EXCLUSIVE: Sydney’s Surry Hills Festival Not Happening In 2013

Popular Sydney community fundraising event the Surry Hills Festival will not be taking place in 2013 as they recover from significant financial losses from the 2012 event.

Held late October at Prince Alfred Park last year, a representative from organisers the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre confirmed to theMusic.com.au that lower than expected income from the 2012 event has forced them to put the event on hiatus.

They are currently raising funds for the next festival, which they're tentatively planning for March or April in 2014. The festival is the major fundraiser for the Neighbourhood Centre, which develops and provides programs and services for the Surry Hills community.

Last year's event was managed by The Festival Company, which later collapsed under the weight of debt incurred by their flagship festival, Peats Ridge.

When theMusic broke the news of Peats Ridge's demise The Festival Company's Matt Grant told theMusic, “The Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre will continue to be the promoters of the Surry Hills Festival and this process in no way effects either The Surry Hills Festival or the Neighbourhood Centre.”

It is understood that over $1.3 million is still unaccounted for following the Peats wind-up.

Acts including Tijuana Cartel, Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire!, The Tongue and Alison Wonderland performed at the 2012 event.

The Neighbourhood Centre said today that had not made a decision on partners for the next event.