Rap, rock, blues or hip-hop – anything goes under Bluesfest’s ‘open sky’
Byron Bay Bluesfest looks like it will be a cracker – with something for everyone, thanks to the philosophy of festival boss Peter Noble who says Bluesfest has never been, and will never be, limited by genre.
Since its humble beginnings in 1990, Bluesfest Byron Bay has grown into one of the world’s most significant music festivals. Recognised globally and honoured with dozens of awards, Bluesfest has presented legends including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Santana, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Mary J. Blige, Robert Plant, Kendrick Lamar, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Taj Mahal and Lauryn Hill.
This Easter, Bluesfest continues its tradition of bringing together the best in contemporary, blues, roots, soul, rock and beyond – across multiple stages, with a program that also features camping, food experiences, family activities and cultural celebrations.
Once again this year, tens of thousands of fans will gather at the 122ha Byron Events Farm, 11km north of Byron Bay, to be part of this unique festival community – with a line-up that includes Split Enz, Earth Wind & Fire, Parkway Drive, The Wailers, Buddy Guy and The Black Crowes.
Festival director Peter Noble says Bluesfest has never been, and will never be, limited by genre.
“I’ve always been a major fan of the world’s great festivals,” Noble says. “Particularly the Montreux Jazz Festival under its legendary founder Claude Nobs and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival under George Wein. These presenters showed the world something very important – that music is an open sky.”
‘If you don’t love the blues, you’ve got a hole in your soul. But if you love music, you should love great music – and that’s what Bluesfest is about’
He points to the history of legendary festivals that were once fiercely criticised for stepping outside their perceived genre boundaries – decisions that later proved visionary.
“Claude Nobs booked Deep Purple at Montreux Jazz in the mid-1960s and was absolutely crucified for it,” he says. “People said a hard rock band had no place at a jazz festival. Yet that booking became part of music history.
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“While Deep Purple were there, they watched a building burn across Lake Geneva after a fire broke out during another concert. That moment inspired them to write Smoke on the Water, one of the most famous rock songs of all time. It came directly from a so-called ‘wrong’ booking at a jazz festival.
“That booking happened nearly 60 years ago – and it’s still called the Montreux Jazz Festival. Don’t worry about the name of a festival. Get into the music they put on.”
Noble says this creative courage can be seen throughout the world’s great festivals.
“You see it at Glastonbury Festival, where genre boundaries were broken long before it was fashionable, and particularly at Jazz Fest in New Orleans,” he says. “Jazz Fest was attacked when they first presented a rap artist – Mystikal – decades ago. People went crazy.
“They were criticised again when they booked artists like Dave Matthews Band. Today, those decisions are celebrated. Those festivals understood that great music belongs on great stages, regardless of labels.”
For Noble, Bluesfest follows that same lineage.
“Blues will always be at the heart of Bluesfest,” he insists. “If you don’t love the blues, you’ve got a hole in your soul. But if you love music, you should love great music – and that’s what Bluesfest is about. We ain’t genre specific.”
He recalls a defining moment early in the festival’s history that shaped its future direction.
“Many years ago, I was asked to go backstage and speak with Macavine Hayes, a blues musician from the Music Maker Foundation who had just performed. He was in his 80s. He took my hand and said, ‘Thank you for booking me on your festival’. But he didn’t let go.”
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“Then he said, ‘You don’t understand what I’m really saying. I’ve been playing the blues all my life, but this is the first time I’ve ever been booked on a music festival alongside renowned artists like Jackson Browne’. He said ‘This is the first time that’s ever happened for me. I only get booked to play blues festivals, not music festivals.’
“That moment, close to 30 years ago, showed me the way forward. It showed me that blues needs to be part of a wider platform.”
Noble says blues should never be pigeonholed or isolated.
“Blues should never be pushed into a corner,” he says. “It belongs on stages alongside other great artists. It’s for everybody – the same way all music is for everybody.”
Bluesfest’s diverse programming has introduced countless audiences to new artists and genres over the years – often converting first-time attendees into lifelong festivalgoers. The festival has hosted first-ever festival appearances from artists including Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Infectious Grooves, Dave Matthews Band, Jurassic 5 and others.
“Someone recently posted that they came to Bluesfest in 2024 only to see Infectious Grooves – a band that included a member of Metallica. Because of everything else they were exposed to, they’re now coming every year,” Noble says.
As Bluesfest approaches its 37th festival, Noble is unapologetic about its direction.
“There will always be genre-bending artists at Bluesfest,” he says. “There will always be artists who challenge you as an audience. That’s what great festivals are meant to do. That’s what Bluesfest does.
“Don’t get stuck on labels. Get into the music. Support live music. Buy a ticket. Bring your children – but don’t forget the earplugs. Music is a gift, and it should be part of everyone’s life.”
Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026 runs April 2-5 at the Byron Events Farm, northern NSW.
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