Australia’s premier contemporary Blues & Roots music festival, Byron Bay Bluesfest have announced their festival will not proceed this October due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is obvious that we cannot present Bluesfest in a safe manner in October, so we have re-scheduled back to our usual timing with dates over the Easter Long Weekend next year; a time we expect things to be returning to normal,” said Bluesfest Festival Director, Peter Noble OAM.
“We are a resilient bunch. We have worked so hard since May 2019 to make Bluesfest happen and, guess what, we are not giving up. We are immensely proud of who we are: we are proud of the Bluesfest name and what that represents, immensely proud, and we are already looking forward to Easter.”
“I thought this decision would be hard to make, but it was the reverse. The safety and protection of our loyal Bluesfesters, our festival staff, our performers, our volunteers, stallholders and suppliers is paramount, and I will not put anyone at risk right now. So the decision to re-schedule was a ‘no-brainer’,” said Noble.
Bluesfest will now take place over four jam-packed days next Easter from Friday 15 April – Monday 18 April 2022. Plus… Bluesfest are working on something special season ticket holders for Thursday 14 April 2022.
“I am confident that, by the end of this year, Australia will have achieved at least a 70-80% vaccination rate and will have achieved at least ‘Stage Three’ in the plan to open up the whole country. Lockdowns will be consigned to history,” said Noble. “Perhaps we may even see international artists returning – if they can come, we will be presenting them!”
“Almost all the October 2021 artists will return for Easter: Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Pete Murray, Kasey Chambers, John Butler, Xavier Rudd, and all of your Bluesfest favourites will be back to play over the Easter Long Weekend.”
“Only two or three can’t make it. It’s great to be adding Fat Freddy’s Drop, Josh Teskey & Ash Grunwald, John Williamson, CW Stoneking, and the return of Rockwiz Live next Easter: the first of dozens of artists we are adding to celebrate, including more of the biggest and best artists this part of the world has to offer, with many Blues & Roots artists added too.”
“In the meantime, I do ask and urge every ticket holder to hold on to their October ticket – and roll it over to Easter. I promise you will not be disappointed. As soon as this outbreak is over and we are out of lockdown safely, then I will be announcing the incredible new names joining our lineup, and then you can make an informed decision. Rest assured, we will continue to offer refunds until after the new artist announcement,” said Noble.
With more artist announcements pending, the current line-up for Bluesfest includes:
Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Fat Freddy’s Drop, John Butler, Xavier Rudd, Pete Murray, Ian Moss, Kate Ceberano, Kasey Chambers, The Waifs, The Church, Jon Stevens, The Living End, Mark Seymour & The Undertow, The Angels, Russell Morris, Kate Miller-Heidke, Vika & Linda, All Our Exes Live In Texas, Ross Wilson And The Peaceniks, John Williamson, Troy Cassar-Daley, Briggs, Tex Perkins The Man In Black, Hiatus Kaiyote, Josh Teskey & Ash Grunwald, Weddings Parties Anything, The Black Sorrows, CW Stoneking, The Bamboos, Chain, Backsliders, Ash Grunwald, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Jeff Lang, Nathan Cavaleri, Kim Churchill, Henry Wagons, JK-47, Garrett Kato, Mama Kin Spender, Dami Im, Pierce Brothers, Emily Wurramara, The Buckleys, Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers, Ray Beadle, Pacey, King & Doley, Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission, Hussy Hicks, Roshani, Daniel Champagne, Little Georgia, Lambros., Round Mountain Girls, The Regime, Electrik Lemonade, Palm Valley, Byron Busking Competition and Rockwiz Live.
Bluesfest 2022 takes place at the Byron Events Farm (formerly Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm) from Friday 15 – Monday 19 April. For more information and artist line-up, visit: www.bluesfest.com.au for details.
Image: Bluesfest at the Byron Events Farm (supplied)