Bluesfest, which has long been a magnet for around 100,000 fans eager to catch 200 performances over five epic days, now joins the ranks of major festivals bowing out for good, following the collapse of Big Day Out, Soundwave, and Stereosonic in the mid-2010s. Last year’s lineup boasted heavyweights like rock icon Jimmy Barnes—who made a triumphant return straight from the hospital—alongside the mellow vibes of Jack Johnson, the legendary Tom Jones, and crowd favorites Ben Harper and Elvis Costello. The festival’s history is a veritable who’s who of music legends, from Bob Dylan and Paul Simon to Kendrick Lamar, Robert Plant, James Brown, Angus and Julia Stone, and the great BB King.

But Bluesfest hasn’t escaped the drama. The 2023 edition was rocked by controversy, with a widespread boycott erupting over the booking of Sticky Fingers. The band’s frontman, Dylan Frost, faced accusations dating back to 2016 of threatening Indigenous singer-songwriter Thelma Plum, a move that sparked outrage across the music community.