One of Australia’s most popular music festivals has been canceled this year to “rest, recuperate and recalibrate”.
Secret Sounds, the team behind the Falls Music and Arts Festival, has revealed that the annual event will not be taking place at any of its three iconic venues this December.
It marks the third time in the last four years that the event has been canceled after two years of pandemic restrictions, an ominous sign for the festival industry which is now struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. Used to be.
“After an impressive 28 years of ringing in the new year with some of the biggest acts in the world, Falls Crew is kicking off their oooo today and taking the new year season to rest, recuperate and recalibrate,” He shared a post he said on Wednesday to his 106,00 Instagram followers.
“We send so much love and appreciation to all of our sponsors for their continued support and for the great vibes they have brought to the 2022/23 events.
“You are truly the heart and soul of the Falls Festival, and we look forward to updating you on our plans when the time is right.”
The exact details of the cancellation of the event are still unclear.
It comes two months after an incredible lineup will take the stage at its sister festival Splendor in the Grass, including Lizzo, Flume and Mumford & Sons.
Secret Sounds was the target of public fury last July after torrential rains flooded the grounds of North Byron Parklands, leaving campers stuck in mud or queues of cars for up to ten hours.
Organizers were criticized for failing to communicate with hundreds of attendees as they waited for responses until the early morning hours.
The first day of the festival was cancelled, and thousands were forced to seek last-minute accommodation due to the abandonment of flooded camps.
Some attendees were offered partial refunds to cover the cost of unused camp tickets and bus tickets on the first day of cancellations.
Secret Sounds offered 2022 festival-goers a discounted price to buy tickets for this year’s event which has not yet sold out.
Despite the fallout from the July incident, it appears that the Falls Festival in Byron Bay, Fremantle and Melbourne went off without a hitch.
The three-day event marked the first year at the Sidney Meier Music Bowl in Melbourne’s CBD after decades at the festival’s original home in Lorne.
The 58-hectare site was put up for sale in March.
