Byron Bay Bluesfest was an Australian music festival held over the Easter long weekend in the Byron Bay region of New South Wales. It began in 1990 at the Arts Factory as the East Coast Annual Blues Festival and was later known as the East Coast International Blues & Roots Music Festival. The event presented blues, roots and a broad range of other musical genres.
The festival subsequently moved through several locations, including Belongil Fields and Red Devil Park, before Byron Events Farm at Tyagarah became its final home. It also hosted the Boomerang program, a festival within the festival that showcased Indigenous performers and music, art and culture.
The 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, before Bluesfest returned in 2022. In August 2024, festival director Peter Noble announced that the 2025 event would be the last, but organisers announced a 2026 return during the 2025 festival. The 2026 event was cancelled less than three weeks before it was due to begin, and the two Bluesfest entities entered liquidation.
History Bluesfest began at the Arts Factory in Byron Bay in 1990 as the East Coast Annual Blues Festival. The inaugural event attracted approximately 6,000 people. The festival was founded by local promoters Keven Oxford, Karin Oxford and Dan Doeppel. Peter Noble joined as a co-director for the 1994 festival.
In December 2004, Keven Oxford sold his 50 per cent stake in the festival to a consortium comprising Michael Chugg, Daryl Herbert and Glenn Wheatley. Noble later bought out the consortium and became the festival’s sole owner.
The festival later moved through Belongil Fields and Red Devil Park before relocating to the 120-hectare Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm in 2010, which became its final venue.
2013: Boomerang Festival launch In October 2013, the inaugural Boomerang Festival was held as an independent Indigenous cultural festival at the Bluesfest site, directed and curated by Rhoda Roberts in partnership with Bluesfest director Peter Noble. In 2016, Boomerang was incorporated into Bluesfest for the first time as a festival within the festival. Its program focused on Indigenous performance, art and culture.
2020 & 2021 cancellations Due to event restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 festival was the first Bluesfest to be cancelled in its history.
In February 2021, the NSW Government approved the festival’s COVID-safe plan for a reduced-capacity, fully seated event featuring Australian artists. The event, scheduled for 1–5 April, was cancelled one day before it began after a COVID-19 case was detected in Byron Bay and a public health order was issued by Brad Hazzard. Live Performance Australia estimated that the cancellation caused an A$10 million loss, while a local business owner estimated Bluesfest’s value to the local economy at A$100 million.
A rescheduled October event was cancelled on 17 August.
2022–2026 Following the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 editions, Bluesfest returned from 14 to 18 April 2022.
In September 2022, organisers announced that the 34th annual Bluesfest would be held at Byron Events Farm from 6 to 10 April 2023. In November, the inaugural Bluesfest Melbourne was announced for 8 and 9 April. Controversy arose after Sticky Fingers was added to the Byron Bay line-up. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Sampa the Great withdrew from the festival, and festival director Peter Noble defended the booking. Following weeks of criticism, Sticky Fingers was removed from the line-up.
The 2024 festival was held from 28 March to 1 April. During the event, organisers announced that the 2025 festival would be shortened from five days to four, removing the Easter Monday program.
In August 2024, Noble announced that the 2025 event would be the final Bluesfest. Bluesfest said the 2025 festival attracted 109,000 patrons, the third-largest crowd in the event's 35-year history. During the festival, organisers announced that Bluesfest would return in 2026, drawing criticism from some attendees who said they had purchased tickets believing that 2025 would be the final edition.
The 2026 festival was scheduled for 2–5 April but was cancelled on 13 March, less than three weeks before it was due to begin. Organisers attributed the decision to rising production, logistics, insurance and touring costs, international uncertainty, challenging conditions for major live events, and declining ticket demand. The companies responsible for operating the festival and receiving its ticket income, Bluesfest Byron Bay Pty Ltd and Bluesfest Enterprises Pty Ltd, entered liquidation.
In June 2026, reports from the liquidator showed that the companies had combined debts exceeding $10 million. The liquidator reported that Bluesfest Byron Bay Pty Ltd may have become insolvent around October 2025. A confidential report was filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission flagging potential breaches of the Corporations Act. The liquidator said investigations were ongoing and had not reached conclusions about wrongdoing. In a statement through his lawyers, Noble said he was cooperating and had acted properly at all times.
Awards Bluesfest Awards 2024 Festival of the Year, Variety Live Business Breakfast 2023 Silver Major Festivals & Events, NSW Tourism Award 2022 Gold Major Festivals & Events, NSW Tourism Award 2019 Best Regional Event, Australian Event Awards 2018 Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event - Australian Event Awards 2017 Gold Major Festivals & Events - NSW Tourism Awards 2017 Best Regional Event, Australian Event Awards 2016 Gold Major Festival & Events, NSW Tourism Awards 2016 Best Regional Event, Australian Event Awards 2016 Gold Major Festivals & Events, North Coast Tourism Awards 2015 Gold Major Festivals & Events, NSW Tourism Awards 2015 Gold Major Festivals & Events, North Coast Tourism Awards 2015 Pan Australasian Festival Of The Year, Canadian Music Week International Festival Awards 2014 Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event, Australian Event Awards 2014 Best Contemporary Music Festival, Australian Helpmann Awards 2014 Gold Major Festival & Event, North Coast Tourism Awards 2014 Silver Major Festivals & Events, NSW Tourism Awards 2013 Gold Award for Business Excellence, Major Festivals and Events, North Coast Tourism Awards 2013 Gold Major Festivals & Events, NSW Tourism Awards 2013 Best Regional Event, Australian Event Awards 2013 Best Contemporary Music Festival Australian Helpmann Awards 2012 Silver Major Festival & Events, NSW Tourism Awards 2012 Business Excellence Award, Major Events and Festivals, North Coast Tourism Awards 2011 Gold Major Festivals & Events, NSW Tourism Awards 2011 Business Excellence Award, Major Events and Festivals, North Coast Tourism Awards 2010 Australian Event of the Year, Australian Event Awards 2010 Best Cultural or Arts event, Australian Event Awards 2006 Best Contemporary Music Festival, Australian Helpmann Awards 2005 Best Contemporary Music Festival, Australian Helpmann Awards 1998–2010 Readers Poll Award, Rhythms Magazine – "Best Australian Festival" 1994–1996 Readers Poll Award, Rhythms Magazine – "Best Australian Festival" 2007–2013, The International A Greener Festival Award
Bluesfest nominations 2022 Pollstar Awards (USA) for International Music Festival of the Year 2022 Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event, Australian Event Awards 2021 Pollstar Awards (USA) for International Music Festival of the Decade 2019 Pollstar Awards (USA) for International Music Festival of the Year 2017 Best Contemporary Music Festival, Australian Helpmann Awards 2017 International Music Festival of the Year, 29th Pollstar Awards (2018) 2016 International Music Festival of the Year, 28th Pollstar Awards (2017) 2016 Best Contemporary Music Festival, Australian Helpmann Awards 2015 International Music Festival of the Year, 27th Pollstar Awards (2016) 2015 Best Contemporary Music Festival Australian Helpmann Awards 2014 International Music Festival of the Year, 26th Pollstar Awards (2015) 2014 Best Regional Event, Australian Event Awards 2014 Best Tourism Event, Australian Event Awards 2013 International Music Festival of the Year 25th Pollstar Awards (2014) 2013 Best Tourism Event, Australian Event Awards 2012 International Music Festival of the Year 24th Pollstar Awards (2013) 2012 Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event, Australian Event Awards 2012 Best Contemporary Music Festival, Helpmann Awards 2011 Best Regional Event, Australian Event Awards 2011 Best Achievement in Sustainability, Australian Event Awards 2009 Best Cultural or Arts Event, Australian Event Awards 2009 Best Overseas Festival, UK Festival Awards 2005 International Music Festival of the Year, Pollstar Concert Industry Awards
Past lineups 2007 The line-up for the 2007 festival included:Line-up 2007 bluesfest.com.au.
Rodriguez (US) Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals (US) John Mayer (US) Missy Higgins Wolfmother Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (US) Bonnie Raitt (US) Bo Diddley (US) Taj Mahal (US) Tony Joe White (US) The Roots (US) Kasey Chambers John Butler Trio Fat Freddys Drop (NZ) Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars (Sierra Leone) Fishbone (USA) Gomez (UK) Fred Eaglesmith (CAN) Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch with Fats Kaplin (US) Feist (Canada) The Waifs Ben Kweller (US) Flogging Molly (US) Xavier Rudd The NEO Pappa Jam
2008 The 2008 festival was held at the Belongil Fields, the original outdoor venue. The 2008 festival had more food and craft stalls, a covered area where festival goers could eat at tables, a chill-out area, plus an area for an additional, fifth stage.
Artists in 2008 included Buddy Guy, Eskimo Joe, The John Butler Trio, Gotye, The Beautiful Girls, Newton Faulkner, Seasick Steve, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples, John P. Hammond, John Hiatt, Ray Davies, Maceo Parker, Loudon Wainwright III, Ozomatli, Ruthie Foster, Jake Shimabukuro, Keith Urban, Amali Ward, Lior, MOFRO, Dan Sultan, Jeff Lang, The Cat Empire, Clare Bowditch, Raul Midon and Xavier Rudd.
2011 The line-up for the 2011 festival included:
Bob Dylan B. B. King Grace Jones Ben Harper and Relentless7 Elvis Costello and the Imposters Leon Russell George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic Jethro Tull ZZ Top John Legend Michael Franti and Spearhead Gurrumul Toots and the Maytals Luciano and Jah Messenjah Band Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Aaron Neville Paul Kelly Buffy Sainte-Marie Warren Haynes and his Allstar Band Rodrigo y Gabriela Fistful of Mercy Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Band Imogen Heap Ernest Ranglin Robert Randolph and the Family Band The Cat Empire Mavis Staples Kasey Chambers Clare Bowditch Little Feat Indigo Girls Osibisa Tim Finn Raúl Malo Wolfmother Xavier Rudd Funky Meters Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Irma Thomas Fishbone Los Lobos Trinity Roots Kate Miller-Heidke Michelle Shocked Jeff Lang Saltwater Band Washington Jack Thompson and the Original Sinner Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band Neil Murray Ash Grunwald Eli "Paperboy" Reed C. W. Stoneking Tim Robbins and the Rogues Gallery Band Eric Bibb Ruthie Foster Tony Joe White Joe Louis Walker Frank Yamma The Bamboos The Aggrolites Resin Dogs Yodelice Shane Nicholson Lisa Miller The Dingoes Leah Flanagan Bobby Long Lowrider Dale Watson and His Lone Stars Barrence Whitfield The Blackwater Fever Phil Jones and the Unknown Blues
2012 The line-up for the 2012 festival included:
Cold Chisel John Fogerty performing the songs of Creedence Clearwater Revival Crosby, Stills & Nash Earth, Wind & Fire The Pogues The Specials John Butler Trio My Morning Jacket Yes Buddy Guy Donovan Lucinda Williams Maceo Parker G3 featuring Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Steve Lukather Ziggy Marley Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot! John Hiatt & the Combo Angelique Kidjo Sublime with Rome Zappa Plays Zappa Slightly Stoopid Jonny Lang Seasick Steve Kenny Wayne Shepherd Keb' Mo' Candi Staton Nick Lowe Steve Earle Justin Townes Earle Yann Tiersen