While punters in Sydney and Brisbane enjoyed Harvest Festival’s musical offerings over the weekend (though not the weather for Brisbanites), down across the Southern Bite, music lovers in Tasmania were enjoying the sights and sounds of the Soundscape Festival.
Held over the Friday and Saturday last week at the Princes Wharf Shed #1 in Hobart, Soundscape Festival 2012 brought a host of top tier Australian talent, such as Missy Higgins, The Temper Trap, Bluejuice, Big Scary, Yacht Club DJs and more to a crowd of over 4,000.
With the festival now successfully completed, organisers behind the two day event have now announced its official retirement.
Gracefully bowing out with an announcement over their Facebook page, Soundscape organisers write:
This festival has been a labour of love for organisers, staff, volunteers and everyone in between. Events of this nature take a lot of work and effort, and with this in mind, The Soundscape Festival is calling it a day. For festival organiser, Brendan Self, it has been a tiring and consuming endeavour, and he is
now looking forward to a better work/life balance.We have many fond memories and are thankful for the experience, but after 5 years, it is time to focus our attention on other professional and personal pursuits.
The biggest thank you goes out to all the hardworking staff, volunteers, stakeholders, sponsor and patrons. Mainstage Events will continue to support and nurture the live music scene in Tasmania, and we are honoured to have been a part of the rich musical landscape.
Thank you for making Soundscape 2012 such an amazing send off.
According to Christie Elizer’s Industrial Strength column, flagging ticket sales may be partly responsible for contributing to Soundscape’s decision to fold, with a reported 4,500 tickets sold instead of the 6,000 required to make budget.
The discontinuation of the Tasmanian music festival follows a concerted effort to enhance the festival experience by organisers, including shifting the festival’s traditional January slot to an early November slot, to coincide with warmer weather and the end of student exams.
The main factor is to move the festival to a less congested time of year, as January plays host to numerous music, sporting and cultural events,” said organisers at the time of the festival’s initial lineup announcement. “Flagging ticket sales may be partly responsible for contributing to Soundscape’s decision to fold…
“In addition to this,” they added. “Festival patronage has dropped throughout Australia as a result many festivals have been affected financially and have been forced to fold. The decision has been made with the longevity of the festival at the centre.” Unfortunately that has no longer been the case, a shame considering the festival’s concerted efforts to reinvigorate itself.
Key promoter Brendan Self issued a statement back in August emphasising a change in structure, location and format. Stating: “Soundscape is celebrating its 5th birthday by going boutique,” wrote Self at the time. “A reduced capacity means patrons will enjoy less queuing for food, drinks, toilets and enjoy a more intimate experience with the performers.” While all that proved true, it appears it simply did not sell enough tickets to ensure it’s sustainability to continue and organisers have instead decided to gracefully give their final bow, and take their leave on a high.
In its five years, Soundscape Festival’s stages have played host to international names like Basement Jaxx, Roots Manuva, Mystery Jets, and Spoon; as well as ensuring patrons are treated to some of the country’s best music exports. Including Empire of the Sun, Cut Copy and Pnau, and music royalty such as The Living End, You Am I, Grinspoon and Jebediah.
While Soundscape Festival’s departure should be recognised as a major loss for Tasmania’s festival scene, there is a bright side to look forward to on the music calendar.
Particularly last month’s news that Mark ‘Diesel’ Lizotte’s Breath of Life would be going ahead for 2013. Following on from last year’s successful debut, the festival will bring an impressive lineup – headed by Dizzee Rascal, 360, and Birds Of Tokyo – to Launceston’s Inveresk Showgrounds for a second showing in 2013.
There’s also the more left-field Arts & Music festival, MONA FOMA to look forward to in January, with the highlights of the music programme being ex-Talking Head David Byrne and St. Vincent bringing their collaborative album, Love This Giant, to Salamaca’s Princes Wharf, along with the likes of Brooklyn boho-popsters Dirty Projectors, the record label baiting Death Grips, and many more.
