In Bluesfest We Trust? The Challenges Ahead for Peter Noble

In the music festival world, trust is everything. Artists want to be sure that the events they sign up for will actually happen. Bookers need assurance that the artists they hire will perform well. And attendees need to feel confident that the shows they pay for will go on as planned.

However, that trust has significantly weakened over the years due to numerous postponements, cancellations, and even the collapse of several festivals. This makes the recent statements from Peter Noble, the founder of Byron Bay Bluesfest, particularly concerning.

Noble had previously mentioned that Bluesfest would struggle to remain viable after 2025. This statement came in response to the New South Wales (NSW) government’s refusal to provide assistance, despite helping other events with substantial amounts of money.

In a recent interview, Noble suggested that his comment about shutting down Bluesfest after 2025 was made to draw attention to the festival's plight. He asked rhetorically, “Do we need to announce this is the last Bluesfest to get more people to notice?” It seems his answer was indeed yes.

Interestingly, Noble revealed that he is already booking acts for the 2026 festival, insisting, “I will always find a way for Bluesfest to continue.” He highlighted that the upcoming festival is on track to be one of the most successful yet, with nearly 90,000 tickets sold so far.

These comments did not sit well with many in the music industry, who felt that Noble’s remarks expressed a desperate call for attention that could undermine the music festival sector as a whole.

In an interview following his earlier statements, Noble defended himself, saying, “I’m not a liar, and I did not act improperly.” He explained that he felt pressured to make the statements due to ongoing discussions with the NSW government, which had led nowhere.

Noble acknowledged the overwhelming support Bluesfest has received, saying, “I didn’t anticipate such an incredible reaction. People seem to care deeply about this festival.”

Furthermore, while Noble stated the government had offered a $500,000 grant for the upcoming festival, he still deemed it insufficient. “We bring in about $100 million to the state every year. I’m only asking for 2-3% of that to ensure the festival’s future,” he mentioned. This implies that Noble is seeking around $2-3 million, while he estimates that staging the festival costs nearly $20 million each year.

A spokesperson for the NSW government has mentioned that support for Bluesfest has been ongoing via Destination NSW, assuring that aid would continue for the 2025 festival.

Noble is also looking for federal support to upgrade facilities on his property, stating that a $5 million investment would significantly improve the situation and potentially allow the site to generate profit.

While he expressed concerns that the current year could still be the last for Bluesfest, he remained hopeful, saying, “If we manage to get through this phase, we will celebrate our 50th anniversary and continue beyond that.”

This brings us back to the underlying question of trust. Perhaps Noble genuinely meant that next year’s festival would be the final one. Maybe he also meant it when he said he would find a way to keep it going, and perhaps he sincerely assures that Bluesfest will reach its 50th year. For the sake of the music scene in Australia, let’s remain hopeful. However, trust remains a more complicated matter.

music, festival, trust