Three-day Big Red Bash music festival sees record attendance

July 8, 2021

Record crowds have flocked to the Big Red Bash music festival over recent days with around 10,000 campers and caravanners making their way to the outback Queensland event.

Taking place from Tuesday 6th July until today (8th July), the event has bounced back from last year’s cancellation with the first day saw welcoming the biggest crowd in the event’s history, with close to 10,000 festival goers roaming the 130 hectare site and concert arena on a remote cattle station outside Birdsville in far-western Queensland.

While lockdowns and border closures over recent week threatened whether the Big Red Bash could proceed, events’ approved COVIDSafe plan and on-site rapid COVID-19 testing enabled it to proceed.

Greg Donovan, the festival’s founder and Managing Director of the Outback Music Festival Group,

told the ABC “it’s been a huge challenge, but we’ve worked through so many issues and solved so many problems and just managed to move on.

“The buzz out here is absolutely incredible

“There is relief and jubilation - and we’re living proof that a major festival can be staged in Covid times with the right procedures and safety protocols in place.

“It’s a new way of doing things, but we’re showing it can be done. It’s been an absolute roller coaster ride to cross the line on day one - but seeing the excitement and happiness of performers and patrons alike it’s been totally worth it.”

The enormous size of the concert and plaza area allows 6.3 metre² for each ticket holder with widened walkways and large 90 metre²campsites also part of the plans that allow the event organisers to easily accommodate Covid safe rules and social distancing.

The ongoing COVID-19 situation left some performers from the original bill - such as Kate Ceberano and Shannon Noll - unable to attend while replacement acts such as Busby Marou and Eurogliders were added to the bill, alongside headliner Paul Kelly.

Big Red Bash images courtesy of Mel Tempest.

8th July 2021 - Talaroo Hot Springs attraction opens in Outback Queensland

8th July 2021 - VMA says Australia getting vaccinated is the key to live entertainment industry’s road to recovery

16th June 2021 - Sunshine Coast live music venue owner critical of inconsistent COVID-19 safety rules

4th June 2021 - Return of international tours vital for Australia’s entertainment venues and promoters

14th May 2021 - Outback Queensland Masters Golf Event sells out a month before commencement

16th April 2021 - Outback Music Trail launched in Queensland

31st March 2021 - COVID-19 case sees NSW Health cancel Byron Bay Bluesfest

12th March 2021 - Broken Hill secures NSW’s largest outback music event

16th April 2021 - Powderfinger bandmates lead call condemning Queensland Government’s ‘double standard’ on venue capacities for sport and live music

22nd March 2021 - Australian Live Music Business Council calls on government to ease COVID restrictions on venues

16th December 2020 - Coronavirus halted booming year for Australia’s live music sector

11th November 2020 - Art experience promoter slams Governments for not releasing committed arts funding

6th November 2020 - Major Promoters commit to Australian Festival Association initiative to revitalise the sector

23rd October 2020 - Survey shows over 400 Australian Live Music Businesses face imminent closure

22nd October 2020 - Festival promoters call for Federal Government insurance scheme

18th August 2020 - Woodford Folk Festival cancelled with organisers launching ‘Bushtime’ experience

28th March 2020 - Major entertainment promoters call for Australian Government support through Coronavirus crisis

4th December 2018 - Midnight Oil to perform at  Birdsville Big Red Bash Music Festival

13th July 2016 - Over 7,000 rock the desert at the 2016 Birdsville Big Red Bash

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.