Ending weeks of speculation, Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival has confirmed that Neil Young has withdrawn from his headline slot at the Easter festival.
While rumours of Young's non-appearance have been circulating for some time, and Frontier Touring, which was to stage Young's shows around Australia after his Blues Fest performance, announced that tour was off earlier this week, there has been only a firm "no comment" from Blues Fest director Peter Noble when approached.
![Neil Young will not be coming to Byron Bay for the 2017 Blues Fest.](/web/20161204124100im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/v/0/x/4/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt2feh.png/1480672749041.jpg)
Take it as bankable that Neil Young will NOT be at Bluesfest next year.
— Bernard Zuel (@BernardZuel) November 23, 2016
Finally however, the festival has issued a brief announcement that the Friday night performance was cancelled.
"This comes as a great disappointment to Bluesfest, as well as all the Neil Young fans, who were looking forward to his performance," the statement said, adding no explanation for his withdrawal. "Bluesfest is currently working on replacing Neil Young with a new headliner for the Friday night."
Inevitably, especially given his age – he turned 71 in November - and 2016 already having seen off several musical giants such as Leonard Cohen, David Bowie and Prince, there's been questioning of Young's health as the cause of the cancellation.
Last month, when Fairfax approached Frontier Touring about the rumours of an impending cancellation the answer was health was not a factor, the tour was still on and it was scheduling that was holding up a planned announcement of dates.
No information has been made available on Neil Young's website, though the Blues Fest dates were taken down three days ago.
As to why it has taken so long to confirm what seemed certain at least a week ago, the official Twitter account for Blues Fest said organisers had "been appealing to Neil's management for him to play the confirmed concert".
@BernardZuel > been appealing to Neil's management for him to play the confirmed concert > https://t.co/VAZ6jYyhjm
— Bluesfest Byron Bay (@BluesfestByron) December 1, 2016