Doomed Northern Beaches Music Festival thrown a lifeline by Narrabeen RSL
A popular annual music event that was cancelled due to the enforcement of tough festival licensing laws, has been thrown a lifeline.
A popular annual music event that was cancelled last week due to the enforcement of new festival licensing laws, has been thrown a lifeline.
The Northern Beaches Music Festival has been saved after Narrabeen RSL stepped in to host the event that is now in its 10th year.
Paul Robertson, the festival’s executive director, last week wrote to the event’s supporters and artists tell them that it could not afford to pay for the new measures required to host music festivals in NSW.
The festival was created through the amalgamation of four not-for-profit music and folk clubs on the northern beaches — The Shack, Fairlight Folk, Humph Hall and The Fig.
Mr Robertson said the not-for-profit community-based event would have had to pay for extra security guards and the installation of a water fountain at the festival venue, the Narrabeen Tramshed and Berry Reserve.
Its bar operator and liquor licensee, Modus Operandi brewery at Mona Vale, had withdrawn from the three-day event, starting on May 3, after it became apparent it would have to pay for inspectors to patrol the festival at all times.
“We would have had a security guard at each gate to do bag searches, take security responsibility for a 50m perimeter outside the festival fence and monitor under-aged people to make sure they are with a parent or guardian at all times,” Mr Robertson said.
“We are an example of the little festivals that are getting caught up in the ripple effect after the Premier cracked sown on music festivals, but we’ve been going for nine years without a problem.
“We are not pill popping, doof dancing, completely out of it people. These measures are not appropriate to us. We are talking about people who are mature. We had families coming
“All in all this has basically added $6,500 to our upfront costs.”
After meeting with Narrabeen RSL management on Sunday, the festival, featuring more than 30 acts including folk bands as well blue grass and rockabilly musicians, has a new home.
Mr Robertson said the RSL’s management and staff offered to stage the entire event, but he will have to organise and pay for extra heavy theatrical curtains and stands, more courtesy buses and drivers as well as reprinting posters, flyers and newspaper advertising.
“This announcement follows a number of intense meetings to nut out all of the hurdles and obstacles that we were facing. We also sincerely thank the Northern Beaches Police who have extended a generous hand in order to make this happen,” he said.
RSL club general manager Tracey Mihajlovic said it was keen to support independent music on the northern beaches.
“We are very much for the underdog here,” Ms Mihajlovic said. “It’s such a mellow festival that shouldn’t have to be hit with all these issues.
“We are really happy we can help.”
Mr Robertson said to cover extra costs organisers have launched a gofundme.com campaign that can be found on the festival Facebook festival website.
“The last few days have been a truly wild and emotional ride going from disaster to resurrection.
“It just goes to show you what people power can do.”
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