They’ve bought some of the best and most infectious live music to our ears. Now, after three successful years, the Motor City Music Festival have announced the ride is over.
Festival promotor Hugo T Armstrong shared the news with Forte, stating: “Whilst we are naturally saddened the event will not continue, I would like to thank everyone who supported this event over the past three years.”
Created as an event to fill the gap of music festivals in the city, the event celebrated Geelong’s famous motoring and agricultural industry, award winning wineries and local produce – and of course great music.
The decision and timing to call it a day comes after five months of reviewing the event and at this time, reflects the need to preserve the legacy and the integrity of the well-loved festival, which has presented more than 150 acts from around the country and the world during its time. These include the likes of Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Geoff Achison, Wild Violet, Black Sorrows, Claude Hay and Chocolate Starfish, just to name a few.
While thousands of people flocked to the previous festivals which catered to the rock, blues and country genres all in one, the current economic climate, low ticket sales and a reluctance in Geelong to pre-purchase tickets has bought to question the feasibility of large scale music events in Geelong.
“Early Bird tickets have traditionally been released in September, now is the right time to inform our customers. The Motor City Music Festival has no outstanding debts, and all losses have been underwritten by its parent company and my family.”
As for what is to come, Armstrong says efforts will be focused on ways to help maintain the prosperity of these types of events in the future.
“I look forward to working with the City and Music Victoria to help develop a much needed live music strategy for Geelong to help build the supportive framework for events and venues.
“I note that many other cities of a similar nature to Geelong including Ballarat, Bendigo, Newcastle and Wollongong have developed and implemented live music strategies with great success.”
We all know the saying ‘all good things must come to an end’, and this festival will truly be missed by all.
At this year’s festival back in March, early bird tickets were released for the 2017 festival before the nature of these circumstances arose. If you purchased a ticket from the Ticketmaster Box Office at this year’s festival, you will receive an email within the next seven days with details of a refund.
For tickets purchased from the event Merchandise Stand or are unsure, contact the guys at [email protected] and they will help you with your refund. Any refunds not claimed by March will be donated to charity partner The Karingal Foundation.