Amid a challenging climate for festivals nationwide, a Tasmanian event has defied the odds and pulled in nearly 13,000 festivalgoers – including about 3,000 from interstate.
“This is our biggest year yet and we’re really excited about it,” Party in the Paddock founder Jesse Higgs said.
“Statistically, we are definitely punching high above our weight at the moment. There is not that many festivals going ahead, as we know.”
“All the big ones, Groovin the Moo, Splendour in the Grass, etc… are no longer with us and they don’t look like returning anytime soon. We’re just going to do our very best. It is tough times.”
What started as a small festival in a White Hills paddock in 2012 has now grown into a four-day event at Carrick, near Launceston.
It attracts some of the biggest international acts to Tasmania, including Empire of the Sun, Amyl and the Sniffers, The Kooks and Oliver Tree.
“We’re extremely excited to see some of these huge artists play … and we’ve got some amazing local artists as well,” Higgs said.
“We book 50% local artists … from the West Coast, the east coast, the south and of course the north.”
Looking ahead, Higgs says the festival’s future will likely depend on external funding and grants to stay afloat.
“I don’t think it’ll be the big last hurrah. I think the brand is really strong,” he said.
“We just want to actually have decent support … We’re not asking for a lot. We just want to be sustainable and I think the government really needs to step up and help out such a brilliant, independent Tasmanian brand.”
