Another music festival cancelled as government looks for expert help

The cancellation of the Caloundra Music Festival has reignited debate over the level of government and audience support for such events and the role they should play in the community.

After the festival was initially paused for 2024, the Sunshine Coast Council on Tuesday announced the event Caloundra first hosted in 2007 would not be returning.

“Rising costs, falling ticket sales and uncertainty in the music festival industry were felt to be too great a risk in the current climate,” mayor Rosanna Natoli said.

The cancelled Caloundra Music Festival was a “cultural success”, according to QMusic’s Kris Stewart, but should have been held at a different time.

Natoli said the Queensland government’s Tourism and Events Queensland provided financial help from 2022 until 2024, but the 2023 festival still had a net cost of $1 million.

“We did not sell enough tickets last year to cover the costs for the festival,” she said.

“So the lack of money from the state government was not what sparked our decision as a council.”

Amid widespread concern for the future of live music venues and event-based businesses, the state government this month set aside funds for a new Night Life Economy Commissioner to advise on a possible rescue plan.

With Safe Night Precincts also under review, it was understood talks were being held to refine the new role, decide the level of resources it would have and the strategy intent. Appointments have not been announced.

QMusic chief executive Kris Stewart said the three-day Caloundra Music Festival had been a “cultural success” but local businesses had long questioned the merit of holding it in September-October, when tourists were already in town.

“If I was a tourism operator you don’t need more events during high season, you probably don’t need more events where people are spending most of their day inside a festival precinct, as opposed to inside what is unique and exciting about the town itself,” Stewart said.

“There is money that is being brought into the region, but is it money that is turning over in businesses that are in Caloundra year-round? Or is it money that is largely going through the event itself?”

Natoli said the event generated money in the local economy “but to our council there was great risk that if we were unable to sell enough tickets and with the cost-of-living crisis that everyone is facing, we did not know what the cost could blow out to, for our community”.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the festival contributed more than $2 million a year for the Sunshine Coast. It hosted artists including Baker Boy, Ben Lee, the Cat Empire, Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins and the Waifs.

Local music alternatives remain in Caloundra, including the Big Pineapple Music Festival in October and the council’s 10-day multi-arts Horizon Festival in May next year, but a cloud lingered over larger events across Australia.

Already this year, Splendour in the Grass, Groovin the Moo and the Falls Festival have cancelled events, prompting a federal parliamentary committee to announce an inquiry into the live music sector.

Brisbane’s famous indie venue, The Zoo, also closes its doors this month, and other operators have expressed concern for the future. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has partly blamed the regulatory burden for putting Brisbane venues under pressure.

QMusic has told the inquiry governments should help build and support music precincts and fund longstanding venues and touring circuits. It has helped reducing costs in the sector, including through insurance subsidies, and the possible introduction of music passes, culture credits and vouchers to help attract larger, loyal audiences.