Music Festival Defends Controversial Move From NSW To QLD

The CMC Rocks three-day music festival has defended its decision to move from the Hunter Valley to Ipswich after a torrent of disapproval from its fans on social media, citing issues with camping and facilities at their previous home.

One of Australia’s biggest country music events, CMC Rocks announced it would be moving from the Hunter’s Hope Estate winery venue for the 2015 event last week. The news received a mixed reaction, with punters complaining they’d already placed deposits on accommodation for the 2015 event in the region. A few also pointed to the 2014 festival guide, which advertised the ‘Rocks The Hunter’ event as taking place Friday 13 – Sunday 15 March 2015.

The 2015 event will indeed take place that weekend, but at Willowbank Raceway. The festival organisers have admitted today that the decision “has met with a mixed reception amongst country music fans”.

The festival – promoted by Rob Potts Entertainment Edge and Chugg Entertainment in conjunction with Foxtel's Country Music Channel [CMC] – said that when originally moving to the Hunter in 2011 from the Snowy Mountains “the event grew immediately and considerably. Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen this growth plateau.”

They blamed rising accommodations costs (“as much as 100 percent between our first event in the Hunter in 2011 and our fourth in 2014”) and an increasing number of ‘minimum three-night stay’ clauses from accommodation in the region. Also hurting the growth of the event were “less than ideal” camping facilities at Hope Estate, whereby space was limited and the site difficult when wet.

They added, “Food and beverage was controlled by the Hope Estate, rather than the festival organisers and we were consistently receiving feedback via our annual festival survey regarding dissatisfaction of options provided.”

The statement recognises that some fans have already purchased accommodation but urges them to request refunds.

“In addressing the concerns of fans who have pre-booked their accommodation and travel in and to the Hunter Valley for 2015, we believe that with more than seven months notice, fans should approach the accommodation providers for deposits to be refunded.

“We see no valid reason as to why refunds would not be made, given the extensive amount of notice. In relation to airfares, whilst we understand that many lower cost or budget airfares may not be refundable, fans should be able to secure a credit for these airfares to be used for future air travel.”

Most fans on social media appear to have been placated by the statement, but pockets remain unhappy.

“I for one will not be going you have lost me and many others,” one wrote,” hope the people that booked their accommodation for next year after your announcement that you'd be back get their money back. I'm disgusted at being lied to.”

CMC Rocks’ September satellite event CMC Rocks North Qld has downsized to the Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre this year due to low ticket sales, but promoters feel that their new south-east Queensland site will breathe new life into the main event.

“The choice of [venue] will undoubtedly reduce the cost of attending the festival for many, both now and in the future. With four major centres all within ten to 90 minutes of the festival site – Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Toowoomba – there is vastly more accommodation available to our patrons than could ever be utilised. We’re hoping this move will drastically reduce any opportunity for patrons to be exploited by accommodation suppliers.

“The new site affords patrons the option of flying in from interstate, international and intrastate. There’s a choice of international airports, in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. There’s also rail and bus transport to the site.”