A note from Peter Noble, Festival Director:

Hello ##firstname##,

Peter Noble, Festival Director

Thank you for all your support over the years ... Bluesfest has been a long journey from a nightclub in Byron Bay, where we started, to owning, and now building, our very own home at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm.

So many people have come to me and said this year's Bluesfest was the best ever - the site works completed have produced a level where it can be easily seen we care about you - our festival goer - who has supported us down the years - or our brand new Bluesfest attendee, who I hope are impressed by our efforts.

We have ALWAYS put quality before profit - and continue to invest in our site - which many in our industry are now calling the best event site in Australia. Once we have completed the event site, we will move on to completing the driveways in the car parks and camping areas - and then we intend to build permanent shower and toilets, box offices, buildings for our staff, performances etc. All of this will not happen overnight - however, we do have a goal of getting there within 5 years.

Our other goals are to present a Shakespearean Festival, an indigenous festival - and to do a few one day events - none of whom should be intrusive on our neighbours - who we value, because we are a part of this community too.

I am asking you to support our aspirations by filling in the submission report below to Byron Shire Council to ensure their ongoing support.

David Crosby of Crosby, Stills & Nash

Believe me, most of the councillors support us - why wouldn't they - what we are doing is a great example to our community of what creative people can contribute - through excellent art presentations, job creation, training in the arts for locals and through the millions of dollars we bring into our community through your attendance at our event(s).

Thank you for your support - I am truly humbled.

Sincerely

Peter Noble,
Festival Director

Time is running out for you to have a say against the Byron Council Events Policy

This policy singles out music as the ONLY form of event to be banned in the Byron Shire.

It is discriminatory toward music lovers - after all the policy allows sporting events, food & wine festivals, writers festivals, film festivals, cane toad race festivals, religious events - IN FACT - EVERY type of event EXCEPT music.

It denies people who love music the opportunity to experience it in the Byron Shire. It only allows 2 events per year, where audiences of 6,000 or more attend. We do not want this to be a burden on our neighbours and this community and are NOT advocating more than a couple of one day concerts yearly at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, as well as Bluesfest.

WE DON'T THINK THIS IS UNREASONABLE!

We have attempted to work closely with Byron Shire Council to allow us to present other events responsibly on our site - and support other responsible music events throughout our shire. They are not listening. So we need your support to make this possible.

IF YOU:

• LOVE LIVE MUSIC
• OPPOSE THE BYRON EVENTS POLICY AS IT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST MUSIC EVENTS
• WISH TO SEE A MORE LIBERAL POLICY

Then please fill in the petition by clicking on the button below.

PLEASE ACT NOW: THE DEADLINE TO RECEIVE YOUR SUBMISSIONS IS APRIL 24 Even if you can't respond by April 24 - please do so whenever you can - and we will send your protest on to Byron Shire Council anyway. Your Bluesfest Team