Growing up I couldn't wait to get to my first music festival saving up for months finding that perfect outfit and trying to work out how to fit all our favorite acts in the one day but lately in Australia I've noticed lots of festivals have being cancelled and I want to find out why I really don't see a reason bring back the music I know.
Loads of people that go to them I've been to a couple like the line up like people just kept pulling out they're like I don't really want to go anymore I think the best is they got a lot of expenses I don't know I think some of my friends normally buy their tickets a little bit late to like wait and see who's going with them and stuff I think.
That would be a reason but organizers have cancelled this year's groovin moo Festival over a lack of ticket sales and it's not the only event taking a hit recently all these events have been cancelled or postponed in the past year so what exactly is going on my name is Sasha uh I've been involved in music festivals in Australia.
For to 30 years and over that period seen a lot of highs and lows and a lot of changes Sasha's worked as a promoter for some well-known events including big day out and he says it comes down to trust and cost the trust in music festivals or in events generally um was really born from covid where we saw so many things cancel or postpone and then.
Defer and then get delayed because of the restrictions that were placed not just here in Australia but globally the other contributing factor to music festivals is that the costs of putting them on have simply skyrocketed reason would be ticket prices man I cannot afford that I have found the prices have like gotten higher it's just way out of.
My budget now in excess of $200 $300 so that makes it really inaccessible especially for young people to access it music festivals um post pandemic are facing a series of issues on the supply side costs of increase insurance premiums are up but on the demand side people are less willing to buy earlier cuz today's ticket is more of an option.
Than a commitment so without that initial cash flow early on uh festivals are more likely to pull the plug if they're not seeing that demand are you a last day ticket buyer or you buy on the day of the festival is released I'm a late uh late ticket buyer and I bought the ticket I think like 3 days before I'm definitely not a last minute ticket.
Buyer I have to have everything all and out in advance have a whole schedule so I not that you're a promoter's dream I think all of these decisions also directly affect artists and for some festivals are how they help develop and build a following so Archie and Brad you guys are in upand cominging Rock Band Clover here in Adelaide how is the.
Cancellations of some of these major festivals affecting you guys it's putting people out of a job it's putting the crew out of the job it's putting organizers out of a job and yeah it is putting those acts out of the job because we sort of rely on these festivals to get our music out there like you've got Spotify you've got.
YouTube Instagram all of that stuff but to get to a mass crowd those festivals are perfect even if you're on a small stage people are still going to tune in people are still going to hear you you know so we we need them back we want them back in Australia live music itself though isn't going anywhere Australians are still.
Spending big on live music welcome to the tour last year more than 4 million people tried to get their hands on the 600,000 tickets available for Taylor Swift's seven shows here well I think um the way we access music is more specific to our taste rather than watching Rage or listening to the radio or other ways we used to access music where we get a.
Broad mix we kind of uh gravitate to specific artists and genres so uh young people are more willing to Fork out $800 to see Taylor Swift than to go to a multi genre Festival where there's a couple of bands that they're into and the rest they're not sure about nothing will ever replace that thrill of going and seeing live music making new friends.
That camaraderie down the front of the stage and for bands like Clover the feeling is mutual just putting you know the work into the songs that you've crafted you know especially starting off with a song in your bedroom and seeing that process build and build and build to the point where you're on a massive stage and you're playing your heart and.
It's showing to the rest of the the festival that is one of the best feelings in the world and Sasha is confident that music festivals aren't going anywhere well I think the future is very strong again everyone's focusing on those that have postponed or or cancelled but yet there are other festivals doing exceptionally well some.
Promoters very cleverly have decided to defer their um events until that Festival economy can find its level and once those things even out again then I think the the festival is very strong why do you think it's important for people to go out and support local music festivals Regional festivals and even the big ones as well well I think it's.
Definitely helps um generate a lot more money into the economy for local artist it's more than a hobby system like they're sharing their passion with other people and it's good to to support that support them as like as a community you know you save up money and you send out something that you really enjoy it's a good time it's not a.
Wayte
