THE BLUES ROOM: Bluesfest 2009 - News Update

Dear Nate,

It's Bluesfest time, welcome everybody.

Please enjoy and remember, we are an aware event - recycling and having compassion for Byron residents by celebrating appropriately when you return to your accommodation is a big part of the reason our town supports the festival - please help to keep it that way.

We have been fortunate that the rain that devastated Coffs Harbour and back of the Sunshine Coast last week has not been near as torrential in Byron. We have received moderate rain over the past week, however it is fine today, and the forecast is for sunny days with typical north coast showers now and over Bluesfest.

The festival site is in very good condition. For those camping - the ground may not have fully dried out by the festival - please bring appropriate ground cover - and if you can set up your camping so you do not lay on the ground, it is a very good idea. The car park has received the worst of the rain, and we may not be able to sell much parking at the fest, as those who have already bought parking tickets will receive priority.

You should strongly consider using our bus shuttles - they work brilliantly.

Have a great festival,

Peter Noble, Festival director.

...

The Bluesfest team wish to remind you that should you still wish to drive there will be parking in Byron Industrial Estate. This is approximately 15 minute walk from the Bluesfest. During last year's Splendour in the Grass festival at Belongil Fields a gang of thieves targeted cars parked in the Byron Industrial Estate and stole items from cars by smashing windows. Do not leave anything in view in your car. Our security will patrol this area but we cannot guarantee the security of your vehicle.

The fantastic indigenous band BANAWURUN has just been added to the Bluesfest InDIG Stage on Sunday night.

Times

The Bluesfest Ticket Sales Box opens at 10am daily. You can pick up your pre-paid tickets from the Pre-Paid Pick-Up window in the Ticket Sales Box. We will be wrist banding at the Ticket Sales Box from 10am Thursday and Friday.

Day	Gates Open	Gates Close
Thursday 9th	2pm	Midnight
Friday 10th	11am	Midnight
Saturday 11th	11am	Midnight
Sunday 12th	11am	Midnight
Monday 13th	11am	Midnight

Festival Entry

There are two entrances to the festival at Belongil Fields. The main entrance is easily accessible from Ewingsdale Road and is also the drop-off point for the shuttle buses that will be operating during the festival. The Melaleuca Drive entrance should be used by those wanting to use the parking facility. There is a Ticket Sales Box at both entrances to the festival.

Age

Bluesfest is a 15+ event. All patrons wishing to purchase beverages from the bars must show photo ID (valid passport, drivers licence or proof of age card). Ticketed patrons under 15 are welcome but must be accompanied by a Responsible Adult at all times.

Wristbands

Upon entry you will be fitted with a wristband representative of your ticket type and age. Take good care of your wristband. It is not transferable and once it is removed it becomes invalid. You will be required to present your wristband to security upon request.

Please Note: We will be wrist banding on site from 10am Thursday and Friday from the Ticket Sales Box.

Passouts

As Bluesfest is a 5 day event, you are welcome to come in and out of the festival. Your wristband acts as your pass out.

Shuttle bus

Blanch's Bus Company will be running buses from Ballina, Lennox Head, Suffolk Park, Sunrise Beach & Mullumbimby. Ph: 02 6686 2144 or visit www.blanchs.com.au. Brunswick Valley Coaches will be running buses from Ocean Shores, New Brighton and Brunswick Heads. Ph: 02 6680 1566 or visit www.brunswickvalleycoaches.com.au. Price is $3.

Share & Ride To Bluesfest

Take our shuttle bus and not your car. The service is excellent at all times and will get you to Bluesfest and back again to Byron Bay and Suffolk Park areas faster as well as cheaper than your car will. You will help everybody by keeping traffic movements to a minimum.

A continuous regular shuttle bus service will operate back and forth between the festival front gates, the bus stop in front of the Byron Bay Tourist Centre and Suffolk Park. You will find the bus service is fantastic and delivers you almost to the festival front gates - and even at peak times it should take no longer than 20 minutes to get to your home in Byron Bay. Phone Blanch's on 02 6686 2144 or visit www.blanchs.com.au.

Parking

The patron car park is accessible from Melaleuca Drive:

	Temporary "No Stopping" signs will be installed in Ewingsdale Road in front of the site
	Please DO NOT park in the Sunrise Residential area
	Council Parking Rangers will be on patrol throughout the weekend
	Please do bot leave your valuables in the car

Disable Persons Pick Up/Drop Off

There will be a drop off area for disabled persons adjacent to the front festival gate. An area of the Day Parking Area will be set aside for disabled parking. Please call the Bluesfest Hotline (02) 6685 7920 to clarify these arrangements.

Traffic Changes

After working closely with Byron Shire Council and Byron Bay Police, our consultants have formulated a traffic management plan to manage and minimise traffic in proximity to the Bluefest site at Belongil Fields, Ewingsdale Road to Byron Bay. The following changes will take place from Wednesday 8th April through to Tuesday 14th April 2009.

Temporary Sheltered Right Turn Intersections will be constructed at Ewingsdale Rd/Belongil Fields main entrance and Ewingsdale Rd/Melaleuca Drive. They have been designed to assist the steady flow of traffic and will be managed by RTA accredited traffic controllers. However, please be prepared for a possible delay.

Temporary Pedestrian Crossing

For all those wanting to walk across Ewingsdale Road, please use the PEDESTRIAN CROSSING we have set up near the Belongil Fields entrance. Traffic controllers will ensure the safest and most efficient passage for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Camping

Camping is not allowed in the Melaleuca Drive Day Parking Area or on local beaches, parks or roadside. Camping is only allowed in official campgrounds. Please observe regulations or you risk being fined.

Please do not leave valuables in your tent. Lock them securely in the boot of your car out of sight. We have both Camp Marshalls and security patrolling the area. Should you see anyone in your camp area who is not wearing a camp wristband please report them to a Camp Marshall or security guard.

Exit

Please respect the local residents, the environment and our town when leaving the festival.

Bring with you

	Your ticket (e-ticket or normal ticket).
	Photo I.D
	Enough cash to get you through the day (there will be 5 ATM's on site).
	Protection from the elements (hat, sunscreen, raincoat, something warm for when it gets dark, gumboots are a great idea when it has been raining)

Leave at home

	Alcohol
	Illicit substances - Drug Detection Dogs will be present at the festival
	Unsealed bottles
	Glass
	Professionals cameras
	Video or audio recorders
	Umbrellas
	Animals

Bars

There are 3 bars and 1 VIP bar at Bluesfest serving a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. A bar ticket system will be operating. You will need to purchase drink tickets and exchange them for drinks at the bar. Water is available from the bar as well as at water refill sites around the festival.

Bluesfest promotes responsible consumption of alcohol. Please be aware to drink responsibly. Be wise and take a bus to and from the festival. Please respect the good order of the neighbourhood and minimise noise when coming to and leaving the festival.

Smoking areas

As a result of smoking laws in NSW, cigarettes will not be sold inside the festival and you must refrain from smoking inside the tents. Please dispose of your cigarette butts thoroughly in the bins provided or pick up your free 'Bin You Butt' container from the information stall.

Info & safety

The Bluesfest information stall is there to help you with all enquires you may have. St John's Ambulance will be operating throughout the Festival to assist you with any medical condition you may have. In the event of an emergency, please make your way to one of the emergency exits and follow the directions from Bluesfest Management and security staff.

If you are camping we advise that you all leave valuables in your car out of sight. Security will be present in the campground for your safety.

Green initiatives

Bluesfest only allows recyclable packaging and plastic on site from stalls and suppliers and we provide clearly marked recycling stations placed around the site for you to use. Our waste wise message is "Waste Wise- Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle".

Food Stalls

This year the Blues will showcase a total of 32 food outlets offering a delicious range of fresh meals and snacks foods from South American to Portuguese, Middle Eastern or Indian, a good old Ozzie Burger, crepes or corn on the cob. Your taste buds will be satisfied wherever you go on this amazing festival site.

This year the food hall will be located in the Crossroads area with plenty of seating and don't forget your picnic rug to sit down in the Mojo & Jambalaya areas whilst you wait for your favourite band to come on stage. Whether you search for your favourite or try something new, come hungry and don't forget to use the correct recycle bins once you're finished.

Market Stalls

The Jambalaya area will be the highlight for those with the shopping blues with33 market stalls displaying clothing and jewellery designs, hemp products, rainbow flags, artworks, bags, silk clothing, hats and many beautiful items from all over the world. Keep an eye out for the original locally made designs and when you're finished shopping cruise over to the Crossroads area for a massage and to watch the Sandology creation come to life before you.

Mullawar Aboriginal Gallery & Didge Workshop

For the first time Bluesfest welcomes Mullawar Aboriginal Gallery & Didgeridoo Workshop, the very artists and workshop co-ordinators who have made themselves famous at Woodford Festival. They will be located besides the InDIG Stage. Join them to create your very own didgeridoo over the 5 days of the festival and see artwork on display.

Charity Stalls

This year Bluesfest proudly supports seven charities, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will be raffling the famous Gibson Guitars and Bay FM 99.9 Byron Bay, Westpac Lifesaver Rescue, Save the Kimberley's, Landcare Australia, Marine Wildlife, The Dreaming Festival and The Yaowiwat School will also be there in need of our support. Please show your support generously.

Recycling

Bluesfest is proud to say that more recyclables were collected in 2008 than any other year at the festival. We thank you for contributing to Bluesfest's success at being a leader in waste management. This leadership has been recognised by numerous "green" organisations, most notably by winner the International "A Greener Festival" award 2007 and 2008.

In 2009 Bluesfest will continue our green campaign by providing substantial recycling facilities around the festival. We ask you to use these facilities where ever possible. Together we can decrease the volume of waste that ends up in land fill and divert it to be recycled.

You will notice that all food stalls provided 100% recyclable containers and cutlery. If you bring any food or drink into the festival please try and use only 100% recyclable containers.

Food stuff - organics

If your eyes are too big for your belly then please use the smaller grey bins for your paper plates and food scraps. We will compost this waste and it will be used in locally grown organic gardens.

Bin-ya-butts

The BIN-YA-BUTT program is still in force in 2009. We encourage smokers to pick up their free BIN-YA-BUTT film canisters from the Information Stall. Please contain your used cigarette butts in them and not discard them on the ground.

Ring pulls

Last year we noticed a significant amount of aluminium ring-pulls from beer cans discarded on the ground after the festival. Please do not detach ring pulls from your cans.

Most people live with a domestic recycling program in their home town. The same ideals and principles apply to the Bluesfest. A clean festival is a safe and fun festival!

Remember to "Green the Blues"!

NO SMOKING inside Festival tents. Please respect the comfort of others. Thank you for your co-operation.

InDIG Stage

Bluesfest with the support of Events NSW are proud to present the InDig Stage, showcasing creative work of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Pacific Rim artists. They include Saltwater Band, Christine Anu, Te Vaka, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter.

Cabaret Stage

Visitors to the Cabaret Stage should except to be amazed with sight of eye-boggling stunts. There will be stunts, acrobatics, fire and entertainment of the wackiest kind.

Bluesfest Hotline: (02) 6685 7920

Very important

Please read the below message and help us live in harmony with the residents of Byron Bay.

We also ask all festival goers to be mindful when travelling to and from the festival. Do so quietly and when you reach your accommodation please respect the citizens of our town and to keep good order through peace and quiet of our neighbourhoods.