The 2016 Bluesfest has won Best Regional Event at the prestigious Australian Event Awards last night, nudging out other finalists including the Deni Ute Muster, Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival and The Birdsville Big Red Bash.
The Award win acknowledges the contribution the 2016 festival made to the local area, which featured headliners including Kendrick Lamar, The National, Brian Wilson, Tom Jones, D’Angelo, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and so many more. Bluesfest was selected from hundreds of entries across the country by a panel of experts and leaders in the industry.
“Bluesfest is proud to once again receive the award Best Regional Event at the Australian Event Awards,” said Festival Director Peter Noble OAM. “This is the second time we have received this honour. There are great events occurring all over regional Australia however, it is clear that the Byron area is the regional arts as well as the festival capital of Australia.”
“Event presenters in the region bring tens of millions of dollars, hundreds of jobs and real culture to our area. Festivals create a sense of community. They say Byron is a brand, it is festivals here like Bluesfest, that have had a huge impact on how the Byron brand is recognised as an arts capital around the world.”
Bluesfest is honoured to have previously won the Australian Event of the Year Award in 2010, silver in the Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event category at the Awards in 2014 and 2013, Best Regional Event in 2011, and silver in the category in 2013.
The 28th Bluesfest will take place over the next Easter long weekend: Thursday 13 – Monday 17 April 2017. Headliners announced to date include: Zac Brown Band, Mary J. Blige, Corinne Bailey Rae, Patti Smith, The Lumineers and Buddy Guy. For more information, visit: www.bluesfest.com.au for details.
Image: The Cat Empire – photo by Evan Malcolm