Grampians primed for music festival
Grampians district communities are set to benefit from a significant economic injection this weekend when people from across Victoria gather for Grampians Music Festival.
Grampians Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman said the annual Halls Gap event, from Friday to Sunday, would have a positive impact across a broad region.
He said the festival represented one of Grampians Tourism’s three big calendar events, alongside Grampians Grape Escape and Simply Shiraz.
“The line-up the festival has in terms of music is fantastic and the positive feedback we’ve had in talking to the target market has been overwhelming,” he said.
“Economic benefits don’t only flow into Halls Gap, they disperse across the region, with people staying in a variety of places such as Pomonal, Stawell, Dunkeld and so on.
“Critically, the event further showcases what the Grampians has to offer. It is important to note that from this type of event a large percentage of visitors will be coming to the Grampians for the first time.
“If they come once, they are likely to come back for a repeat visit.”
Grampians Music Festival, in its third year, is quickly developing a personality that separates it from other large musical events. The festival strongly promotes a diverse and inclusive family demographic that is proving attractive to a broad audience.
Festival director Carly Flecknoe of Halls Gap said patron numbers were well up on last year in early sales and she was expecting a rapid final rush on tickets this week.
“It is hard to predict but we are expecting to have about 1000 people on site, which combined with all the vendors and support people might take it up to about 1500,” she said.
“We have a 1500-ticket cap, but considering our growth, the festival space at Seven Valley Drive could in the future accommodate up to 4000.
“We would love to eventually share the experience with that many people but we want to do it organically without changing the experience for patrons.”
Diversity
Ms Flecknoe said the festival’s patron demographic was incredibly diverse.
“Such broad ranges of people are coming for the shared experience – for example, there are kids who are under 10 there with families experiencing their first or second music festival,” she said.
“We also love being able to bring people out from Melbourne while at the same time providing something for local people. We are also always trying to use local suppliers and service providers.
“I feel really privileged to be part of something that is making a bit of a wave. I’m so excited and can’t wait.
“We just want everyone to have a great experience.”
The festival has strong over-arching policies based around respect, diversity and inclusion and environmental sustainability, which are reflected in an eclectic line-up of popular musical acts.
A lengthy list of acts on the bill includes prominent performers such as Sampa The Great, Angie Mcmahon, Wafia, Slum Sociable and covers of a variety of genres.
Other performers include Alice Skye, Benny Walker, Sagamore, White Bleaches, Bones and Jones, Kat Edwards, Rat Hammock, Planet, Jade Imagine, Hobsons Bay Coast Guard, Huntly, Mzrizk, Seaside, Sunscreen, Batts, Cool Out Sun, Body Type, Milan Ring and Sweat Dreams DJS.
Patrons will pay $179 for three-day passes, $159 for two-day passes and $40 for a Friday Best in the West night. Single-day tickets are also available and children 14 and under can enter for free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets and information are available online at grampiansmusicfestival.com.