Another festival hit as Bluesfest acts find new local stages over Easter long weekend

Another Byron Shire festival has fallen victim to the growing challenges facing events across the Northern Rivers region.

The National Circus Festival, scheduled for October this year, has been postponed until 2027, with organisers citing rising costs and shifts in the funding landscape.

“Rather than deliver a reduced program, we’ve chosen to invest this time into strengthening the festival’s future,” artistic director Alice Cadwell said.

Run by Spaghetti Circus, the National Circus Festival has been staged in various forms since 2001, when it began as the Mullum Circus Festival. Held at Mullumbimby Showground, the event has become a major drawcard, showcasing both professional and emerging artists across circus, acrobatics, cabaret and live music.

The festival typically features performances under the Big Top and the Famous Spiegeltent, alongside workshops for all ages, and serves as a key hub for collaboration between local talent and international performers. It also includes five days of intensive circus training in the lead-up, delivered by some of Australia’s leading trainers and performers.

Despite the postponement, Spaghetti Circus will continue to deliver performances, training opportunities and community programs across the Northern Rivers throughout 2027.

Organisers said the next festival will run from Friday October 1 to Sunday October 3, with further details to be announced later this year.

The announcement follows the recent collapse of Bluesfest, which had been due to take over the Easter long weekend, but was cancelled three weeks ago before organisers entered liquidation.

The abrupt end to the 36-year-old festival was attributed to rising production, insurance and touring costs, coupled with low ticket sales.

A number of artists originally booked for Bluesfest have been rescheduled to perform at venues across the region. Bob Marley’s former band The Wailers will play at the Brunswick Hotel on Sunday, while Roshani, Ben Catley and Birren will perform at Blues by the Ocean at Ocean Shores Country Club on Saturday. Hussy Hicks are set to take the stage at The Eltham Hotel on Saturday.

 

The Northern will also host four days of blues music, headlined by Jeff Martin of The Tea Party, alongside performances by Paul A. George of Tijuana Cartel, Minnie Marks & Mason Rack Band and The Swamps.

The Billinudgel Hotel will also present the inaugural Billi Busk Fest over the Easter weekend, featuring live local music in the beer garden from 12pm to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, with artists including Dan Hannaford, Mathew Armitage and Stomp’n Ramblers.

The Splendour in the Grass music festival was also cancelled in 2024 and 2025 due to a combination of rising production costs, low ticket sales, and challenging weather conditions in previous years.