01 Apr 2021
Less than 24 hours before it was due to have its first musical act onstage, Bluesfest has been cancelled for a second consecutive year due to the evolving COVID-19 situation in Byron Bay and Ballina.
Last month, festival organisers gained approval from NSW Health to welcome roughly 15,000 patrons from tomorrow to the 120-hectare Byron Events Farm site, where artists such as Jimmy Barnes, The Church, Tash Sultana and Kasey Chambers would play to a full-seated outdoor crowd.
NSW Health decided on Monday afternoon to ban Greater Brisbane residents affected by the snap three-day lockdown from day one of Bluesfest.
However, NSW Health issued a statement earlier this afternoon advising that Health Minister Brad Hazzard has signed a public health order cancelling the planned music festival over the Easter period.
by Ben Graham and Shireen Khalil 1st Apr 2021 8:38 AM Â There are chaotic scenes in Byron Bay after thousands of blues fans were turned away from the city s iconic Bluesfest festival in a last-minute cancellation. Some had travelled from as far away as WA - with one group making a 30-hour drive from Geraldton - only to be told the event wouldn t be going ahead due to fears of a COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, food vendors, with fridges and freezers full of produce ready to sell to the festival s 15,000 people attendees, were left stranded. Artists have also been left devastated, with one band lashing the decision to scrap the event as absolutely disgusting .
Byron Bay's popular Bluesfest has been cancelled less than 24 hours before its scheduled start due to coronavirus concerns.
Bluesfest was set to be Australia's largest multi-day music festival in more than a year and musicians Jimmy Barnes, Tash Sultana and Kasey Chambers had been lined up as performers.
Jimmy Barnes has since shared his disappointment but understanding of the situation on Instagram.
“While this is such huge blow for Aussie music - not just the artists, but all the roadies, stage crew, volunteers, the punters, and everyone in between we have to remember that the health and well-being of this country has to come first,” he said.
Approximately 15,000 patrons were expected to attend which is half the festival's usual capacity and some had already arrived on site to set up camping equipment for the event.
New South Wales recorded one new case of community transmission in Byron Bay prompting organisers to shut down the festival.