Listen Out Address Clashes With AFL & NRL Grand Finals
"Although we try to avoid clashes like this, they are sometimes unavoidable."
Listen Out Perth 2023 (Credit: Jordan Munns)
Listen Out fans have responded to the festival’s Save The Dates announcement with potential horror, with the Sydney and Perth dates clashing with major sporting events.
While the Melbourne date takes place on a public holiday – Grand Final Eve ahead of the AFL’s big day – Listen Out heads to Perth, another AFL-enthusiastic city, on Grand Final Day. Meanwhile, the festival takes place in Sydney, an NRL-mad city, on NRL Grand Final Day.
Festival promoters confirmed Listen Out’s return last week, with the festival tour heading to the Caribbean Gardens in Melbourne on Friday, 27 September, Perth’s HBF Arena on Saturday, 28 September, Brisbane’s RNA Showgrounds on Saturday, 5 October, and wraps up at Sydney’s Centennial Park on Sunday, 6 October.
Listen In also returns this year, taking place at Ellis Park in Adelaide on Sunday, 29 September, and Auckland at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on Friday, 4 October.
The announcement of festival dates that clash with the most significant dates on the Australian sporting calendar raised concern amongst punters on social media, but festival organisers are offering solutions for their partygoing, sports-loving patrons.
A spokesperson for Listen Out told The Music and Purple Sneakers, “This is not the first time Listen Out and grand finals have shared a day, and we encourage people to enjoy both.
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“We'll be showing the NRL Grand Final in Sydney and the AFL Grand Final in Perth. Each venue will have a beer garden with screens, food and drinks showing the games.”
The spokesperson added, “The Listen Out dates are planned well in advance, and although we try to avoid clashes like this, they are sometimes unavoidable.”
The line-up for Listen Out 2024 will be announced in the coming weeks. To be the first to receive more information, sign up for the Listen Out and Listen In Adelaide and Auckland websites.
In a statement, Listen Out promoters said about this year’s festival, “It’s been a very tough time for the Australian music festival industry, and we are thrilled to be back in 2024, welcoming returning and first-time attendees through the gates.”
Last year’s Listen Out presented the biggest line-up in its history, locking in the likes of Skrillex, Four Tet, Ice Spice, JPEGMAFIA, Mallrat, Lil Uzi Vert, Coi Leray, and stacks more.
LISTEN OUT / LISTEN IN 2024
Listen Out Melbourne
Friday 27 September (Public Holiday)
Caribbean Gardens
Wurundjeri Land / Melbourne, VIC
Listen Out Perth
Saturday 28 September
HBF Arena
Mooro Country / Joondalup, WA
Listen In Adelaide
Sunday 29 September
Ellis Park / Tampawardli (Park 24)
Kaurna Country / Adelaide, SA
Listen In Auckland
Friday 4 October
Go Media Stadium Mt Smart
Auckland / Te Ipu Kura A Maki, New Zealand
Listen Out Brisbane
Saturday 5 October
Brisbane Showgrounds
Brisbane / Meanjin, QLD
Listen Out Sydney
Sunday 6 October
Centennial Park
Gadigal Country / Sydney, NSW
Listen Out and Listen In Adelaide are 16+ events.
Listen In Auckland is an 18+ event.
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