Organisers of Tallarook’s Boogie music festival are confident 2023 will be the event’s biggest year yet, with ticket sales for the Easter extravaganza now on sale.
There has been strong sales since the first round of tickets, on sale in January, have sold out and remaining tickets selling quickly.
However the festival faced a blow last week when the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, VCAT, upheld a Mitchell Shire Council decision regarding restrictions to the festival’s liquor licence and music.
There has been a long-running battle between festival organisers, council and a group of nearby residents in relation to permits for the festival, which takes place at Our Friends Farm, a property on the Tallarook Pyalong Road, at Tallarook.
Boogie bounced back in 2022 after successfully altering a council permit restricting noise at the property after 10pm, which had forced festival organisers to consider moving elsewhere.
Our Friends Farm owner Tanya El-Gamal said Boogie organisers had been hoping to this year relocate the ‘Hillbilly Disco’ to the outdoor amphitheatre.
But VCAT senior member Margaret Baird said in her findings there were relevant unanswered questions about the ‘amenity impacts’ of the amendments being requested.
“The impacts are not properly and/or fully documented and understood, and current permit conditions do not provide an acceptable means to overcome the deficiencies. The amendments are therefore not approved,” she said.
“It is not my task or role to consider whether the music festival itself has a social licence. The case is decided on the basis of whether the requested amendments are acceptable when assessed against the relevant matters set by the scheme.”
Organisers will press on with the April event, with the festival to be headlined by Australian pub rockers Private Function and soul/jazz collective Surprise Chef.
Ms El-Gamal said late-night entertainment would still proceed – a permit remains in place for an indoor disco until 3am.
“It’s good that the council removed the noise restrictions so we can operate at the normal level of music that is expected at a live music festival,” she said.
“It’s a shame the amendments sought to relocate the late night disco were refused as it was a logical response to the concerns raised by all parties, but we are a creative bunch and have a number of alternatives that will allow us to provide the late night entertainment for our patrons as permitted by the permit.”
Ms El-Gamal said there would be something for everyone on this year’s line-up.
“There’s lots of diversity on the music line-up with quite a few bands that we haven’t had before, so it will be good to see some fresh blood on the main stage,” she said.
“We love being able to support the return of live music after the blow the industry took through COVID.
“One of the festival organisers owns 1800 Lasagna in Melbourne, so the clubhouse will be turned into a pop-up 1800lasagna restaurant with live jazz bands playing on the indoor stage, followed by the infamous karaoke club where punters get to bring out their inner rock star.
“The Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday and the huge Boxwars action-packed show is always a huge hit with the kids so there’s lots of other fun family entertainment provided along side the three-day live music program.”
People can find out more about the festival and buy tickets by visiting www.boogie.net.au.
