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Victoria announces $50k grants for music festivals

The Australian state of Victoria is offering grants of up to AU$ 50,000 to local festival organisers.

Operators of festivals with more than 1,000 attendees will be eligible to apply for a grant from 25 February as part of a new round of the Labor Government’s Live Music Festivals Fund delivered by Music Victoria.

The first round of the Fund in 2024 awarded grants to 22 festivals, with almost two-thirds from regional Victoria.

“Victoria’s music festivals are the lifeblood of communities across our state,” says minister for creative industries Colin Brooks.

“They provide jobs for event workers, they’re a rite of passage for young music lovers, and they provide real opportunity for artists to build their careers. Music festivals across the country have faced a challenging time, and we are proud to back our much-loved local festivals and the communities that host them.”

The news arrives after the cancellation of at least three Victoria festivals: Hello Sunshine, Chapel Street and Souled Out.

The cancellation of the R&B-focused touring festival Souled Out was announced today, just weeks before it was due to kick off.

Organisers noted that the festival “did not reach the level of support needed to remain financially viable”.

Souled Out was due to visit Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane with a range of American headliners including Jhené Aiko, Don Toliver, Vince Staples and 6lack.

“Music festivals across the country have faced a challenging time”

Family-friendly event Hello Sunshine was set to return to Melbourne for its third year and debut on the Gold Coast this March.

Organisers cited low ticket sales and rising production costs as reasons for the cancellation.

Stone Temple Pilots, Smash Mouth, Wolfmother, Kasey Chambers, Rogue Traders, and Drapht were on tap to headline the event.

The long-awaited revival of Melbourne’s Chapel Street Festival was axed just weeks before it was due to take place, though a reason wasn’t given.

“This decision reflects our determination to create a festival that not only meets but exceeds expectations for our vibrant community,” said organisers in a statement.

Last held in 2000, the Chapel Street Festival was initially planned to return in 2023 but was ultimately not held as planned. Its latest revival was announced in November, with organisers expecting roughly 100,000 visitors to the precinct.

The Australian festival business has experienced a turbulent couple of years with rafts of cancellations across the board.

Hopes that the crisis-hit sector could reverse course were squashed at the beginning of this year when two major festivals, Splendour in the Grass and Groovin The Moo, announced they would forego another festival season.

 


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Beyond The Valley delivers verdict on pill-testing trial

The launch of a landmark new pill-testing trial at Australia’s Beyond The Valley has been hailed as a huge success by promoter Untitled Group.

The festival – which took place from 28 December to 1 January at Hesse’s Barunah Plains Homestead some 125km from Melbourne’s central business district – was chosen as the first of ten events that will host the estimated $4m trial over the next two summers.

The pill-testing service was available to an estimated 35,000 festivalgoers who attended Beyond The Valley across the four days, making it the largest-ever event in Australia to provide access to pill testing.

The mobile site was staffed by 16 chemists, health and support workers who utilised “world-leading technology to test the make-up of most pills, capsules, powders, crystals, or liquids and identify harmful chemicals that can lead to death”.

Festivalgoers could drop by a testing tent between 1 pm and 7 pm each day, where their substances would be tested and they’d receive health information to help them make “better decisions”.

More than 700 people accessed the confidential service, with early data revealing that nearly 40% planned to take less of their drugs after testing. Over 70% reported it was their first “open, judgment-free discussion about drug and alcohol safety with a health professional”.

“The feedback from the BTV community has been resoundingly positive”

“The feedback from the BTV community has been resoundingly positive,” Nicholas Greco, co-founder & managing partner of Untitled Group, tells IQ. “We are proud to have facilitated this in collaboration with the Victorian Government, the Department of Health, YSAS, The Loop Australia, and Harm Reduction Victoria.”

In the wider industry, the Australian Festival Association hailed the trial a “significant win” for harm reduction strategies and festival safety.

“Victoria’s first pill-testing trial at Beyond The Valley has set a new benchmark for harm reduction at festivals, delivering outstanding results,” the association said.

With a successful trial under their belt, Greco says Untitled Group “would welcome drug-checking at our festivals in the future, including in Victoria”.

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan has already announced that a fixed pill testing site is set to be established and opened by mid-2025 in inner Melbourne.

“This is not a trial to decide if Victoria will implement pill testing. It’s a trial to understand how to implement it,” she said in a statement.

Beyond The Valley organisers touted the sold-out 2024 edition as the “best festival yet” with standout performances from Natasha Bedingfield, Royel Otis, Tinashe, Lola Young, Teenage Dads and The Rions.

The Australian Festival Association hailed the trial a “significant win” for harm reduction strategies and festival safety

“The incredible turnout at Beyond The Valley this year is a huge validation of what we’ve been building over the years,” Greco tells IQ. “With our 10th anniversary coming up next, it’s deeply satisfying to see all the hard work pay off and to witness the impact the festival has had on culture and trends.

“We’ve never witnessed such an impact of this scale in post-event user-generated content, we’re seeing Beyond The Valley trending globally on TikTok right now. Ultimately the attendance reaffirms that we’re on the right path and drives us to keep elevating the experience year after year.”

This year, BTV organisers focused on evolving the festival experience by reimaging the site layout and elevating their partnerships and activations.

“It’s been rewarding to see how well those changes resonated,” adds Greco. “New hubs like the expanded Dr Dan’s area, and hosted activations like Poof Doof Pride parties and the Schmall Klub, were always busy and had a lot of energy throughout the entire weekend.

“Schmall Klub was reimagined with Smirnoff as a hidden party behind fridge doors in an aesthetic Cornerstore, featuring DJs and surprise sets and Red Bull also delivered with their ‘Unforeseen’ activation – a train station where attendees could discover a party behind the carriage doors.”

Beyond The Valley’s 10th anniversary edition will take place between 28 December 2025 and 1 January 2026.

 


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Oz’s Beyond The Valley to launch pill-testing trial

Australia’s Beyond The Valley is set to launch the Victoria government’s pill-testing trial at the end of this year.

The festival – which runs from 28 December to 1 January at Hesse’s Barunah Plains Homestead some 125km from Melbourne’s central business district – has been chosen as the first of ten events that will host the trial over the summer.

The pill testing service will be available to an estimated 35,000 festivalgoers who attend Beyond The Valley across the four days, making it the largest-ever event in Australia to provide access to pill testing.

It comes after Victoria last month became the first state to enshrine pill testing into law thanks to The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Pill Testing) Bill 2024.

Alongside the Bill, the state has activated a $95 million action plan to reduce opiate drug deaths and harm.

While the new law does not legalise illicit drugs, it does allow for mobile and fixed pill testing throughout the state, and means that those who use and operate such services are protected by law.

“Beyond The Valley has a decade-long history of working with authorities to deliver safe events,” says a spokesperson for Untitled Group, which produces the festival.

“We are constantly exploring ideas, trialling new innovations and bolstering proven initiatives that increase the safety of festivalgoers, so they can have a good time and also make it home safely.”

“Let’s be clear: no drug is safe, but people deserve to know if that one pill will kill”

“We look forward to working alongside our community, health agencies, the Victorian Government, and the wider festival industry to ensure this initiative reaches and supports the right people.”

The confidential pill testing service will utilise “world-leading technology to test the make-up of most pills, capsules, powders, crystals, or liquids and identify harmful chemicals that can lead to death”.

Staffed by a multidisciplinary team of experts, they will not only test substances but also provide confidential health information which aims to ensure those in attendance make better, safer decisions.

“This is a simple and common-sense way to save lives,” said Premier Jacinta Allan in a statement. “Let’s be clear: no drug is safe, but people deserve to know if that one pill will kill.”

While a fixed pill testing site is set to be established and opened by mid-2025 in inner Melbourne “close to nightlife and public transport,” a statement asserts that, “this is not a trial to decide if Victoria will implement pill testing. It’s a trial understand how to implement it.”

Victoria becomes the second state in Australia to trial pill-testing following a programme at Queensland’s Rabbit Eats Lettuce festival over the Easter long weekend earlier in the year.

Pill testing was first put into action in April 2018 at the Groovin the Moo festival in the Australian Capital Territory.

Organisers later confirmed two potentially deadly samples were identified and half the drugs tested were found to contain no psychoactive substances.

 


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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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Australia’s Always Live 2024 lineup revealed

Australian concert series Always Live is returning for a third edition, with more than 280 artists set to perform across Victoria later this year.

The series was launched in 2022 by the late Frontier Touring/Mushroom Group founder Michael Gudinski in a bid to revitalise the state’s live music scene.

This year’s 17-day extravaganza will feature concerts from acts such as Jack White, St Vincent and The Offspring between 22 November and 8 December.

International artists, however, only make up a portion of the bill, with 208 of the 289 acts hailing from Victoria.

Artists will deliver 65 free and low-cost concerts across cities such as Melbourne, Gippsland, Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo. Notably, more than 35% of the 65 events will take place in regional Victoria.

“This year’s Always Live program not only reinforces our status as the music capital of Australia but brings an extraordinary array of unique and exclusive experiences to audiences across the State,” says Matt Gudinski, chair of Always Live and son of Michael.

“Always Live continues to be an Australian beacon for live music events”

“I am incredibly proud to be part of delivering this year’s program and continuing to build the legacy of Always Live. It’s a privilege to contribute to Victoria’s rich music history and to support our live music sector.”

Psyche Payne, CEO of Always Live, added, “Always Live continues to be an Australian beacon for live music events, with the very best local, national, and international artists coming together across an epic 17-day celebration of our world-leading live music scene.

“I’m thrilled to share part of our 2024 lineup today, which reflects our ongoing and deep commitment to showcasing and supporting our vibrant local venues and the entire live music ecosystem of this state.”

Emily Ulman, executive programme director of Always Live, concluded, “Our ALWAYS LIVE 2024 program is set to showcase the incredible vibrancy and diversity of Victorian music, celebrating our unparalleled home-grown talent alongside the best international acts.

“From intimate gigs in country pubs to major concerts in iconic venues, each event will create unforgettable memories and truly memorable music moments.”

Always Live has previously hosted concerts with Christina Aguilera, Foo Fighters and Jessie Ware.

Organisers claimed the inaugural Always Live programme delivered more than A$80 million (€48m) to the Victorian economy.

 


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Oz fest cancels final night due to extreme weather

The final night of Australia’s Pitch Music and Arts Festival was cancelled following an “extreme fire danger warning”, hours after the suspected drug-related death of a 23-year-old attendee.

The Untitled Group-promoted camping event in Moyston, Victoria, was called off in advance of Sunday’s (10 March) scheduled finale.

“Through consultation with authorities, we have been directed to cancel the remainder of Pitch Music & Arts 2024 in light of an updated extreme fire danger warning issued this afternoon for tomorrow,” says a statement posted on the dance music festival’s social media channels.

“We have consistently followed the guidance of relevant authorities throughout the entire process. Nobody is in immediate danger. We encourage everyone on site not to rush, calmly pack-up and depart either this evening or early tomorrow.”

Additional buses were laid on to assist ticket-holders departing the festival site.

“We continue to have a police, fire and medical presence throughout the festival site to support the safety and security of patrons,” adds the statement. “Ticket-holders will receive an update as more information becomes available.”

Organisers have defended themselves against criticism for proceeding with the sold-out 18,000-cap event despite temperatures soaring as high as 39°C, noting patrons had access to “ample shade, cooling misting fans, food and water”.

“We’ve been in consistent communication with all relevant authorities regarding the weather conditions leading into the event”

“We’ve been in consistent communication with all relevant authorities regarding the weather conditions leading into the event and were advised that we could proceed as planned as late as Thursday afternoon,” they told Resident Advisor. “Of the further advice we received on Friday, we rescheduled some entertainment and incoming buses for Saturday. We’ve been in a unique situation where the fire danger rating was fluctuating but we were diligently following the advice from all emergency authorities each step of the way.

“The directive on Sunday was of a different nature and that’s why we took immediate action to cancel the festival at that time.”

The Age reports that five festivalgoers were hospitalised because of suspected substance use at the event. Antony Maugeri, 23, of Melbourne, was airlifted to hospital after becoming unresponsive in the early hours of Sunday morning, but later passed away. Promoters say they are “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.

“Our thoughts are with their family, friends and anyone in our wider community affected by this,” says a statement. “We are devastated that this has occurred at an event where community has been a driving force over the last seven years.”

While the cause of Maugeri’s death is yet to be confirmed, the chain of events has reignited the debate over drug testing at Australian festivals. It follows analysis of drug-related deaths at Australian festivals over almost a decade, which showed that most could potentially have been prevented through harm reduction strategies such as pill testing.

The study, published in January in the International Journal of Drug Policy, and led by Associate Professor Jennifer Schumann, from Monash University’s Department of Forensic Medicine, looked at drug-related deaths at music festivals throughout Australia between 1 July 2000 and 31 December 2019.

 


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Australia’s Always Live initiative returns for ’23

An Australian initiative envisioned by the late Frontier Touring/Mushroom Group founder Michael Gudinski to revitalise Victoria’s live music scene has returned for a second year.

The Always Live scheme launched in March 2022 at the GMHBA Stadium in Geelong, Victoria, with a concert by the Foo Fighters, who became the first major international music act to travel to Australia since the pandemic began.

The 2023 series, which features more than 60 free and ticketed events of all sizes, will run over 17 days from 24 November to 10 December. Opening weekend highlights include a show by Christina Aguilera at Flemington Racecourse (25 November) and Mushroom 50 Live (26 November) – an anniversary concert at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena celebrating 50 years of Mushroom Records.

“An event like Always Live is what makes our great city what it is,” says Always Live director and Mushroom Records CEO Matt Gudinski, son of Michael. “The Always Live programme ensures Victoria remains the music capital of Australia and will deliver a host of unique and exclusive experiences across 17 days.”

Mushroom 50 will bring together dozens of domestic artists, including DMA’s, The Temper Trap, Amy Shark, Jimmy Barnes, Kate Ceberano, Birds of Tokyo and The Teskey Brothers, who will perform 50 songs for 50 years.

“It’s set to fill venues across Victoria, attract visitors and boost business while celebrating our state’s outstanding music and events industry”

Other Always Live-associated events will include three nights by Eric Prydz at Rod Laver Arena, Amyl and the Sniffers in Meeniyan, Ballarat, Frankston, Warrnambool, Torquay, Wodonga and Thornbury, and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett and his band The Alter Egos at Wangaratta Arts Centre. Elsewhere, Cosmic Psychos will celebrate their 40th anniversary over three nights at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal.

In addition, Jessie Ware will headline outdoor music festival Summer Camp at St Kilda Marina on 2 December, while the Tones and I-curated Music In the Park will feature the likes of The Cat Empire, The Veronicas, Budjerah, KAIIT, The Pierce Brothers at Mornington Park on 9 December.

Last year’s inaugural Always Live programme delivered more than A$80 million (€48m) to the Victorian economy, attracting thousands of visitors to the state.

It is backed by $20m in the Victorian Budget 2023/24, which also included $7.5m for the Live Music Performers Fund, which backs thousands of Victorian musicians and artists to perform 10,000 gigs at venues across the state over the next four years.

“Always Live’s 2023 programme offers something for everyone – it’s set to fill venues across Victoria, attract visitors and boost business while celebrating our state’s outstanding music and events industry,” adds Victoria premier Daniel Andrews.

 


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Australian music festival debuts on steam train

A new “live music and tourism experience” set on a restored steam train has debuted in Australia.

Sound Tracks, which was backed by the Victorian government, launched from 6-8 October and featured acts such as Harvey Sutherland, Glass Beams, Juno Mamba and Folk Bitch Trio.

The train ran between Melbourne and Charlton, with music fans able to watch performances on board while enjoying local food and wine. The Guardian reports that all 200 tickets sold out in 20 minutes.

Departing from Southern Cross Station, the trip included stops in Geelong and Ballarat before the train arrived in Charlton for gigs in a local bowling club and art deco theatre.

“We’re backing Sound Tracks as part of our work to strengthen and support the state’s music industry”

The event was presented by Victorian events company OK Motels, working with Music Victoria and the Charlton community.

“We’re backing Sound Tracks as part of our work to strengthen and support the state’s music industry and our commitment to supporting recovery in flood-impacted communities,” says minister for creative industries Steve Dimopoulous.

Sound Tracks was designed to support the town of Charlton’s continued recovery from the 2022 Victoria floods, and builds on the A$1 million (€600,000) programme announced earlier this year to support music events in flood-impacted communities across the state.

 


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Major events hand $1bn boost to Victoria’s economy

The Australian state of Victoria has reported that major events delivered an almost A$1 billion (€619,000) boost to its economy in the second half of 2022.

The year saw a record 6.9 million attendees at sporting, music, arts and cultural events across the state, with hotel occupancy averaging 67% in H2 ’22, peaking at at 93.7% on the evening of Billy Joel’s 10 December concert.

Promoted by Frontier Touring, the one-night-only show at Melbourne’s MCG was attended by more than 76,000 fans and formed part of Always Live, an initiative envisioned by the late Michael Gudinski to revitalise Victoria’s live music scene. Gudinski, one of the best-known and most-loved figures in the concert business down under, passed away in 2021.

“Sporting and cultural events have delivered an almost billion-dollar boost to our economy in the last half of 2022”

“Victoria is the home of major events and these blockbuster sporting and cultural events have delivered an almost billion-dollar boost to our economy in the last half of 2022,” says minister for tourism, sport and major events Steve Dimopoulos. “Major events deliver enormous value for Victoria by boosting local businesses and supporting jobs – and we’re set for another huge year in 2023.”

Always Live was intended to bring music fans into Melbourne and regional Victoria and help to support local jobs and tourism businesses. The event series featured more than 60 acts such as Foo Fighters playing at venues large and small across Victoria including – in a first for the town, a Kings of Leon concert at Mildura Sporting Precinct, which attracted in excess of 10,000 fans.

The six months of events generated over $980 million in economic impact, with the latest figures showing the visitor economy in Victoria has reached $26.5bn and is back to 84% of pre-pandemic levels.

 


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Australian orgs welcome $34m live music pledge

Australian music organisations have welcomed a pledge by the Victorian government to invest A$34 million in the state’s live music sector.

Premier Daniel Andrews, who is seeking a third term, and minister for creative industries Steve Dimopoulos have also promised cash to support 10,000 concerts over the next four years and $1,000 grants for artists if Labor prevail in this weekend’s state election.

The commitment also includes  $2.5m for a Live Music Major Events Fund, providing grants of up to $50,000 for festivals across the state, plus $2.4m for music industry charity Support Act to assist Victorian artists, managers, crew and music workers who face challenges with their mental health.

“We greatly appreciate this election commitment from the Victorian government,” says Support Act CEO Clive Miller. “If realised, it will have an enormous impact for our programs in Victoria, and help us to help the industry build back better after the disruptions of the past few years.

“We know from our own research that people working in music have elevated levels of psychological distress, suicide ideation, anxiety and depression, and that our prevention, education and training programs have real impact, as they are designed and delivered by people who work in music and have lived experience.”

“It will go a long way to helping the music industry get back on its feet and share great music with Victorians”

Miller adds that Support Act’s remit had increased significantly over the past few years, and that he hopes other governments – and the Victorian opposition – are also factoring Support Act into their upcoming budget planning.

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has also backed the move.

“The Victorian music community was hit hard by extended lockdowns leading to live performance cancellations, and now face the challenges of reopening with rising costs, skills shortages and poor consumer confidence,” it says.

“This commitment addresses a range of aspects in the music ecosystem including live music, festivals, education and importantly the mental health toll on our community. It will go a long way to helping the music industry get back on its feet and share great music with Victorians.”

 


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