Popular Maitland music festival Groovin In The Moo has been left out of a recent round of emergency funding for events across the state.
The touring regional extravaganza was an annual celebration for music-lovers across the Hunter, hosting some of the best national and international acts on a local stage.
Beginning in 2005, the event was formerly held in Maitland Showground, serving as an easily accessible way for local punters to watch their favourite performers.
Stops of the festival also included Victoria, Western Australia, Canberra and Queensland.
But, after nearly two decades of operation, organisers made the disheartening announcement to fans that the 2024 event was cancelled.
“Ticket sales have not been sufficient to deliver a regional festival of this kind,” they said in a statement on 14 February 2024.
It came alongside a string of other cancellations of major events, including Splendour In The Grass, Harvest Rock, Caloundra Music Festival and Spilt Milk.
In the following year, organisers confirmed to fans once again that Groovin In The Moo would not be returning in 2025, with a post stating the off year will be used to “work on finding the most sustainable model for Australia’s most loved regional touring festival”.
While fans have been left optimistic, a recent round of state government funding to aid the struggling industry has left Hunter locals less than hopeful.
Five music festivals have taken share in a multimillion dollar investment by the NSW Government to help reduce costs and prioritise health considerations in festival planning.
Bluesfest, Lost Paradise, Yours and Owls, Listen Out and Field Day have been picked to receive up to $500,000 each out of the $2.25 million injection.
But, Groovin In The Moo wasn’t the only festival to miss out on the much-needed lifeline.
Good Life, Esoteric, Souled Out, Forth Valley Blues, Splendour In The Grass and A Festival Called Panama also fell short of the funding windfall.
Newcastle Weekly has reached out to Groovin In The Moo organisers for further comment, to which they said all hope is not lost.
“This fund was announced after Groovin the Moo was cancelled last year, so it wasn’t eligible,” said a spokesperson.
“We are really pleased to hear Groovin the Moo would be eligible for the funding in 2026.”
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