DENILIQUIN'S famous Blues and Roots festival brought John Mayer to the bush this year - but next year's event has been canned.
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Event organiser Chugg Entertainment initially promised the 2015 would be "bigger and better than last year's".
That's why the decision to cancel the event on Wednesday came as a shock.
Organisers said a cluttered event calendar left them unable to secure crowd-pulling headline acts.
"Following several of the headline artists that were due to be touring next April cancelling their plans, we have made the decision not to proceed with the festival in 2015," organiser Michael Chugg said.
"We'd love to put the show on with the great artists we have already secured, but it's just not financially viable without the super line-up that we had always planned for. "The Big Sky Blues and Roots Festival is a key event in our calendar and the last thing we want to do is push ahead with anything less than an amazing line-up".
Deniliquin mayor Lindsay Renwick expressed his disappointment at the cancellation of the festival that had drawn crowds from across the region.
"My view on it is that I'm disappointed for the town and the people around us from the regions," Councillor Renwick said.
"It's the best stage in the bush," he said, commenting on the town's extensive infrastructure perfect for large-scale events.
Festival goer Bob Case was shocked the popular festival had been cancelled.
This year Mr Case struggled to find nearby accommodation during the festival period and ended up in a bed and breakfast in Jerilderie.
To prevent this from happening again he booked early bird tickets.
"The venue was great, the bands were great," Mr Case said.
Mr Case said he was surprised the festival had not been able to secure artists since the Byron Bay festival had secured a number of acts.
He believed it could still have been run without international star.
"There are plenty of Australian artists to fill the void," he said.
Despite being disappointed, Mr Case vowed to continue to support the festival, should it return in 2016.
"We'll get the early bird tickets," he said.
Councillor Renwick said he would do everything in his power to ensure the nights of jazz were back on the calendar.
"We'll look to the future," he said.
Mr Chugg said this would not be the end of the festival.
"The announcement today is by no means the end of the Big Sky Blues & Roots Festival, we will come back bigger, better and louder in 2016", he added," Mr Chugg said.