Image: Photo credit: Joseph Mayers
In another huge blow for the Australian live music scene, Bluesfest Byron Bay has today announced that the 2025 instalment of the festival will be its last.
The final Bluesfest will be once again held on the Byron Events Farm, with festival organisers encouraging longtime fans to be part of this final chapter of the legendary event.
Over the years, Bluesfest has a reputation for bringing incredible music and artists to Australia. Whether it’s legends like Bob Dylan or Paul Simon, modern maestros like John Mayer and Lauryn Hill, or the Australian festival debut of Kendrick Lamar, there’s a reason it’s a highly beloved and acclaimed festival.
Bluesfest director Peter Noble spoke about the weight of the decision to bring the iconic festival to an end: “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, but it will be our last. 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 is far from the only festival to cease operations in recent years. Earlier in 2024, the iconic Splendour in the Grass was cancelled for 2024 due to “unexpected events”, and travelling regional festival Groovin the Moo was also cancelled earlier in the year due to a lack of sales.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis, post-COVID effects and unreliable weather due to climate change are all factors in the woes of the Australian festival scene, and there’s unfortunately no certainty for festival organisers or attendees going forward.
