THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
IN the brutal business of music festivals Bluesfest director Peter Noble really thought this year might be a disaster.
But even with the late loss of headliners the Black Keys on top of earlier omissions, rock legend Lenny Kravitz and Sheppard, the event is still tracking to be the third biggest ever.
Even the local bus company that runs shuttles to the site cut back on services on Thursday, thinking fewer music lovers would come.
“We were always a bit afraid; it’s a brutal business,” Mr Noble said.
“But that didn’t happen. So it’s something we have raised with the bus company today. People are still coming. We need buses.”
After 26 years at the helm, Mr Noble said he did not usually walk among the crowds but on Thursday night he mingled with punters to hear the verdict.
“I just wanted to get a feeling for how people felt. You know, we’ve lost a couple of bands and I wanted to see if people were going like, ‘mate, you took my money’, or the opposite.
“I can’t tell you how many people came up and said ‘wow, what a great night’.
“So it was a challenge, I won’t say it wasn’t.
“We’ve never had a year where we’ve lost three headliners but that’s what makes a difference with Bluesfest – we are not just about the headliners.
“We’re about strong billing all the way through.
“I do believe this might yet be the second biggest Bluesfest ever. It’s definitely our third.
“So at a time when people are cancelling concerts ... Bluesfest is going from strength to strength.”
Making the daily trip from Kirra to splash in the mud puddles yesterday were friends Mandy Vigurs and Stacey Berrill.
“We bought five-day passes and are driving down every day. It’s just awesome,” Mandy said. “Doesn’t matter about the headliners, we are here for the whole thing.”