After Groovin’ The Moo’s one-off return to Lismore, NSW, on the weekend (Saturday, May 9th) drew over 8,000 to Oakes Oval, it looks highly likely it will become an annual event.
Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg confirmed that the City is working with the festival’s promoter Fuzzy to make it an annual event, working at establishing a Memorandum of Understanding.
“That process will give both Council and the organisers a clear understanding of how we can continue working together to grow the event in Lismore and ensure it continues to get bigger and better every year,” he commented.
Groovin’ The Moo took place at Oakes Oval, securing Lismore’s reputation as a major events city that not only welcomes this calibre of events but has the facilities, partnerships and vision to support them.
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Mayor Krieg said the success of Groovin’ The Moo reflected Council’s long-term commitment to investing in facilities and creating opportunities that benefit the entire community.
“Lismore has always been known as an events hub, but what we are seeing now is the result of intentional planning and investment to ensure we lift that standard to be recognised by major event operators as a city that makes hosting events of a national scale easy,” he said.
“We are building and activating facilities that can host everything from elite sport to major cultural events and that creates real benefits for our economy, our businesses and our reputation as a regional city that is open for business.”
Events Strategy
As part of its Lismore Events Strategy 2024-28, Lismore, and surrounding Nimbin and Villages, identified that being in the heart of the NSW’s North Coast is beneficial especially to being a cultural capital.
Its heritage listed rainforest and proximity to airports (35 minutes from Ballina Airport and just over an hour from the Gold Coast Airport) already attracts 100,000 visitors to 29 events.
According to the City, 33% are arts and cultural, 28% are community, 24% are sports, and 15% are “industry celebrations”.
Research shows that the growth of events as Groovin’ The Moo remains positive, as tourists come from all over the country.
The bulk (86%) come from the North Coast NSW, with 83% from Lismore and villages, 46% from Brisbane and SE Queensland, 37% from regional NSW, 26% from Sydney, 17% from regional Queensland, 17% from Melbourne, 11% from Canberra, 9% from regional Victoria, and 9% from other states and territories.
Norco Primex and Lismore Gemfest at the Lismore Showground later this month are set to attract over 33,000 visitors combined.
Adelle Robinson, CEO of Fuzzy, said Groovin’ The Moo Lismore has been one of the best events she has ever worked on in her 30 years of producing events around Australia.
“From the moment I did the venue tour of Oakes Oval it was clear it was going to be a real collaboration between ourselves, the Council and the people of Lismore. That collaboration is what made this show really special,” she said.
“We want to thank the people of Lismore for hosting us, for telling us what you wanted from the show and for showing up in droves on Saturday. See you all next year!”
Despite a chilly morning start, crowds were at the Oval from the beginning.
The bill included headliner Denzel Curry including Tones And I, Matt Corby, Ninajirachi, The Chats, Dope Lemon, The Terrys, Baker Boy, and Maple’s Pet Dinosaur, in addition to Lismore locals Mr Rhodes, Angel White, and The Colliflowers.
Groovin’s success in Lismore was a triumph of its new business model.
At its peak staging in half a dozen regional cities to 150,000 to 200,000 punters, it cancelled abruptly in 2023 citing low ticket sales. Its “deliberate and considered return… (marked) the first step of a long-term sustainable model”.
This piece of content has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body
