Byron Bay Bluesfest
Byron Bay Bluesfest
3.5
About
Now internationally recognised, Bluesfest attracts an array of Blues and Roots artists from all over the world, as well as offering the stage to a wide variety of local performers. Held over the Easter long weekend in Byron Bay, the festival showcases amazing musical talent inside the huge grounds, and offers lots of great food and drink options, camping facilities and family-friendly activities in a truly Australian, laidback environment.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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3.5
99 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
13
Average
9
Poor
16
Terrible
21
SuGar_rett
Sydney, Australia69 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Really well organised with lots of staff to help along the way.
Paid in advanced parking good and easy to find.
Lots of stalls with local products.
Lots of food outlets.
Lots of alcohol outlets.
The weather was sensational even though it rained briefly one evening.
The ground didn’t get too muddy and there was lots of available cover.
We brought folding camp chairs. I would highly recommend bringing something like this if you intend on going as most of the chairs in the tents were occupied and you’ll be more comfortable whilst waiting for a band to start.
We had to empty our water bottles at their checkpoint just in case it contained alcohol.
This year there was 4 main tents housing different entertainers and bands. With help of the bluesfest app, you can plan your time there.
Bring a light jacket for evening as it’s gets a bit cool. And a good pair of walking boots as it’s very dusty and you do spend a lot of time walking between tents.
Pros:
Good line up of entertainers
Toilets were surprisingly clean
Lots to see and listen to
Free water stations
Family friendly
Cons:
Very expensive
A plastic cup of wine $12-17 for approx 110 mls
Many good mixes ran out before the nights end.
Food starts at $17 for anything substantial but very small portions
Paid in advanced parking good and easy to find.
Lots of stalls with local products.
Lots of food outlets.
Lots of alcohol outlets.
The weather was sensational even though it rained briefly one evening.
The ground didn’t get too muddy and there was lots of available cover.
We brought folding camp chairs. I would highly recommend bringing something like this if you intend on going as most of the chairs in the tents were occupied and you’ll be more comfortable whilst waiting for a band to start.
We had to empty our water bottles at their checkpoint just in case it contained alcohol.
This year there was 4 main tents housing different entertainers and bands. With help of the bluesfest app, you can plan your time there.
Bring a light jacket for evening as it’s gets a bit cool. And a good pair of walking boots as it’s very dusty and you do spend a lot of time walking between tents.
Pros:
Good line up of entertainers
Toilets were surprisingly clean
Lots to see and listen to
Free water stations
Family friendly
Cons:
Very expensive
A plastic cup of wine $12-17 for approx 110 mls
Many good mixes ran out before the nights end.
Food starts at $17 for anything substantial but very small portions
Written 10 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
westcj
Koroit3 contributions
Mar 2021
Bluesfest management badly mishandled the cancellation of the 2021 festival. On the morning of the cancellation, Wednesday 31 March, the Bluesfest website was still saying that festival was all systems go - " Please be assured that Bluesfest is going ahead this Easter Long Weekend", and the camping grounds were opening at 10 am as planned.
Myself and hundreds of others took this as being factual , arrived and set up camps on Wednesday only to be told at 4.30 pm that the festival had been cancelled.
What Management should have said on their website on Tuesday 30 March was the festival was planning to go ahead, but if it was possible, try and delay your arrival until a final decision will have been made.
On Tuesday , Bluesfest would have known that there was a threat of the festival being cancelled and this should have been made clear to the ticket holders.
This would have saved many ticket holders, including myself, a long and pointless drive to the festival site and given people time to come up with a Plan B in terms of finding alternative accommodation for Easter, if required
The corporate buzzword for the last few years has been 'transparency' , Bluesfest is like many other businesses, it seems to have little understanding of the word.
Myself and hundreds of others took this as being factual , arrived and set up camps on Wednesday only to be told at 4.30 pm that the festival had been cancelled.
What Management should have said on their website on Tuesday 30 March was the festival was planning to go ahead, but if it was possible, try and delay your arrival until a final decision will have been made.
On Tuesday , Bluesfest would have known that there was a threat of the festival being cancelled and this should have been made clear to the ticket holders.
This would have saved many ticket holders, including myself, a long and pointless drive to the festival site and given people time to come up with a Plan B in terms of finding alternative accommodation for Easter, if required
The corporate buzzword for the last few years has been 'transparency' , Bluesfest is like many other businesses, it seems to have little understanding of the word.
Written 3 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbara O'Neill
1 contribution
Apr 2022
We were onsite campers and elected to pay extra to stay in the 'Tent Motel' we, along with fellow campers experienced extremely unhygenic toilet and shower facilities. The toilets and showers had no water on day one, they were cleaned overnight the first night, and not cleaned inside for the duration of the festival, ran out of water for flushing of waste in toilets,and for showers every day. Disguitsting toilet facilities inside the festival site, a health and safety disaster, Despite allerting those responsible nothing was done.
Worst festival experience ever. Have attended Bluesfest before but this one was oversold and nothing was done to improve the putrid stench of the surrounds. Negative comments posted on Instagram alerting the festival organisers of the health and safety issues were promptly deleted. Is this legal?? We Festival attendees paid a lot of money to attend it was a massive disappointment.
Worst festival experience ever. Have attended Bluesfest before but this one was oversold and nothing was done to improve the putrid stench of the surrounds. Negative comments posted on Instagram alerting the festival organisers of the health and safety issues were promptly deleted. Is this legal?? We Festival attendees paid a lot of money to attend it was a massive disappointment.
Written 25 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul R
Gold Coast, Australia10 contributions
Apr 2022 • Friends
Waste of money! Line ups are ridiculous. Tickets obviously oversold and Sevices underdelivered
VIP tickets a waste 1 hour line up for drinks and now seating available. Similar line ups for food and drink in general admission.
Music line up was good with some great music. Better prep of the audience area required at each stage tent to prevent the mud pit!! Won’t be going again!!
VIP tickets a waste 1 hour line up for drinks and now seating available. Similar line ups for food and drink in general admission.
Music line up was good with some great music. Better prep of the audience area required at each stage tent to prevent the mud pit!! Won’t be going again!!
Written 15 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John S
1 contribution
Apr 2022 • Couples
Good music food beer (though costly) and shops.
Absolutely ruined by very overcrowded mud filled smelly poorly lit venue with boggy parking ground. Stages under large tents - packed like sardines.
For the 150 daily cost and high priced food/drink I'm surprised at the issues. Perhaps make an effort to put down some crusher dust after on mud each day ...
First time attending - unfortunately sounds like best years behind it. Would attend again only if venue change / high confidence management fixed issues.
Absolutely ruined by very overcrowded mud filled smelly poorly lit venue with boggy parking ground. Stages under large tents - packed like sardines.
For the 150 daily cost and high priced food/drink I'm surprised at the issues. Perhaps make an effort to put down some crusher dust after on mud each day ...
First time attending - unfortunately sounds like best years behind it. Would attend again only if venue change / high confidence management fixed issues.
Written 16 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David B
1 contribution
Apr 2022
Paid over 2 grand for glamping at Bluesfest Byron Bay, which supposedly included a king size mattress elevated on pallets.
What we got instead was a wafer-thin mattress on the tent floor, which was so short, my feet were resting on the clothes rack!
I am approximately 180cm tall. Tent was also way smaller than as described.
What we got instead was a wafer-thin mattress on the tent floor, which was so short, my feet were resting on the clothes rack!
I am approximately 180cm tall. Tent was also way smaller than as described.
Written 7 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CyberkiwiNZ
1 contribution
Apr 2019
I have wanted to attend the Bluesfest for a few years and when the opportunity arose to volunteer, I was in. Despite having to work 5 hours a day in a bar (Rock on Byron Bay Brewery !!), there was plenty of time to listen, watch, interact with the crowd and of course the music. There was much I had not heard before, have new favourites streaming and my bags back to NZ were full of music and mementos.
Having attended several music festivals in my time around the world (Nearing 60 years old), the Bluesfest environment was safe for all ages, well behaved and environmental considerate. I'm back for 2020 and onwards.
Having attended several music festivals in my time around the world (Nearing 60 years old), the Bluesfest environment was safe for all ages, well behaved and environmental considerate. I'm back for 2020 and onwards.
Written 23 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
caronnect
15 contributions
Apr 2022
Mudfest 2022. After recent rains, this wasn't surprising but MUST wear sturdy, waterproof boots that can be hosed off later.
Amazing music: 4.5 out of 5 for the many talented musicians & excellent food/shopping stalls. Only 'problems' were the venues were spread out & many clashes / overlaps. Sound engineering was very poor if not inside the tents.
Terrible: Only 2 out of 5 for VIP (absolute sh*t experience), transport logistics, non-existent seating & poor sound engineering. DO NOT BUY VIP - absolute scam for $100+ pp/day. Did not provide promised food (none in VIP), very limited seating (hard benches & almost no seating inside), NO view of nearby stage (deliberately blocked views by covering fences) & locked out of VIP without notice on 2 nights from 11pm.
Amazing music: 4.5 out of 5 for the many talented musicians & excellent food/shopping stalls. Only 'problems' were the venues were spread out & many clashes / overlaps. Sound engineering was very poor if not inside the tents.
Terrible: Only 2 out of 5 for VIP (absolute sh*t experience), transport logistics, non-existent seating & poor sound engineering. DO NOT BUY VIP - absolute scam for $100+ pp/day. Did not provide promised food (none in VIP), very limited seating (hard benches & almost no seating inside), NO view of nearby stage (deliberately blocked views by covering fences) & locked out of VIP without notice on 2 nights from 11pm.
Written 20 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frudels
Townsville, Australia10 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Disappointing. Top acts cancelled at the last minute but were still being advertised on the Blues festival website to sell tickets. Very dodgy. Everything was overpriced. No dust control. Spent the whole time breathing in dirt. They won't suck me in again.
Written 17 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brigitte R
3 contributions
Oct 2020 • Family
Disappointing- bought 6, 3 day tickets for my family for 2020 Bluesfest. Covid happens and I think- no worries I’ll go next time. Then the next one is cancelled and I think, I guess I’ll get my money back ( $1600!) ABSOLUTELY impossible to get a refund. Bad communication, saying they will give me a refund then nothing. It’s been postponed a third time and who knows if it will even go ahead. It’s not their fault they have to postpone, but I should get to decide if i want my money back. Who says I can even go at a different time and different year! Different circumstances… seriously.
Written 17 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Considering flying to Australia for this. I would be very disappointed if the venue's I most want to see were too full to get into, for instance, MOJO on the Saturday night. Is that a possibility?
Written 7 March 2023
Hi if we are taking our caravan and staying in the camp area, Is it pet friendly. ??
Written 16 February 2023
Hi all! We are looking at how to get to Bluesfest without a car, & therefore where to stay (I can't walk far, so it needs to be near shuttle bus stops?). I can't seem to find this info on the Bluesfest website - can anyone help please?
Written 25 September 2019
Hey Roam,
Sorry for the delay. If you email us via our contact form on our website we can send you the 2019 map.
Written 2 December 2019
Is there many drugs and drugged out people getting around? Is it safe and appropriate to bring little children to?
Written 21 August 2019
I wouldn’t hesitate to take kids. Loads of families go. I believe it is a safe & family friendly environment.
Given the demographic of the majority of patrons, at a guess, is around 50 +. Of course there are young & older too. I’ve never seen or experienced the drug problems that occur at other festivals that are aimed at the younger crew.
Many parents have ear muffs on kids to protect from loud music. Many use carts for kids to nap & ride in. They decorate them and look great!
Organisers are vigilant in their admission at gates. Police & sniffer dogs present, but not all the time. Police also roaming the festival crowds. That said you do get the occasional whiff of pot.
There is alcohol sold (No byo) & there is the odd one who has had a little too much. Never have I seen anything aggressive or in any way harmful. I’ve attended this festival for at least the last 15 years.
By all means take the kids & introduce them to a variety of music artists, fantastic food, fun and create some magnificent memories! Enjoy 😊
Written 6 September 2019
Possibly, but if you have to drive out of the festival grounds to go and get some you will be hit the the daily parking charge every day. $50 per day if your not aware and don't repurchase the $25 per day prepaid voucher. Otherwise your car must stay on site.
Written 27 February 2019
Check the Bluesfest website for costs, but you are better off staying up the road at Tweed Heads and having brekky near the beach a swim and go to the Bluesfest around lunchtime or mid afternoon
Written 25 July 2017
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