'Our Hearts Were Broken': Bluesfest Issues Economic Loss Report After 2020 Cancellation

Bluesfest has released an Economic Impact Report (EIR) to highlight the impact the cancellation of its 2020 event has had on the community. 

The report, commissioned by Bluesfest and undertaken by independent consultancy firm Reuben Lawrence Consulting, found that "the community lost $116.9M gross revenue and 745.3 full time equivalent [FTE] jobs and the State of NSW lost $203.6M gross revenue and 1,158 jobs".

In 2019 Bluesfest generated 858 full time equivalent jobs in the Northern Rivers and 1,333 in NSW. In 2020, Bluesfest generated 36.2 jobs in the Northern Rivers and 46.8 in NSW "due to the fact the festival was ordered not to go ahead" three weeks out.

“When Bluesfest 2020 was cancelled by NSW Public Health Order just three weeks before the festival, our hearts were broken and so were those of so many of our loyal patrons, who were looking forward to their annual beloved Bluesfest experience," Bluesfest director, Peter Noble OAM, said.

"So, we decided Bluesfest 2021 next Easter was to go ahead in the very same week we received the government instruction not to proceed with our 2020 festival."

Noble continued, "By presenting these EIR reports we are also demonstrating the impact that just one event of this scale in the live music industry can have on the economy of the country.

"The entertainment industry is worth $111 billion in Australia. We promote the arts; we bring jobs and the trickle-down effect means that people in the broader community have an income they wouldn’t otherwise have.

"Bluesfest is 100% independent and we are proud to contribute to our State and Local communities and we look forward to doing it again in 2021.”

Bluesfest has locked in some huge acts for its 2021 event, including Bon Iver, Patti Smith & Her Band and Jimmy Barnes.

Check out theGuide for more details.