Music obituaries

Here is the official statement about the cancellation of Bluesfest 2026.

After more than three decades as one of Australia's most significant music gatherings, Bluesfest will not return over Easter 2026, the Byron Bay event has been cancelled due to weak ticket sales.

Influential American blues artist JOHN HAMMOND, whose six-decade career preserved and reinterpreted traditional blues for modern audiences, has died at the age of 83.

Robert Finley Will Bring His Blues, Soul And R&B To Australia For The First Time This May, Including A Newly Confirmed Melbourne Show

Blues On Broadbeach will mark its 25th anniversary in 2026 with four days of live music on the Gold Coast from 14 May to 17 May, as the festival celebrates a quarter of a century of rhythm, soul, community spirit and international recognition. The event's landmark year follows its recent Gold win in the Major Festivals and Events category at the Queensland Tourism Awards, a result that highlights the importance of the festival in the cultural life of the state.

Joe Bonamassa has unveiled a landmark tribute to B.B. King on what would have been the late blues legend's 100th birthday. B.B. King's Blues Summit 100 will be released through Bonamassa's KTBA Records, with the full album set to arrive on 6 February 2026.