Strong response for Aussie music festivals

A combination of strong bills and track records for a good experience has seen Australian consumers already vote with their credit cards for some music festivals. 

Following on from last month’s Listen Out drawing 68,000 in four cities (all sold out), Caloundra Music Festival’s Director Richie Eyles is expecting its 10^th anniversary earlier this month to exceed last year’s record attendance of 31,800 once the final figures are tallied. 

About 50% of the crowd comes from outside the Sunshine Coast, injecting $10 million into the local economy. 

Over 80 acts performed over the four days. These included Michael Franti & Spearhead, Icehouse, Guy Sebastian, The Cat Empire, Thirsty Merc, Kate Miller-Heidke and Incognito. 

Festival of the Sun (December 9-10 at Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park) has officially hit capacity, in what organisers called the quickest sell-out in its 12 year history. 

Director Simon Luke said that expanding the amount of acts and including comedy on the Thursday night as the crowds arrived, were among factors why “our loyal festival fans have responded fast.” 

Gang Of Youths and Seth Sentry headline a bill which includes Urthboy, The Smith Street Band, Luca Brasi L FRESH THE LION, Sahara Beck, Tash Sultana and Montaigne. 

Queenscliff Music Festival in country Victoria (November 25—27) is also on track to sell-out for the first time in its 20 year history. All its 3-day, 2-day, Saturday and Sunday tickets have been snapped up. 

Only a limited number is left for the Friday, which includes Killing Heidi, Kylie Auldist and Ash Grunwald. 

Festival Director Andrew Orvis says: “We’ve really felt the love this year. The response has been unprecedented. It clearly shows that people love what we’re doing, and they keep coming back year after year.” 

The bill also includes Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Paul Kelly & Charlie Owen, The Doug Anthony Allstars, Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos and Urthboy joined on stage by Bertie Blackman and Kira Puru. 

Falls Festival has applied for increased capacity by 1000 for its Lorne, Victoria, event, bringing the total capacity to 17,500. As it is, all tickets sold out in 45 minutes when they went on sale in August. 

In an application to Surf Coast Shire, it explained that due to the introduction of event-only’ tickets, there’d be less campers over the four days, and hence there’d be more space. 

This year’s headline acts include Childish Gambino, London Grammar, The Avalanches, Violent Soho, Matt Corby, Grandmaster Flash, Broods and Jamie T.