Peter Noble Says Bluesfest Might Return in 2026
The Bluesfest founder is walking back previous comments about the 2025 edition of the festival being the last ever.
Image via @bluesfestbyronbay (Facebook)
It’s looking more likely that Bluesfest Byron Bay will return after the 2025 edition, at least according to Festival Director Peter Noble.
During a wide-ranging chat with IQ Magazine, Noble discussed describing Bluesfest 2025 as the “final curtain call” as a way to gain government support. The decision seems to have worked, with Noble declaring he’s already started booking acts for the 2026 edition of the festival. Noble also says he is in talks with the NSW government about financial assistance in running of the annual blues and roots festival.
Like many festivals, Bluesfest has found it tough going, with Noble telling IQ Magazine that “August was a time of great disappointment. We had said to the government ‘Look, we need investment at this time, the cost of living crisis is really affecting events and there are cancellations everywhere’.”
While the government weren’t keen to come to the party, Noble outlines how the festival has brought “$1.1 billion to the state through inbound tourism,” He went on to say, “That is a tsunami of gold but it seemingly doesn’t count. The [state government] just wanted to put it in their coffers and not take responsibility for Australia’s great events.”
Noble makes it quite clear during the interview that he was forced to call Bluesfest 2025 the last festival to drum up support for the event. Whether you think that’s the right or wrong way to go about it, there is no doubt it worked, with next year’s festival well on its way to selling out.
“We’re potentially going to have our most successful festival yet,” Noble told IQ Magazine. “We’re on the path to selling out, with 89,000 passes sold, and I’m sure we’ll go past 90,000 after [yesterday’s] artist announcement. We’re probably the best-selling festival in Australia at the moment. We’ve been shown that people care about events and culture.”
He added, “All we’ve asked our state to do is to show us that they care about the most highly awarded event in the history of Australian music. Regardless, I will always find a way for Bluesfest to go forward – that is my job.”
This week Bluesfest announced its third lineup of artists, with Missy Higgins, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Rodrigo y Gabriela and BJ the Chicago Kid joining an already stacked bill that includes Crowded House, Vance Joy, Allison Russell, Hilltop Hoods, John Butler, Kasey Chambers and more.
Byron Bay Bluesfest 2025 takes place from Thursday, April 17 to Sunday, April 20 at Byron Events Farm. Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix.
Bluesfest Byron Bay 2025 LINEUP
Crowded House • Vance Joy • Ocean Alley • Tones and I • Gary Clark Jr
Rag'n'Bone Man • RY X • Allison Russell • Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram
Brad Cox • Here Come The Mummies EXCLUSIVE
The California Honeydrops EXCLUSIVE • Marc Broussard • Pierce Brothers
Taj Farrant EXCLUSIVE • Fanny Lumsden • 19-Twenty • WILSN
Cimafunk EXCLUSIVE • Neal Francis EXCLUSIVE
Hilltop Hoods • Xavier Rudd • John Butler • The Cat Empire
Kasey Chambers • Melbourne Ska Orchestra • C.W. Stoneking • Budjerah
Lachy Doley Group • Ash Grunwald • Kim Churchill • Miss Kaninna
The Beards • Velvet Trip • FOOLS • ROSHANI • Sweet Talk
The Memphis Three (feat. Fiona Boyes, Jimi Hocking & Frank Sultana)
Missy Higgins • George Thorogood & The Destroyers • Rodrigo y Gabriela
Nahko • BJ the Chicago Kid • Melody Angel • Don West
