AusLeisure

With the founder of the UK's Glastonbury Festival advising this week that the event may not return until 2022, the organiser of the Howling Moon Blues Festival in Port Macquarie-Hastings has expressed similar fears over whether that event can be held in 2021.

With music festival organisers forced to put events on hold, the organisers of the Howling Moon Blues Festival in Port Macquarie-Hastings have highlighted how social distancing guidelines mean some festivals are just not financially feasible.

Speaking to the Port Macquarie News, Howling Moon Blues Festival Organiser,  Lisa Willows said she is not sure if the event, cancelled this year and rescheduled for June next year, will still go ahead in 2021 given the unfolding COVID-19 situation.

While grants are available for organisers to conduct festivals where people can carry out social distancing measures, Willows said the cost to run the festival would still not be met with less people attending the event under the health guidelines.

Concerned about the possibility of brand damage if the event was found to result in spreading Coronavirus, Willows told the Port Macquarie News “(what) if a festival is the cause of hundreds of cases? Your brand would be damaged for ever.”

Port Macquarie Beer and Cider Festival organiser Scott Mesiti is also unsure if this year’s event will proceed after a “triple whammy” of challenging events.

Mesiti noted “we’d like to yes but we can’t say for sure.

“We postponed the festival in November 2019 due to fires, then held the event in February in record rainfall and now COVID-19 is a huge factor.”

However, Mesiti said he was “always optimistic” with national ticket sales for shows organised by MJR Presents “maintaining a steady flow”.

He added “I do think people are very eager to get back to normality, as long as the event organisers can comply with COVID-19 safe standards.”

Image: The Steele Syndicate perform at the Howling Moon Blues Festival in 2019.

Related Articles

22nd July 2020 - Live Entertainment Industry Forum applauds Australian Government’s JobKeeper extension

12th June 2020 - Live Entertainment Industry Forum welcomes potential easing of restrictions on outdoor sport and entertainment venues

12th June 2020 - Australian Prime Minister moves forward relaxation of Coronavirus rules to allow crowds to return to sport and entertainment

27th July 2020 - Bluesfest highlights losses incurred due to festival cancellation in 2020

23rd July 2020 - Watchdog finds NSW Police conducted unlawful strip searches at music festivals

8th July 2020 - Festivals plan for 2021 editions with improved health measures

25th June 2020 - New study highlights the value of arts festivals in reviving South Australia’s post COVID-19 tourism

21st May 2020 - FOMO music festival enters liquidation with $5 million owing

13th May 2020 - Woodford Folk Festival founder Bill Hauritz says event will survive

6th May 2020 - Falls Festival looks to 2020/21 editions with all Australian lineup

10th October 2019 - Music Industry ready to work with NSW Government on festival safety

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.