EXCLUSIVE: Health Department Doesn’t Rule Out Major Festivals In 2020

There’s no date set in stone when it comes to the recommencement of music festival in Australia due to the COVID pandemic, and while many aren’t expecting major events until 2021, the Health Department has said it’s too early to speculate when it comes to events like Splendour In The Grass in October.

Following comments made by Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy earlier this month, in which he stated music festivals wouldn’t take place for “the foreseeable future”, the Health Department has given an update on the situation in a statement to The Music.

“It is too early to speculate on what social distancing measures will be in place in October,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health said.

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“The National Cabinet will continue to meet and consider the latest health advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.

“Large scale events would require the approval of the jurisdiction where they are held. When festivals and concerts are permitted, there may still be significant measures to maintain social distancing and to support good hygiene.”

Featuring Flume, The Strokes, Tyler, The Creator, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more, Splendour In The Grass is just one of the festivals scheduled to go ahead in October, with The Gum Ball, VDMfest Rock Edge Country Music Festival and more also set to take place then, while a number of tours have been rescheduled around that same time.

The COVID pandemic has seen a number of major festivals cancel in recent weeks, including Brunswick Music Festival last week, who paid all acts on its 2020 line-up full.

Flume