Bluesfest To End After 2025 Event: ‘Time To Close This Chapter’

It’s the “end of an era” with Bluesfest Byron Bay today announcing that next year will serve as its final-ever event.

The beloved festival, which will take place from 17-20 April at Byron Events Farm, will wrap after 35 years with a massive four-day program that is a “celebration of everything that Bluesfest has stood for over the past 35 plus years – music, community, and unforgettable experiences”.

In a statement today, Festival Director Peter Noble OAM said: "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."

The first of many artist announcements has been confirmed for next week with an “extraordinary” line-up teased. Today’s announcement also states that “the 2025 festival will be a fitting finale, honouring the legacy of those who have made it what it is today – from the artists to the fans”.

The blues and roots festival, which kicked off in 1990, has become world-renowned since its inception, frequently garnering acclaim locally and internationally, including nominations and wins at the NSW Tourism Awards, the  Helpmann Awards, the Pollstar Awards and more.

It’s hosted countless artists across the years, with organisers today highlighting the likes of BB King, Buddy Guy, Santana, Bob Dylan, Mavis Staples, Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Plant, Dave Matthews Band, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, John Mayer, Mary J Blige and Kendrick Lamar as notable international acts across its history, while Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil and Kasey Chambers are among the local legends to have graced its stages.

After this year’s event wrapped, Noble was quick to confirm that Bluesfest would “125 million per cent” return in 2025, while revealing that the attendance rate for 2024 was “at least the same” as last year.

“We have held our position, and as much as we would like to see more people come, it's not going to happen until the interest rates drop,” he said at the time. “We do ask our government to support our industry until then.

“We all know that the music industry is facing challenges right now. The interest rate rises, intended to curb the disposable dollar spending, have influenced all aspects of the industry except for superstars touring, such as Taylor Swift.”

The 2024 line-up featured Jack Johnson, Tom Jones, The Teskey Brothers, Jimmy Barnes, The Cruel Sea, Rickie Lee Jones, Portugal. The Man, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, and more.

In a live review of Bluesfest 2024’s fourth day for The Music, writer Jess Martyn concluded, “Great music, perfect weather and those addictive peace-and-love festival vibes – could there be any better way to spend a long weekend?”

You can read our review of Bluesfest 2024 here.