Bluesfest Pushes Rescheduled October Event To Easter 2022
"I will not put anyone at risk right now."
Bluesfest is the latest major event to reschedule due to the ongoing COVID outbreak across the country.
Following its last-minute cancellation over the Easter long weekend due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Byron Bay, Bluesfest was pushed to October 1 - 4 at Byron Events Farm (formerly Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm), and it’s now been moved to April 15 – 18, 2022.
“It is obvious that we cannot present Bluesfest in a safe manner in October, so we have rescheduled back to our usual timing with dates over the Easter Long Weekend next year; a time we expect things to be returning to normal,” Bluesfest Festival Director Peter Noble OAM said.
“We are a resilient bunch. We have worked so hard since May 2019 to make Bluesfest happen and, guess what, we are not giving up. We are immensely proud of who we are: we are proud of the Bluesfest name and what that represents, immensely proud, and we are already looking forward to Easter.
“I thought this decision would be hard to make, but it was the reverse. The safety and protection of our loyal Bluesfesters, our festival staff, our performers, our volunteers, stallholders and suppliers is paramount, and I will not put anyone at risk right now. So the decision to re-schedule was a ‘no-brainer’.
“I am confident that, by the end of this year, Australia will have achieved at least a 70-80% vaccination rate and will have achieved at least ‘Stage Three’ in the plan to open up the whole country.
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“Lockdowns will be consigned to history. Perhaps we may even see international artists returning. IF THEY CAN COME WE WILL BE PRESENTING THEM!”
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It’s been confirmed that almost all acts scheduled to appear at the October event, including headliners Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Pete Murray, Kasey Chambers, John Butler and Xavier Rudd, will appear on the bill next April and that “only two or three can’t make it”.
The following acts join the 2022 line-up: Fat Freddy’s Drop, Josh Teskey & Ash Grunwald, John Williamson and CW Stoneking alongside RocKwiz Live.
Noble also revealed that they were “working on something special” for April 14.
“I do ask and urge every ticket holder to hold on to their October ticket – and roll it over to Easter. I promise you will not be disappointed,” Noble added.
“As soon as this outbreak is over and we are out of lockdown safely, then I will be announcing the incredible new names joining our line-up, and then you can make an informed decision. Rest assured, we will continue to offer refunds until after the new artist announcement.
“We will return and when we do it will be the greatest Bluesfest atmosphere you have been part of, with easily THE STRONGEST BILL OF AUSSIE AND KIWI TALENT EVER SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY. DON’T SAY WE DIDN’T TELL YA!!”
For more details on Bluesfest 2022, head to theGuide.
Earlier this month, Noble appeared on special two-part series of The Green Room podcast alongside a line-up of industry panellists and host Tiana Speter to gauge where we're at nearly a year and a half into the pandemic, and explore some possible roads to recovery.
You can listen to both episodes below, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or wherever you usually get your podcasts.
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