Australia’s popular music festival, Falls Festival, has been cancelled for the third time in four years, this time due to the need to “rest, recover and recalibrate”. The festival, which usually takes place in December across three locations – Fremantle, Melbourne, and Byron Bay – has been cancelled twice before due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisers, Secret Sounds, announced the cancellation on Instagram and thanked patrons for their support. The exact details of the cancellation are still unclear.
Falls Festival is known for its impressive line-up of world-renowned acts and attracts thousands of attendees each year. However, last year’s twin festival, Splendour in the Grass, faced a number of problems due to torrential rain flooding the grounds of North Byron Parklands. Attendees were left stranded in the mud or stuck in car queues for up to ten hours, and the first day of the festival was cancelled. Secret Sounds was criticised for a lack of communication with attendees and partial refunds were offered to some.
Despite last year’s issues, Falls Festival went ahead without any problems in Byron Bay, Fremantle, and Melbourne. It was the first year the festival was hosted at Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne’s CBD after decades at its original home in Lorne. However, the 58-hectare site was put up for sale in March.
The cancellation of Falls Festival follows the cancellation of other festivals such as Lunar Electric and the Newtown Festival. The Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, which organises the latter event, cited unmanageable costs in keeping the festival free.
In conclusion, while Falls Festival’s cancellation is disappointing news for music lovers, it is important for organisers to prioritise safety and well-being. The festival’s return in the future will be eagerly anticipated by its loyal patrons.
Source: perthnow.com.au
