Dundee City Council has been urged to pull out all the stops to ensure the city does not lose the Blues Bonanza permanently.
Festival organisers said last week they were taking a break this year due to “health reasons”, but vowed to be back in 2015.
But former Lord Provost John Letford says the organisers have traditionally struggled to put the festival on through lack of funding and said he was embarrassed the council could not find a way to help the committee over the years.
Councillor Ian Borthwick also agreed the city’s image as a cultural centre will suffer without the festival.
Mr Letford, who was a champion of the Blues Bonanza during his time in office, said it was imperative some form of support is given to the committee by the council.
“If I could suggest anything it would be for an officer or two to be seconded on to the committee and maybe help with some of the organisation they did that with the Whitehall Theatre, so surely that would be something they could think of.”
Mr Borthwick said: “While I wouldn’t have said it was my kind of thing, the Blues Bonanza is recognised for bringing thousands of people to the city and the benefits to the economy are huge.
“We’re supposed to have designs on being the City of Culture and it’s meant to embrace a wide spectrum of cultural activities.”
Meanwhile, the cancellation has enraged a Northern Irishman who says he and his wife have been left out of pocket after booking flights, car hire and accommodation in anticipation of attending the festival in June.
Bryan Rooney contacted The Courier to complain about the lack of notice, given the reasons cited.
He said: “I am very upset that the Dundee Blues Festival was cancelled so late in the day. I have already booked holidays, flights with easyJet, car hire with Alamo and hotel accommodation in Dundee on the basis of the info given on the website that the Blues Bonanza would be on from June 28 2014.
“So far I have paid more than £450 in bookings and deposits most of which will be non-refundable.
“I am bitterly disappointed and not a little inconvenienced by the late announcement from the organising committee.
“This is very bad PR as it reflects not just on the festival but on the city of Dundee itself.
“Couldn’t other organisations such as the arts council and the Dundee civic authorities not have been approached to help with this year’s festival?”
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “There is no suggestion by the organisers that this is the end of the Dundee Blues Bonanza and they are promising it will be back in 2015.
“Meanwhile, the city is host to a wide range of cultural and artistic events throughout 2014 that attract people from near and far to Dundee.
“As well as the Dundee Flower and Food Festival, special and permanent exhibitions at The McManus and shows by top comedians like Sarah Millican and Ross Noble, there are gigs by bands the calibre of blues legend John Mayall, ballet, traditional and classical music performances and with other top-class touring shows, there is a lot on offer in the city.”