Festival eyes up greener pasture
New venue sounded out for event after grass dies
DEAD lawn is shaping up to be a venue deal-breaker for next year’s episode of The Grass is Greener.
The Cairns Showground’s brown and parched turf on Saturday was antithetical to the verdant image the dance music festival presents.
Organiser Ben Harrison was well aware of the conflict between name and reality, and had tried in vain to get the place greened up.
“We asked until we were blue in the face to have water trucks brought in,” he said.
“The management weren’t able to pull that off for us.
“We ended up paying for water trucks to go through, but a week out there’s only so much you can do.”
The festival has been lauded as a triumph despite the crunchiness underfoot.
Mr Harrison said about 8000 people came through the gates and despite unspoken concerns from some members of Cairns Regional Council, there were no drug overdoses.
Only one person was hospitalised with heat exhaustion.
The organising crew is already looking ahead to next year’s event.
“We’re having a debrief on Monday (today),” Mr Harrison said.
“We’re already thinking about talent and the program, because you need to think about that in advance.
“You need to think about when people are on touring cycles and try to co-ordinate bookings.”
The Cairns Showground is not guaranteed to play host next time around.
Saturday was the second time the venue was used for the festival after the council blocked it from continuing at its original site at Fogarty Park.
“We need to have a serious discussion before we confirm the venue next year,” Mr Harrison said.
“Every event space in Cairns would love to have an event like this.
“We need to make sure they come to the table a bit more before we confirm.
“It’s onwards and upwards for us.”