Blues fans to see red when Split Enz headline festival

Music fans will be happy that history sometimes repeats itself as legendary Kiwi band Split Enz reunite to headline the resurrected Byron Bay Bluesfest.

The progressive/art rock pioneers, known for hits such as I Got You, I See Red, History Never Repeats, Message to My Daughter and Six Months on a Leaky Boat, will play their first Australian show in almost 20 years at the four-day Easter music festival in northern NSW.

Led by original members Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie and Eddie Rayner, the band reformed to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

More than 109,000 people have trekked to Byron Bay for what has been billed as the “last ever” Bluesfest in 2025, according to organisers; It was the third largest crowd in the event’s history.

Split Enz is among the top 35 artists in the first line-up announcement for the 2026 festival; This list also includes Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Earth, Wind and Fire, blues treasure Buddy Guy, The Pogues, The Black Crows, Counting Crows and Sublime.

The return of Bluesfest comes after festival director Peter Noble previously announced that 2025 would be the event’s last.

Mr Noble said the support of patrons and artists since the announcement that 2025 could be the final year had kept the dream alive.

“This is a call for me. People want this event. People want it to continue,” he said.

Mr Noble said “major improvements” had been made to the “festival experience” after customers criticized the 2025 event as “oversold”.

“Our main stage will feature a larger venue area, new seating areas and undercover areas for campers and lounge chairs both indoors and outdoors,” he said in a statement.

“We’re adding more buses to more areas and responding directly to our audience’s requests.”

Bluesfest plays at Byron Bay Events Farm from April 2-5.