Episode 1: The Big Shift of Australian Music Festivals

Bluesfest, Groovin The Moo, Pitch Music & Arts, Splendour In The Grass, who’s next? 2024 has been one of the most brutal years on record for music festivals, & Summer is fast approaching.  Depending on who you ask, everyone has a different take on why our most beloved festivals are failing. From curation to insurance, police pressure to climate change, & let’s not forget the cost of living, there’s no shortage of challenges for our local festival industry. So, what’s next? What could this mean for Australia’s music industry, its culture, & the future of festivals overall? This episode sees us delve into the evolving landscape of the festival circuit & speaking with a variety of experts, including;  Cate Faehrmann, MLC (She/Her - Greens MP, Member of the NSW Legislative Council). Erik Lamir (He/Him - Director Rabbits Eats Lettuce Festival) Mitch Wilson (They/Them - Managing Director, Australian Festival Association)  Talia Jimenez (She/Her - Artist, Radio Host, Promoter) Tara Medina (She/Her - Co Founder, Strawberry Fields)  Hosted by Jack Colquhoun (He/Him - Managing Editor, Mixmag ANZ) From highlighting thriving festivals amidst change and economic instability to exploring factors that attract and retain audiences, this episode discusses the challenges being faced by festivals today, and what future solutions may be. This episode was produced in partnership with TAFE NSW by Jac Hope and Iain Wilson. Additional thanks to Krystel Diola for her contributions to this series.