Another year, another Byron Bay Bluesfest, right? Not quite. This year’s Bluesfest is unlike any other to come before it. In addition to having what is undoubtedly the biggest and best lineup of 2016 so far (including new additions Eagles of Death Metal), it’s the start of a new phase for Bluesfest.

2016 will go down as a very important year for Australia’s favourite blues, roots, and rock festival, as it takes a big and bold step into putting on more contemporary acts, best exemplified in their controversial booking of hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar.

But if you haven’t yet bought your Bluesfest 2016 tickets, we suggest you don’t wait much longer. We’ve even gone ahead and compiled the eight main reasons why you should already be holding your tickets like they’re your precious baby.

1. The Lineup Is Huge

“I’ve got the best festival Australia has ever seen… It’s certainly the best this year,” festival director Peter Noble told us last year and really, it would be hard to disagree with him. The lineup for Bluesfest 2016 might be the festival’s biggest yet.

Organisers have catered for everyone, whether you’re into old-school blues, rock, and roots music with the likes of Brian Wilson and The Original Blues Brothers Band, or your tastes hew more contemporary, with Kendrick Lamar, The National, and more.

2. You’re Supporting An Important Local Festival

“In Australia we’re at a time where there’s less and less festivals happening, more festivals are finding it difficult to survive,” Noble also told us when we spoke to him just before the new year and again, we’ve gotta hand it to him, he’s right.

With festivals new and old alike shutting down seemingly every month and with no one immune to the hard times faced by the music industry, it’s more important than ever to get out there and show your support for one of Australia’s best and longest-running music festivals.

3. It’s An Opportunity To Discover New Music

In addition to the instantly recognisable headline acts and the iconic legends peppering the lineup, Bluesfest has always prided itself on curating a quality supporting cast, handing opportunities to up and coming blues, roots, and rock artists.

“If you go our Facebook page that’s where we put up a lot of our emerging artists,” says Noble. “If you have a look at the calibre of the artists we post, these are acts that are not known in Australia but once they play Bluesfest they’re going to be more than just an unknown, they’re going to have fans.”

4. Watch A Bluesfest Revolution Unfold

When we spoke to Peter Noble early last year, we asked him what his plans for the future of Bluesfest are. He put it very simply: moving it into a more contemporary direction, whilst making sure to retain all the classic Bluesfest fans.

It seems that 2016 is the year that Bluesfest are making their great big push into becoming known for booking the best contemporary acts. Attending Bluesfest 2016 will give you a sneak peek of what to expect from every future Bluesfest from here on out.

5. Exclusives, Exclusives, Exclusives

Fancy yourself a fan of The National? How about reggae legends UB40? Joe Bonamassa? Well then you’re going to have to go ahead and get yourself a ticket to Bluesfest 2016, because it’s the only place you’re gonna see these acts in Australia.

6. Boomerang Festival, A Festival Within A Festival

“Rhoda Roberts and I put on Boomerang around ’12 or ’13 and we realised that one the event just blew people away,” Noble recounted for us. “Just that thing where the white fellas can hang out with the black fellas, we can all dig each other, get to know each other a it better.”

“You know what that’s called? Reconciliation, and it’s not happening enough.” In 2016, Boomerang Festival will be presented as part of Bluesfest, giving punters a chance to experience some of the best Indigenous artists Australia has to offer.

7. The Programming Is Ridiculous

Alright, we know the lineup for Bluesfest is absolutely huge, but what good is a big lineup if there’s just clashes all over the place and you don’t get to experience all of your favourite acts. Bluesfest has taken care of that.

“D’Angelo is not touring with Kendrick,” said Noble, “what I wanted was Kendrick, D’Angelo to play on the same stage at the same night because I reckon you can’t beat that. When you are a festival director trying to put on the best you can – I can’t top that.”

“With Bluesfest we care about the experience the punters have and we care about when they walk in the door that very first band is going to be a knockout.” Not only do you get to experience great performances, but you walk away with legendary nights you won’t forget.

8. Flexibility

Can’t make it to the entire festival? Or maybe you’re only interested in seeing a few of the acts on the lineup? No worries, because Bluesfest is incredibly flexible, offering all sorts of packages to cater to your needs, so you can pop down for just one or two days of the festival if you feel like it.

Byron Bay Bluesfest 2016

Thursday, 24th March – Monday, 28th March 2016
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm NSW
Ticketsand info: Byron Bay Bluesfest

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