Another Australian music festival has announced it will take a break, with organisers vowing to return bigger and better the following year — despite some scepticism from fans.
The Big Red Bash, a 10,000-person outback festival in the Simpson Desert in Queensland, announced it would take a “gap year” in 2025.
“After running non-stop since 2013 (with a COVID break in 2020), our team is ready for a reset and recharge,” organisers said on Thursday.
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“As the most remote music festival in the world, building our mini desert city from scratch each year is a massive undertaking.”
Organisers said the break would ensure the festival could return bigger and better in 2026, with dates already locked in for early July.
“The Birdsville Big Red Bash will be back, refreshed, and ready to Rock the Simpson once again,” the organisers said.
“Thanks for all your incredible support. We’ll miss you in 2025 but can’t wait to see you in 2026.”
The Big Red Bash was held over three days in early July this year with Australian stars Tina Arena and Vanessa Amorosi among the performing artists.
Fans expressed disappointment but supported the organisers’ decision.
“Totally understandable,” one person said on social media.
“Unless you have been on an organising committee of this scale you would not understand the work that must go into an event like this.
“Enjoy the break.”
Others were worried the break would signal the beginning of the end for the festival, after a spate of other Australian music events were axed and their future uncertain.
“There are several music festivals which have cancelled, possibly never to return. I sincerely hope Big Red Bash doesn’t join them and does return the following year,” one fan said.
Splendour in the Grass, Groovin the Moo and Falls Festival are among a long list of festivals that have been canned this year, with smaller events such as Caloundra Music Festival and Coastal Jam also falling victim.
An industry report released earlier this year revealed more than one third of Australian music festivals are losing money, at an average cost of $3.9 million to run an event.
Among the 51 Australian music festivals surveyed, more than half turned a profit but 35 per cent lost money — with a median deficit of $470,000.
Almost one-in-three festival organisers were still feeling the impact of COVID-19.
