If you’re planning a trip to Byron this year, like many other Novocastrians, for Bluesfest’s 25th Anniversary, make sure you grab those tickets as soon as you can. The Team at Bluesfest have warned that all types of tickets are selling fast, with 5-day passes set to sell out within days.
This Bluesfest is set to be massive with 100-plus bands and artists performing over the 5-day festival. Headliners include the likes of John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Doobie Brothers, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy and Michael Franti, just to name a few. This year is set to be the biggest yet and a must for any lover of live music.
The multi-award-winning Bluesfest is one of Australia’s longest-running music festivals, starting way back in 1990 as a four-day indoor event at the Byron Bay Arts Factory (now Byron Brewery).
1993 saw the festival move outdoors to Belongil Fields just north of Byron, which were the years of mud and flooding, always great fun though and plenty of fantastic and muddy memories.
The festival moved on to Red Devil Park just south of Byron’s town centre in 1997, where it stayed until 2007, when capacity crowds necessitated the return to Belongil Fields.
After a two-year stint back at Belongil Fields, Bluesfest moved to it’s now permanent home at Tyagarah in 2010. Tyagarah is a perfect venue with plenty of space to move and none of the mud, flooding and parking issues the previous two venues had.
This year will be my 20th Bluesfest, and I’ve looked forward to and enjoyed every one of them. If you’re a Bluesfest virgin heading up for the first time, my advice is, don’t just sit in the main tents waiting for the headliners for the duration like so many others do. Go and explore all the smaller venues and check out the lesser Know bands as well, believe me that’s where the Bluesfest magic happens every year.
Two of my favourites from last year’s festival, Grace Potter and Playing for Change, who were both brilliant, are returning this year, so if you’re heading up make sure you catch these guys.
Newcastle Live will be at the festival, covering the whole 5 days, with daily updates and photos being posted during the festival and a full review and photo gallery after the festival.
If you see us in Byron, please come and say hello.
For ticketing and program information, go to www.bluesfest.com.au
