.
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Sticky Fingers removed from Bluesfest line-up
Sticky Fingers have been removed from the line-up for Byron Bay Bluesfest after a backlash over the band’s appearance.
The Australian group’s booking was criticised in light of past allegations of racism and violence against frontman Dylan Frost, with Sampa the Great and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard both boycotting the festival in response to their inclusion.
Bluesfest director Peter Noble recently spoke out in support of Frost, who was diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia in 2015, saying: “I question why there is such an ongoing witch-hunt toward a man with a mental health disorder. A man who is attempting to grow and function in society.”
However, Noble has now confirmed the band will now no longer be performing at the event, which returns to Byron Events Farm from 6–10 April.
“We are sad to announce that Bluesfest has decided that Sticky Fingers is to step off the Bluesfest 2023 line-up,” reads a statement. “Bluesfest cannot, sadly, continue to support Sticky Fingers by having them play our 2023 edition, and we apologise to those artists, sponsors and any others we involved in this matter through our mistaken belief that forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built.
“The narrative that they continue to deserve to be cancelled, as well as anyone who publicly supports them, is difficult to accept”
“The narrative that they continue to deserve to be cancelled, as well as anyone who publicly supports them, is difficult to accept, wherein a portion of society and media passes eternal judgment toward those, in this case, a diagnosed mentally ill person whom we feel doesn’t deserve the continued public scrutiny he’s being given.”
The statement adds: “We thank everyone who has contacted us and advised their support in this matter, especially those suffering from a mental illness who feel they cannot have their illness supported in a manner whereby they feel included in society.
“Sticky Fingers has done so many good deeds that have never been reported, including building and funding recording studios and music education programs in disadvantaged regional communities.”
Bluesfest 2023 will feature artists including Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Jackson Browne, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Paolo Nutini, Lucinda Williams, Beck, Gang Of Youths and Tash Sultana, among others.
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