Music festivals 2021-22: Concerts and gigs Victorian return after COVID restrictions relax

Gather your mates and get ready because music festivals are back on the agenda. See what’s on

Festival goers will soon be able to enjoy pre-covid entertainment including multi-day camping music festivals. Picture: Patrick Gee

Victorians are officially allowed to boogie down at music festivals again almost a year after large public gatherings were banned across the country.

Festival organisers are tentatively planning the upcoming music events and looking towards next summer after three years of bushfires and covid restrictions causing gig cancellations.

Creative Industries MP Danny Pearson said it was time Victorians were allowed to go to music festivals again.

“We are proud to support our world-renowned music industry to get back to work and recover from the challenges of the pandemic – and that includes getting music festivals and events back up and running,” he said.

“Our music industry creates thousands of jobs and injects almost two billion dollars into our state’s economy every year.

“I encourage Victorians to get back into exploring the music festivals and events we all love but please also do your bit to keep Victoria safe and open.”

The State Government has put in almost $25 million to support the music industry but festival organisers say they need a safety blanket scheme to protect them from any future covid cancellations.

Presently there is no insurance available to cover the cancellation or postponement of a major festival or event due to extreme weather or COVID, leaving organisers to decide whether the risk is worth it.

Australian Festival Association Manager Julia Robinson said although live music is on the cards it won’t be business as usual for some time.

“While it’s great to see some festivals and live music making a comeback, our industry is far from business as usual,” she said.

“With capacity restrictions, border closures and an inability to insure events against the risk of a shutdown still threatening some of our favourite shows.

“Festivals that do get gates open may look a bit different while restrictions remain in place.”

Ms Robinson estimated festivals organisers will only begin to advertise events three months ago to minimise the risk of covid restrictions changing suddenly and told The Melbourne City News usually festivals would be looking ahead to the 2022-2023 summer schedule, which is not possible at this time.

Businesses are seeking state and federal funding to create a Business Disruption Fund to act as insurance.

The State Government has outlined an industry guide for outdoor entertainment detailing covid-safe advice including capacity limits of one person per 2sq m, record keeping, signage and sanitiser stations.

Falls Festival punters enjoying the music at a pre-covid event. Picture: Patrick Gee

Events hoping to draw in a crowd between 1000 and 5000 people will need to have an approved COVID-safe plan.

Any event with more than 5000 will also require the Victorian chief health officer and Major Events Taskforce to sign-off.

Small events under 1000 people only need to register and submit a COVID-safe checklist to go ahead.

For social gatherings the same limits do not apply. The current restrictions as listed on coronavirus.vic.gov.au state up to 100 people can meet in a public outdoor space.

UPCOMING MUSIC FESTIVALS

Each of the following events has been approved by the Public Events Framework

By the C feat Icehouse, March 14

– Catani Gardens, St Kilda, 7500 people

A Day on the Green, Midnight Oil, March 20

– Mt Dundeed Estate, 16,000 people

Sounds of Summer, April 3 to 4

– Inverloch, 2000 people

Peninsula Music Festival, April 3 to 4

The Briars, Mount Martha, 3500 people

Live at the Bowl, multiple dates

– Sidney Myer Music Bowl

– Up to 3000 people

Sounds Better Together, multiple dates

– Mallacoota, 2500 people

– Rochford Winery, 4999 people

– All Saints Winery, 6000 people

– Mt Duneed Estate, 6000 people

Another camping festival BOOGIE in Tallarook plans to go ahead this Easter from April 2 to 4 subject to DHS approval.

In 2019 it is estimated live entertainment, including live gigs, events and professional sport, contributed $36.5bn to the national economy, a figure which dropped by about 64 per cent last year, according to a report by Ernst & Young.

The findings estimate during COVID-19 more than 79,500 jobs were lost including 36,000 in the music and events industry.

Most of the industry workforce is made up of people under 39-years-old with 43.7 per cent working casual or part-time.

Advice for those attending upcoming festivals is to wash your hands, wear a mask if physically distancing is not possible and to stay home and get tested if you have symptoms.