Organisers of Tasmania’s Falls Festival say that without more support from the state government, the popular music festival may not be able to continue.
What is set to be the tenth anniversary of the event in Tassie next year is in jeopardy if additional funding of $350,000 isn’t secured. But so far there has been no guarantees from the Tasmanian government that they will look at providing any more money to the Marion Bay event.
The festival has hosted acts such as Aloe Blacc, Kimbra, Hilltop Hoods, Santogold, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Temper Trap and De La Soul over it’s nine years and pulls in approximately 16,000 punters a year, close to half of them from interstate and overseas.
Falls founder Simon Daly states that even though the festival has contributed more than $150 million in direct and indirect spending into the state economy over the past nine years, but that during that time the government has contributed less than $900,000 in support.
"This is a great opportunity for the Tasmanian Government not only to ensure the longevity of the festival, but to work with us to ensure that ticket prices (remain low).”, David stated. "If we don't get the funding, I think it would be very difficult to stage the Falls Festival in Tasmania in 2012."
With running costs rising every year and seemingly more limited funding opportunities we have already seen turmoil in the world of musical festivals locally in recent years. We have seen the Rewind Festival cancelled last year and the 2012 Big Day Out has been somewhat scaled back. Thankfully Homebake made a successful comeback after a year off in 2011 and we may even see the return of the V Festival back this year too. But could the Falls Festival in Marion Bay be our next festival to see an early grave?