Bluesfest Byron Bay has today released the staggering news that its’ 2025 event (and its’ 36th Anniversary) will be its’ last, and leaves Australian festival goers and live-music lovers with an ever-diminishing choice for quality music experiences.
Along with the growing list of venues that are shutting down across the country, musicians and music fans alike are seeing their capacity to do what they love in the live setting, sadly disappearing before their very eyes.
After 35 years of celebrating the very best in blues, roots music, and beyond, the legendary institution that has brought some of the world’s greatest artists to Australia, along with a host of magnificent home-grown talent, will host its last festival on the legendary Byron Events Farm, just outside of Byron Bay, NSW, Australia at Easter in 2025.
Whilst this news has taken us here at Backseat Mafia aback, we must also look at what Bluesfest Byron Bay (and its’ former iteration, the East Coast International Blues & Roots Music Festival) has done for the Australian music scene over its’ existence, and celebrate what now appears to be the passing of a musical icon.
Peter Noble OAM, Festival Director and the driving force behind Bluesfest, expressed the significance of this decision:
“To my Dear Bluesfest Family, and after more than 50 years in the music business, 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. As I said earlier this year at Bluesfest 2024, next year’s festival will be happening and it definitely is, but it will be our last. 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.”
Bluesfest has always been more than just a festival – it’s an institution. It has been a gathering of souls, a place where lifelong memories are made, and where music transcends boundaries. The 2025 festival promises to be a fitting finale, honouring the legacy of those who have made it what it is today – from the artists to the fans.
As the festival prepares to take its final bow, the focus shifts to the upcoming first artist announcement.
Bluesfest Byron Bay has been Australia’s premier contemporary Blues, Roots, and Beyond music festival since 1990. What started as a humble celebration of Blues & Roots music has grown into one of the most significant music festivals in the world. Of our many awards being recognized in the top 10 music festivals of the world from Pollstar, demonstrates the significance of this festival not just locally but around the world.
Over the years, the festival has hosted an incredible array of iconic artists, including Blues legends like BB King and Buddy Guy, music legends such as Santana, Bob Dylan, Mavis Staples, Paul Simon, Bonnie Rait and Robert Plant, and contemporary greats like Dave Matthews Band, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, John Mayer, Mary J Blige, and Kendrick Lamar, who made his first festival appearance in Australia at Bluesfest. Let’s not forget the amazing Australian artists that have played such as Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, The Church, The Angels, The Living End, Kasey Chambers and Crowded House and many, many more.
So – for everyone who has ever loved Bluesfest, if you’ve been waiting for the right time to attend, this is it. There will be no more Bluesfest after 2025. Make sure that you become part of the folklore that Bluesfest will be written into.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
