After being forced to cancel two years in a row, Byron Bay music festival Bluesfest has announced that they will be returning this October.

Fans were left sorely disappointed in April this year when the popular festival was cancelled less than 24 hours before gates were set to open as a result of the NSW government’s concern over a COVID-19 outbreak.

Now, it has been announced that Bluesfest is set to go ahead on the long weekend in early October.

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Promoters revealed the exciting news today over social media, posting on Twitter: “It’s finally here! The announcement you have all been waiting very patiently for.”

“Bluesfest 2021 will be back this year over the October long weekend – Friday, 1st of October to Monday, 4th of October.”

The day prior to the festival in April, organisers were forced to dish out the devastating news that the festival would be put on hold due to a local outbreak at a hens night.

Festival promoter Peter Noble said of the sudden cancellation earlier this year: “We had to get off our back and onto our knees, then learn to crawl and walk again.

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“That was one of the most traumatic things that ever happened to any cultural event in the history of Australia.”

At the time of the cancellation over the Easter weekend, Bluesfest officials posted the following statement: “After consultations with NSW Health and the NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard, sadly they have arrived at the decision that it is in the interests of the safety of everyone the festival be cancelled over the Easter period and rescheduled to a later date.”

While Bluesfest 2021 will run as a four-day event as opposed to five, organisers have revealed that attendees can look forward to even more Aussie artists being added to the bill, which will be announced next Wednesday.

Ticket holders will also be able to transfer their passes for the new event or obtain a refund.

You can read more about this topic over at the Live Music Observer.

Check out some Bluesfest 2019 highlights below:

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