Australian indie festival sells out in 30 seconds

Australia’s Meredith Music Festival sold all 12,500 tickets to its 2024 edition in 30 seconds, organisers have announced.

The 32nd edition of the independent festival will take place at Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre in Victoria between 6–8 December.

Jamie xx, Waxahatchee, Genesis Owusu, Mk.gee, ZAPP, Angie McMahon, The Dare, Glass Beams, Fat White Family and Mannequin Pussy are among the acts confirmed to perform at the one-stage event.

Through a ballot system, the festival sells full weekend tickets only which cost AUS$488 (€299) and include camping and parking with “everyone flying first class, for three days and two nights”.

Last year’s Meredith Music Festival featured Caroline Polachek, Kraftwerk, Alvvays, Alex G, C.O.F.F.I.N., and more.

As a fully independent event with no commercial sponsors and ‘Bring Your Own’ drinks policy, organisers say Meredith Music Festival (MMF) is one of the only Australian festivals to run in this capacity.

Jamie xx, Waxahatchee, Genesis Owusu, Mk.gee, ZAPP, Angie McMahon are among the acts confirmed to perform at the event

The team behind Meredith also organises Golden Plains XVII festival, which takes place across two days at the same venue and has previously hosted acts including Bon Iver, Nile Rodgers, Pavement, Cat Power, Moodymann, Mulatu Astake, Tallest Man On Earth and George Clinton.

Also set to sell out is the last-ever Bluesfest, with organisers confirming the response from fans has been “nothing short of phenomenal”, while Beyond The Valley has shifted 85% of tickets within a few hours of the presale portal opening.

Positive news has been scarce in Australia’s beleaguered festival sector, which has been left in disarray following a flurry of cancellations.

Adelaide’s Harvest Rock is the latest Australian festival to pull the plug on its 2024 edition, following in the footsteps of other high-profile casualties such as Splendour in the Grass, Groovin The Moo, Coastal Jam, Summerground, Vintage Vibes, Tent Pole: A Musical Jamboree and ValleyWays.

In response, Australia’s House of Representatives has launched an inquiry into the struggling scene, and Blusfest’s Peter Noble stressed the need for government intervention.

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