Woodford Folk Festival organisers look to host smaller event for 2021-22

A “mini” instalment of a popular New Year’s Eve festival is on the cards as organisers tell supporters to "keep their diaries open".

Atlanta Lauenstein, 28, Burleigh Heads, Star, 33, Burleigh Heads, and Khristine Billings, 28, Burleigh Heads, at the Woodford Folk Festival in 2019. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Organisers of a popular music festival are determined the show will go on despite a $160,000 loss from an event cancellation in January.

Woodford Folk Festival founder Bill Hauritz has asked supporters to keep their diaries clear for New Year's Eve as they begin planning a smaller instalment of the much-loved event.

He said organisers were weighing up the financial risks involved as they look to how they can host an event this year.

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Mr Hauritz said the cancellation of a Bushtime event in January due to the greater Brisbane lockdown cost them $160,000.

"Even though the chances of Covid (at New Year's) might be less there's no guarantee," he said.

Woodford Folk Festival founder and director Bill Hauritz. Picture: Tara Croser

"Right now it's too early to say but we're looking at various different scenarios and the risks involved."

The festival of more than 35 years was previously a six-day event with 25 stages and a crowd of almost 100,000 people.

Mr Hauritz said it was not feasible to host a festival at the size of previous events, however one of a smaller scale would be considered.

Meanwhile another music venue came under fire at the weekend when Queensland Police closed down the main stage at NightQuarter.

Trista O'Connor and Jessica Casey at the 2019 Woodford Folk Festival. Picture: Patrick Woods

"The last thing we need is to risk Woodfordia itself," Mr Hauritz said.

Citizens of Woodfordia will also launch soon, where supporters can pay $36 to receive early invitations and help shape events.

"It shocked us, the support last year," he said.

"It delivered us enough money to keep paying wages at critical times during lockdown, so if we lost that ability we'd lose the ability to run any events."

Mr Hauritz expected an announcement for a New Year's event would be made by August.

Originally published as Festival organisers look to New Year's after $160k blow

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