Splendour in the Grass 2020 shifts to spring to avoid cancellation

Splendour in the Grass organisers announced on Tuesday that the 20th anniversary edition of the multi-day music festival held near Byron Bay will now take place in October, rather than July.

Foals front man Yannis Philippakis ventures out into the crowd during the band's set at Splendour in the Grass 2019.

One of Australia’s most popular winter music festivals has managed to avoid yet another coronavirus-related cancellation by shifting to spring, as Splendour in the Grass organisers announced on Tuesday that the 20th anniversary edition of the multi-day music festival held near Byron Bay will now take place in October.

“Health and safety is our number one priority,” organisers said in a statement. “After careful consideration and consultation with our artists, crew and stakeholders, in these unpredictable times we have decided, as a precautionary measure, to move Splendour in the Grass 2020 out of the winter months”.

All tickets purchased for the original dates — July 24, 25 and 26 — remain valid for the shift to October 23, 24 and 25, while ticket holders unable to attend the new dates can apply for a refund through Moshtix.

Splendour in the Grass 2019.

“We are not expecting any major upsets to the line-up thanks to the incredible support of the artists playing Splendour. Flume, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator who have all confirmed their attendance for these new dates alongside most others,” said organisers, in reference to the three headline acts.

“As this is moving quickly and we work through the details there will be some programming changes but we are confident that rescheduling to October — a one-off spring edition of Splendour — is the best way to ensure we present the Splendour experience you all know and love.”

About 50,000 tickets to the festival were sold within an hour of going on sale in late February. Other artists booked to appear at the North Byron Parklands site include Midnight Oil, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Glass Animals, Denzel Curry, Tim Minchin and Violent Soho.

Following the swift sellout in February, event co-founders and producers Paul Piticco and Jessica Ducrou said in a statement, “When we started Splendour back in 2001, as a one-day event with 19 bands, we never dreamed that it would grow to three days and over 100 acts. It’s been a wild ride!”

Also on Tuesday, touring music festival Groovin the Moo announced that its upcoming show dates — scheduled for April and May across six states — would not proceed.

“This is the first time since the inaugural Groovin the Moo was held in Gloucester (NSW) in 2005 that we’re unable to bring the festival to our beloved regions across the country,” said organisers in a statement. “The Government’s recommendations together with the uncertainty of these times makes it impossible for us to push forward with GTM this year.”

Held in regional centres such as Bendigo, Townsville, Maitland and Bunbury, Groovin the Moo 2020 was set to feature performances from artists such as Gang of Youths, Supergrass, Tones and I, The Cat Empire and Kelis.

The cancellation of Groovin the Moo follows similar announcements in recent days by popular music festivals such as Byron Bay Bluesfest, Vivid Live, Download Festival and CMC Rocks QLD.