Rodney Stevens
Musicians from around the world will perform for the final time this easter at one of Australia’s longest running music festivals – Bluesfest- which has been entertaining punters for 35 years.
Since the first East Coast Annual Blues Festival in 1990, which was headlined by American performers Charlie Musselwhite and Canned Heat at the Byron Bay Arts Factory, Bluesfest has been held every year at Easter in the Byron Bay area, except for 2 years during the Covid pandemic.
Bluesfest locations have shifted from the Arts Factory to Belongil Fields, Red Devil Park and then the Byron Events Farm at Tyagarah over the years, where more than 100,000 people visited annually on a five-day musical pilgrimage, injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into the Northern Rivers economy.
In August 2024, Peter Noble OAM, Festival Director and the driving force behind Bluesfest announced 2025 would be the last year for the iconic event.
“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,” he said.
“But after the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter.
“If you’ve been thinking about it, now is your last chance to experience our beloved festival.”
For this year’s final festival, an epic lineup of performers have singed up to play including Crowded House, Chaka Khan, Toto, the Hilltop Hoods, Missy Higgins, Vance Joy, Tones and I, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Tom Morello, Xavier Rudd, John Butler, The Cat Empire, Cristopher Cross, Kasey Chambers, Ry X, Brad Cox, Fanny Lumsden, The Melbourne Ska Orchestra, The California Honey Drops, Ash Grunwald, and many more.
Traditionally held from Thursday to Monday inclusive, Bluesfest 2025 is scheduled for 4 massive days of performances from Thursday, April 17 to Sunday, April 20, with tickets available for either one, three, or four days.
Camping passes and one, three, and four day passes for children aged under 10 have already sold out and the remaining tickets are selling fast.
If you want to experience the final Bluesfest like a rockstar, tickets to the VIP Lounge and Platinum passes are still available for people aged over 18.
To purchase tickets to Bluesfest 2025 visit https://www.bluesfest.com.au/