A popular Queensland music festival has been cancelled permanently due to the rising cost of living pressures.
The Sunshine Coast Council confirmed it had made the difficult decision to discontinue the Caloundra Music Festival on Tuesday.
“Patrons who attended the 2023 event were the lucky last to have experienced a Caloundra Music Festival,” the council said.
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“Following the adoption of the 2024-25 Council Budget on June 20, the Caloundra Music Festival will no longer be funded by Council.”
The annual community festival has been staged since 2007, growing to entertain huge crowds.
After a troubled few years for the festival, which was forced to pause during the COVID-19 pandemic and battle with rising operating costs and slower ticket sales, the latest economic reshuffle for the council saw the final straw in the event.
The cancellation is the latest in a long list of major music events across Australia which have also been affected in recent months.
The Australian Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body, Creative Australia, said in a recent report that rising operational costs were one of the most significant barriers to running a music festival.
“Rising costs, falling ticket sales and uncertainty in the music festival industry were felt to be too great a risk in the current climate,” Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said.
“We recognise that music events are important for our community, and the council will continue to deliver smaller events and programs.
Gold Coast councillor Terry Landsberg urged the community to continue to support other festivals and events.
“I know the artists and patrons will be greatly disappointed, and I encourage festival fans to support other festivals, venues and artists by purchasing tickets often and early.”