The travelling New Years Eve festival will not be running its 2023/2024 events.
Falls Festival has taken to Instagram to announce its team will be “OOO” this festival season, citing the need to “rest, recover and recalibrate”.
The award-winning camping music festival, which has been running for almost three decades, has brought some of the biggest names in alternative, hip-hop, indie, rock and electronic music to Australian shores. Founded in Lorne, the event also grew to hold dates in Fremantle, Tasmania and Byron Bay.
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Falls Festival has had a difficult time in the past few years. The Lorne event was cancelled in 2019 due to extreme weather and wildfire dangers. In 2020 and 2021, the festival didn’t run due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But last year, in 2022/23, the festival was poised for a big return. The lineup was headlined by the Arctic Monkeys, Peggy Gou, Lil Nas X, The Wiggles, Anime, Rico Nasty and Jamie XX.
On social media, the festival has said they are planning on updating fans about their upcoming plans and endeavours “when the time is right”.
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“We send huge love and appreciation to all our patrons for their ongoing support and for the great vibes they brought to the 2022/23 events. You really are the heart and soul of Falls Festival,” reads the post.
In a separate statement, Secret Sounds co-chief executive Jessica Ducroe elaborated further.
“The past few years has seen unprecedented change in the live music space, both front of house and behind the scenes,” she said.
“Our team needs a break, so this year we’ll take time off to enjoy the holiday period and allow some space to re-imagine how Falls will look in the future.”
While many in the comments expressed their sadness about the festival’s hiatus, others were concerned the announcement might not bode well for the future of the event.
“You just had two years of break over Covid. I think you’re slowly announcing the end of Falls forever,” wrote one user.
Although the festival’s absence this year will certainly be felt, those in Melbourne looking for something to do over the summer holiday season have other options to choose from.
We’re still expecting big New Year’s Eve events for this year from Beyond the Valley, Let Them Eat Cake, Sun Cycle and NYE on the Hill, as well as a ton of other smaller parties that will be hosted in the city.
To keep up to date with everything related to Falls Festival, head here.
