Byron Bay Bluesfest

“My festival is not owned by an overseas multinational. I own my festival"

The festival returns for its 34th year with a line-up that includes Crows, Femi Kuti, Beck, Mavis Staples, Tash Sultana, Gang of Youths and more

“We hope that the wait will seem worthwhile when we return”

“We apologise to those artists, sponsors and any others we involved in this matter through our mistaken belief that forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built,” says a statement from the festival

A representative for The Soul Rebels claimed festival director Peter Noble cancelled their Bluesfest appearances and tour "in bad faith and in breach of contract”, which Noble has denied

“Is Australia the only place in the world where a minority attempts to ban one of Australia's great bands over something that happened so many years ago?” Bluesfest director Peter Noble asked

The Byron Bay festival has become the centre of a controversy due to its booking of the band Sticky Fingers

“This cruelty and lack of compassion are foreign to my values, as is the attempt to suppress the band’s artistic expression,” Peter Noble wrote

It comes a week after the festival announced and then defended its booking of the band Sticky Fingers

Festival director Peter Noble has said Bluesfest are "happy to welcome" back "the bad boys of Australian music"