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Bluesfest Collapse: Bands Push Ahead with Tours!
21 Mar
Summary
- The Wailers and The Pogues will tour Australia despite Bluesfest cancellation.
- The Wailers celebrate 50 years of Bob Marley's 'Rastaman Vibration'.
- The Pogues mark 40 years of their album 'Rum, Sodomy & the Lash'.
Despite the recent cancellation of the 2026 Bluesfest, several artists have confirmed their Australian tours will proceed as planned. The Wailers and The Pogues announced updated itineraries on March 21, 2026, offering reassurance to fans. The Wailers are set to perform a series of intimate East Coast shows through Easter weekend, including dates in Gosford, Sydney, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, and Brunswick Heads. This tour notably marks the 50th anniversary of Bob Marley's 1976 album 'Rastaman Vibration'.
The Pogues have also confirmed their Australian and New Zealand tour will go ahead as scheduled, with a new Brisbane show added for April 2, 2026. This tour celebrates the 40th anniversary of their 1985 album, 'Rum, Sodomy & the Lash'. These band confirmations come at a time of significant concern for international touring acts following the financial collapse of Bluesfest.
Concerns have been raised about upfront payments for festival appearances, with some artists potentially cancelling their entire Australian runs due to the loss of festival anchor fees. Bluesfest, originally scheduled for April 2-5, 2026, was cancelled on March 13, 2026, due to rising costs and low ticket demand, leading to the appointment of a liquidator.
