Crikey!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-13/byron-bay-bluesfest-cancelled/106450384

Cancelled three weeks out and no refunds. What have the organisers done with the money?

4 hours ago, Vinylear said:

Cancelled three weeks out and no refunds. What have the organisers done with the money?

You are hitting the nail on the head

Known facts:

2024 - "Bluesfest was one of five festivals to share in $2.5 million from the state government in 2024 under its Contemporary Music Festival Viability Fund."

2025 - Last/final Bluesfest - was that a cash grab?

Low and behold we are getting a 2026? (WITH FURTHER GRANTS THAT MAY BE WASTED?)

As per the Australian Financial Review:

As part of the liquidation process, Bluesfest owner Peter Noble has submitted a report on the company’s assets and debts, showing it owes $5.7 million to creditors. A creditor called “Stripe sales” accounts for $3.9 million, another called “Paypal sales” a further $1.7 million.

These are believed to represent the people who bought tickets to the now-cancelled 2026 event, a full list of whom is attached to the report.

OK- this means people has paid $5.7 million for tickets - where is the money?? - it is gone - somewhere!

In terms of assets held, Noble reports $993,418 in a “reserve” held for Stripe sales, $311,706 in loans to related companies, and $18,104 in a National Australia Bank account.

A NSW government spokesman said Bluesfest’s decision was “deeply disappointing”. The state’s tourism agency, Destination NSW, is expected to seek to recoup a $500,000 grant awarded towards the staging of the 2026 festival. That grant is not mentioned in the company’s asset report.

OK, this means, cloudy and optimistic, that there is $993,418 (reserve, where?) + $311,706 (loans to related companies, can they pay?) BUT therermay be an extra $500K to be paid back to Destination NSW

In short:

They have only $18,104 in the bank!!! Where is the $5 million???

I do not know everything, but it looks like there have been a lot of issues, AND how do you operate an event worth millions if you only have $18,104 in the bank?

In my suspicious mind, we have an operator that milks the goverment and public.

Read further, they owe, for tickets sold $5.7 million

To summarise:

They received for ticket sales $5.7 million

They received a Grant of $0.5 million

There is a maximum of funds of $1.323 million - BUT there is only $18,104 in the bank???

You do not have to be Einstein that they hoped to sell a bucket load more tickets to pull them out of the hole and they now got scared that it will not happen.

The question remains, how they spend about $5.5 million before the event has happened?

As an aside - Not so well known: Check out the management of Bluesfest and check out family connections ☹️

I really feel sorry for everyone involved. IMO, a fantastic event, but no long term planning, internal issues, unfortunately caught by Covid and lately giving mixed signals to the public. And I am suspicious re funds used for private purposes and/or previosu mismanagement.

Maybe it is time for a new operator or someone to come up with a new idea as Peter Noble and his family is past their used by date.

Stellar lineup the one time I attended.

https://www.bluesfest.com.au/bluesfest-past-festivals-1/2004

a few highlights for me:

Femi Anikulapo Kuti and the Positive Force

Harry Manx

Mavis Staples

Taj Mahal Trio

Femi Anikulapo Kuti and the Positive Force

James Brown

Richard Thompson

The Paladins

Dr. John and the Lower 911

Harry Manx

Solomon Burke

Pharoah Sanders Quartet

Burning Spear

Frank Yamma

Toots & The Maytals

I guess as a flow on effect, I just got an email from Ticketmaster saying that Buddy Guy’s concert in Melbourne is cancelled. 😢

Walks like a duck

Quacks like a duck

Swims like a duck

Runs off with the loot like a …..

Crikey

Bluesfest owner was seeking insurance two days before can...

Three weeks before Bluesfest was scheduled to kick off, proprietor Peter Noble had not yet secured insurance coverage. Now in liquidation, the financial state of the festival is becoming increasingly