While some people might question Bluesfest’s announcement yesterday of the local Byron band Parkway Drive, known for its heavy metal and hard rock sound, Bluesfest creator and director, Peter Noble OAM, told The Echo that, ‘it’s about getting creative and influencing different audiences to come and be exposed to different music’.
He said that having multi-genre artists play at the festival is part of a long-standing programming philosophy, and that Bluesfest has never been, and will never be, limited by genre.
‘I’ve always been a major fan of the world’s great festivals,’ Peter said. ‘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.’
Peter said his lightbulb moment was almost 30 years ago when he was asked to come 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. 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 great artists like Jackson Browne. This is the first time that’s ever happened for me. I only get booked to play blues festivals, not music festivals.”
‘That moment showed me the way forward. It showed me that blues needs to be part of a wider platform. Blues should never be pushed into a corner. It belongs on stages alongside other great artists. It’s for everybody – the same way all music is for everybody,’ he explained.
Peter 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. People said a hard rock band had no place at a jazz festival. Yet that booking became part of music history.
‘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.’
Peter 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. Jazz Fest was attacked when they first presented a rap artist, Mystikal, decades ago. People went crazy,’ Peter says.
‘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 Peter Noble, Bluesfest follows that same lineage.
‘Blues will always be at the heart of Bluesfest. 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.’
Bluesfest’s diverse programming has introduced countless audiences to new artists and genres over the years – often converting first-time attendees into lifelong festival-goers. The festival has hosted first-ever festival appearances from artists including Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, Infectious Grooves, Dave Matthews Band, Jurassic 5 and many more.
‘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,’ he said.
As Bluesfest approaches its 37th year, Peter Noble is unapologetic about the festival’s direction.
‘There will always be genre-bending artists at Bluesfest. 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.
‘Just imagine, on the same stage on the same night, it goes from Skegss to The Dregs, to Sublime to Parkway Drive. That’s a bill for the ages,’ said Peter.
‘What a way to kick Bluesfest off. We’ve got Erykah Badu, who’s playing on the same stage before Earth, Wind & Fire. You know what’s weird? They both played Bluesfest 2012 but on different nights, and neither have been back to Australia since.
‘Don’t get stuck on labels. Get into the music. Support live music. Buy a ticket. Bring your children, under six they are free – but don’t forget the earplugs. Music is a gift, and it should be part of everyone’s life.’
Byron Bay Bluesfest 2026 takes place April 2–5, 2026 at the Byron Bluesfest site at Tyagarah. You can book a ticket at: https://www.bluesfest.com.au.
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