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Byron Shire
June 17, 2026

Crowds pour in to catch Bluesfest stars

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Crowds, rather than rain, started pouring into Bluesfest this afternoon for the Saturday highlights including global Latino stars the Gipsy Kings and Rodrigo y Gabriela. kickass US soul band Alabama Shakes, Irish crooner Hozier and Scottish balladeer Paolo Nutini.

The popular guitar raffle kept volunteers for Cystic Fibrosis NSW such as Keith busy at Bluefest. Photo Luis Feliu
The popular guitar raffle kept volunteers for Cystic Fibrosis NSW such as Keith busy at Bluefest. Photo Luis Feliu

Light rain fell over the festival site at Tyagarah today (Saturday) but punters revelled in the feel-good friendly atmosphere where a common love of music in all its styles bonds them all.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting showers tomorrow, with the chance of a thunderstorm but clearing for Monday with only a slight chance of showers at night.

~ Photos Jeff Dawson

More stories from Bluesfest 2015

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In a last minute scramble to get shows in the region, Brandin Farrant, father of music prodigy Taj Farrant, says that the cancellation of Bluesfest has been rough on a lot of levels.

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Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, has a message for everyone wondering what to do with their Easter weekend plans following the cancellation of Bluesfest last week – come to Byron Bay anyway.

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