By Liz Hobday

After 35 years of Bluesfest, the final line-up will be headlined by Crowded House.

The band behind the anthem Don’t Dream it’s Over is a fitting choice, with Bluesfest the latest in a long line of music events to be scrapped.

The last Bluesfest will be held over four days on the 2025 Easter long weekend on farmland north of Byron Bay.

Crowded House also played the festival recently in 2020 and 2022, and will be joined by singer-songwriter Vance Joy.

Festival director Peter Noble said he had been moved by an outpouring of support from music lovers, and promised an epic farewell festival.

“Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. Let’s make the final Bluesfest one for the ages!” he said in a statement.

Psychedelic rockers Ocean Alley are also on the bill, along with Tones and I, of Dance Monkey fame, in her Bluesfest debut.

Grammy Award winner Gary Clark Jr. will also return to Bluesfest with soul performer Rag’n’Bone Man, and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram.

ARIA winner Fanny Lumsden is also on the slate with teen guitar sensation Taj Farrant.

Bluesfest started in 1990 and has been recognised among the top music festivals in the world, with legends such as BB King, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Paul Simon, Bonnie Rait and Robert Plant performing on its stages.

The 2024 edition featured rock legend Jimmy Barnes’ first performance since his heart surgery.

Costs have skyrocketed for staging live music events, while extreme weather events and the rising cost of living have also driven declining ticket sales.