Over 105,000 people went to Bluesfest this year

Last weekend’s Bluesfest Byron Bay reached an accumulated attendance of over 105,000 over five days, making it one of its biggest crowds.

In its 28th year, it drew alongside that of 2015, which had 105,475 through the gates, and beat 2014’s 104,526.

However the festival’s attendance summit remains 2011. That was a six-day event with a peerless bill – including Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Ben Harper, Elvis Costello, Grace Jones and George Clinton –and more than 110,000 turned out.

Festival Director Peter Noble OAM commented on the 2017 version: “I think everybody that came this year will tell you that this has been one of the great Bluesfests, and in my opinion certainly within our top 3.”

The artists were most complimentary. Bonnie Raitt exclaimed, “This is one of the world class, great festivals of all time” while Eric Gales called it “by far, to me one of my favourite overseas festivals”.

“What a night! Byron Bay blew us away, thank you for singing louder than the PA,” said The Doobie Brothers.

Paul Janeway (of St. Paul and The Broken Bones who made their Australian debut at Bluesfest) confirmed, “This is our favourite festival in the world and we’ll come back every year if you let us.”

Noble expressed admiration for acts making their Bluesfest debuts as Laura Mvula, Nikki Hill and Melody Angel.

He also remarked on careers the festival has built in this country.

“If you were actually here at Bluesfest you would know what I’m talking about. The emerging artists are now known artists, the returning artists have cemented their careers even more strongly and every single legend shone.”

Despite the loss of Neil Young and Barry Gibb from the lineup, such legends as Patti Smith, Carlos Santana, Buddy Guy and Jethro Tull turned in peerless performances.

A talking point was the array of women on the bill.

They included Patti Smith, Mary J. Blige. Bonnie Raitt, Nikki Hill, Kasey Chambers, Courtney Barnett, Rickie Lee Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, Beth Hart, Irish Mythen and Joan Osborne.

“Backstage is like a rock’n’roll fantasy camp, especially seeing such a female presence around has been incredible,” said Hill.

The Boomerang Festival also generated impressive performances, including headliner Leonard Summer from Canada, and former Yothu Yindi band members joiningYirramal on stage.

Cystic Fibrosis raised a record-breaking $55,000 through their guitar raffles, bringing them to a total of $530,000 raised over 18 years at the festival.

The Playing For Change Foundation, which creates positive change through music and arts education, raised over $30,000 at their charity stall for the 14 school programs they run around the world.

In terms of economic impact, past figures showed that Bluesfest injected $64.1 million to Byron Shire, $84.2 million to the Northern Rivers and $150.6 million in NSW.

But the effect is increasingly expanding to the Gold Coast. Bluesfest is 50 minutes’ drive from Coolangatta/Gold Coast Airport and 70 minutes from Surfers Paradise.

More artists and patrons are preferring to stay in Queensland and commute, given that accommodation in Byron is completely packed out during the festival.