Patrons unlikely to be refunded millions from festival
A festival organizer is unlikely to refund customers more than $23 million in ticket sales after the event was abruptly canceled weeks before it was due to start.
Long-running music festival Bluesfest announced it was going into liquidation on Friday afternoon, leaving thousands of music fans helpless.
Founder Peter Noble appointed a liquidator to manage all financial matters, including vendor and partner liabilities, citing poor ticket sales and rising production costs in making the decision to cancel.
“After careful consideration, we have concluded that we cannot proceed to meet the standard expected by our audiences, artists and partners,” Mr. Noble said.
A 510-page report to be submitted to ASIC by the Bluesfest Enterprises liquidator outlines the company’s affairs and includes details of all ticket holders for the event.
Many customers paid between $700 and $2000 for the Easter weekend festival, with some spending up to $15,000.
Liquidator Jason Bettles told ticket holders that they could claim compensation for the money paid to the company.
“At this stage it is unlikely that any money from the liquidation will be returned to you, but we will keep you informed if the position changes,” the statement said.
“If you paid the company by credit or debit card, you may have the right to request a refund.”
Customers took to social media to vent their frustrations, with many worried they would be left thousands out of pocket.
Bluesfest, which has been a must for music lovers for over 36 years, has hosted some of the world’s greatest artists such as Bob Dylan and James Brown.
Organizers promoted Bluesfest 2025 as the final curtain call but backed down after the festival attracted more than 100,000 customers over four days.
RMIT music academic and lecturer Sam Whiting said Bluesfest’s problems were a sign of the times when large, multi-genre festivals were losing their appeal as streaming services channeled audiences towards specific artists.
“Most of the festivals that are still doing well and being competitive are genre specific… or have a huge headliner that will foot the bill,” he said.
The 2026 event was scheduled for April 2-5, and main attractions included Split Enz, Buddy Guy, and Parkway Drive.
It remains to be seen whether international acts such as Sublime, Black Crowes, Guy and the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band will continue their Australian sideshows supported by Bluesfest Tours.
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