Confusion and anger as Bluesfest ticketholders question timing of cancellation
Going to Bluesfest has become an Easter tradition for the Hedley family. (Supplied)
Bluesfest is an Easter tradition for the Hedleys. The Gold Coast family has road tripped to Byron Bay to camp at the festival each year since daughter Patience turned one.
Now a 14-year-old, the festival has given her an education in live music while creating vibrant, lifelong memories with her parents to the soundtrack of some of their favourite artists: John Butler Trio and Xavier Rudd.
The family had already begun packing their caravan for the festival on the NSW North Coast when it was cancelled on Friday — just weeks out from the event.
Casey Hedley's daughter, Patience, was aged one when she went to her first Bluesfest. (Supplied)
"I couldn't believe it when I saw it, it's too late to do that,"mother Casey Hedley said.
"It's not COVID, it got cancelled a week-and-a-half out then [during the pandemic], I understood when that happened, but this … they had to have known."
The festival, in its 37th iteration, announced its line-up months in advance, which included US music veterans Earth, Wind & Fire, neo-soul singer Erykah Badu's return to Australia after 14 years and Split Enz.
In a post to social media, the festival announced liquidators had been appointed to manage all financial matters, blaming rising production, logistic, insurance and touring costs.
The Hedleys had started to pack their caravan when they heard about the cancellation. (Supplied)
Ticketholders received an email from appointed liquidation company, Worrells, on Friday afternoon, stating it would be unlikely that they would receive a refund because Bluesfest could not repay its debts.
Ms Hedley had spent close to $3,000 on this year's festival, and said it would be a slap in the face if she did not receive a refund after supporting the event for almost a decade and a half.
"This is our family holiday every year, we saved for this … we've got a mortgage," she said.
"It makes you feel irate, I do not think they have handled this properly."
She suggested the state government should intervene in the situation and investigate what had gone wrong.
Split Enz was among this year's headlining acts. (Supplied: Live Nation)
'They would've known last week'
Destination NSW has supported the festival since 2009, and was providing a $500,000 grant to support it this year.
A spokesperson for tourism minister Steve Kamper said the agency would try to recoup those costs.
Melbourne man Ben Jenner attended Bluesfest for the first time last year, after founder Peter Noble said it would be the final one.
After Mr Noble backflipped on that claim, Mr Jenner booked accommodation and flights late last year to the 2026 event.
Ben Jenner spent $5,600 in total on the festival. (Supplied)
He waited out to get tickets, trying to snag a last-minute deal when he purchased them last week.
Mr Jenner spent $5,600 in total on the festival, including flights and accommodation and was infuriated when he heard the event had been cancelled.
"They would've known last week, so many people have booked accommodation and flights around Australia," he said.
"It just seems like a bit of a dodgy move.
"I think they would've known a long time ago that it wouldn't have been going ahead, but still they have been pushing ticket sales up until last week."
He said the experience would deter him from buying tickets to other multi-day festivals in the future.
"It makes me wary."