The ultimate power move.
Newcastle music festival UP DOWN has extended an invitation to New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian to prove it doesn’t deserve to be labelled a “high risk” event.
A list of “high risk” festivals operating in NSW was published in February. In addition to UP DOWN, noteworthy names include Laneway, FOMO, Ultra and more. A festival is labelled as high risk if there has been a serious drug-related death of illness at the event within the past three years or if the NSW Liquor & Gaming Authority has reason to believe there is a serious risk of this happening. High risk festivals will be affected by new music festival regulations introduced by the NSW state government.
“Gladys Berejiklian can have a guestlist of ten and might like to bring her friend, Liberal National Party candidate for Newcastle, Blake Keating or Minister for Liquor and Gaming Paul O’Toole for a relaxing afternoon mixer on the foreshore,” UP DOWN festival organisers said.
UP DOWN is scheduled to take place on Sunday March 17. The staff who organise UP DOWN are also behind THIS THAT, another music festival that takes place in Newcastle. THIS THAT was praised by NSW Police for the measures it took to take manage crowd numbers and deal with drug possession.
“We do not condone the use of drugs at any event we run. We want to invite the premier and her colleagues to UP DOWN to enjoy the experience of why we put these events on, for the music,” UP DOWN organisers said.
“With the last set finishing at 9.00pm, it should also suit her bedtime too.”
The lineup for UP DOWN 2019 includes Nina Las Vegas, The Bloody Beetroots, Basenji and more.
