01 Apr 2021 Less than 24 hours before it was due to have its first musical act onstage, Bluesfest has been cancelled for a second consecutive year due to the evolving COVID-19 situation in Byron Bay and Ballina. Last month, festival organisers gained approval from NSW Health to welcome roughly 15,000 patrons from tomorrow to the 120-hectare Byron Events Farm site, where artists such as Jimmy Barnes, The Church, Tash Sultana and Kasey Chambers would play to a full-seated outdoor crowd. NSW Health decided on Monday afternoon to ban Greater Brisbane residents affected by the snap three-day lockdown from day one of Bluesfest. However, NSW Health issued a statement earlier this afternoon advising that Health Minister Brad Hazzard has signed a public health order cancelling the planned music festival over the Easter period.