'What's really hurting music festivals' after Splendour in the Grass cancelled
After yesterday's news that Splendour in the Grass has been cancelled, even with Kylie Minogue as a headlining act, there are fears over what this means for the future of music festivals in Australia.
Splendour in the Grass is one of 25 Aussie festivals called off in just the past two years and Bluesfest chairman, Peter Noble, blames the Reserve Bank of Australia.
"What I'm really nervous about is that the RBA has done a job on us," he told Today.
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Splendour in the Grass was one of Australia's longest running music festivals. Getty
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"That's what's really hurting music festivals, that the disposable dollar has been taken out of people's pockets."
He said the problem was something the federal government needed to address, but said anytime he raised it with them - they were "too busy" to speak with him about it.
"I can't get a voice in government, I say I'll fly to Canberra, but they don't have the time," he said.
"It's a tragedy when an event like Splendour in the Grass is cancelled and we need to do something about it to save the music industry, we need to support it and not just only talk about it when another one bites the dust."
Peter said it was a tragedy Splendour wouldn't be around this year. Today
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Since its inauguration in 1990, Bluesfest has become the most highly-awarded music festival in Australia.
This year's festival includes a line-up including Jimmy Barnes, Ben Harper and Jack Johnson to name a few, but Peter knows no one is safe from what's happening with the Australian economy right now.
"This is what you get at music festivals, you get bang for your buck and you get a great time," he said.
"So come on out and support them, it's a tragedy that Splendour in the Grass is not going to be around this year."
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