Easterfest: Difference between revisions
m Reverted edits by 110.32.34.32 (talk) to last revision by SFK2 (HG) |
Added updated Information including the public messageboard links |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
During the Easter weekend, most of Queen’s Park and some of Toowoomba's CBD is converted into an event precinct, with venue and residential tents, stages and other attractions. During the event setup and packdown, most of Queen's Park is inaccessible to the general public. |
During the Easter weekend, most of Queen’s Park and some of Toowoomba's CBD is converted into an event precinct, with venue and residential tents, stages and other attractions. During the event setup and packdown, most of Queen's Park is inaccessible to the general public. |
||
At a cost to ratepayers of over $60,000 and loss of the use of their facilities with no compensation offered to Toowoomba locals in the way of free entry or 50% off tickets. |
|||
It is also the most disruptive festival to the city it is held in and the noise from this can be heard at distances of over 5 kilometres causing distress to much of the city of Toowoomba and the event attendees tend to get abusive towards those that complain about the level of noise! |
|||
== Festival History == |
== Festival History == |
||
| Line 12: | Line 15: | ||
2011: Easterfest announced late Saturday night that the program in the main venue, Queens Park, had been cancelled.<ref name="SunCD01" /> The creek running right alongside the entrance to the Queen's Park venue, which had been the scene of major flooding earlier this year, became a raging river, making for a precarious exit.<ref name="SunCD01" /> Organisers confirmed the tent had partially collapsed but there were no injuries and everyone had been accounted for.<ref name="SunCD01" /> Police were closing off roads as the torrential rain turned roads into rapids.<ref name="SunCD01" /> Numerous cars were abandoned after they stalled.<ref name="SunCD01" /> Ricky Robinson, 18, of Petrie, who was camping at the site said there was like a small river going through the area. The water was up to patron’s knees in the moshpit as the US band Switchfoot played on, despite the deluge. The lead singer Jon Foreman was climbing up the support structures for the giant display screens. “He was crazy. He was drenched pretty much" Ricky said.<ref name="SunCD01">{{cite web |author=Mark Furler in Toowoomba |date=2011-04-23 |publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily |url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/04/23/easterfest-hit-flash-flood/ |title=Easterfest hit by flash flood |accessdate=2012-04-12 }}</ref> Thousands of people were scrambling through rushing water as they exited Easterfest.<ref name="SunCD02" /> Security staff and volunteers first advised people to head to the Big Top but that too was being flooded so many just headed across East Creek to the city and higher ground.<ref name="SunCD02" /> Police and fire sirens only added to the drama.<ref name="SunCD02">{{cite web |author=Mark Furler |date=2011-04-25 |publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily |url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/04/25/storm-relives-terror-of-citys-inland-tsunami/ |title=20 minutes of fear at Easterfest |accessdate=2012-04-12 }}</ref> |
2011: Easterfest announced late Saturday night that the program in the main venue, Queens Park, had been cancelled.<ref name="SunCD01" /> The creek running right alongside the entrance to the Queen's Park venue, which had been the scene of major flooding earlier this year, became a raging river, making for a precarious exit.<ref name="SunCD01" /> Organisers confirmed the tent had partially collapsed but there were no injuries and everyone had been accounted for.<ref name="SunCD01" /> Police were closing off roads as the torrential rain turned roads into rapids.<ref name="SunCD01" /> Numerous cars were abandoned after they stalled.<ref name="SunCD01" /> Ricky Robinson, 18, of Petrie, who was camping at the site said there was like a small river going through the area. The water was up to patron’s knees in the moshpit as the US band Switchfoot played on, despite the deluge. The lead singer Jon Foreman was climbing up the support structures for the giant display screens. “He was crazy. He was drenched pretty much" Ricky said.<ref name="SunCD01">{{cite web |author=Mark Furler in Toowoomba |date=2011-04-23 |publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily |url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/04/23/easterfest-hit-flash-flood/ |title=Easterfest hit by flash flood |accessdate=2012-04-12 }}</ref> Thousands of people were scrambling through rushing water as they exited Easterfest.<ref name="SunCD02" /> Security staff and volunteers first advised people to head to the Big Top but that too was being flooded so many just headed across East Creek to the city and higher ground.<ref name="SunCD02" /> Police and fire sirens only added to the drama.<ref name="SunCD02">{{cite web |author=Mark Furler |date=2011-04-25 |publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily |url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/04/25/storm-relives-terror-of-citys-inland-tsunami/ |title=20 minutes of fear at Easterfest |accessdate=2012-04-12 }}</ref> |
||
2012: Numbers were 20,000!<ref name="Chron02">{{cite web |author=Unattributed Editorial |date=2012-04-11 |publisher=The Chronicle |url=http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2012/04/11/easterfest-gives-a-boost-to-business/ |title='Easterfest boosts business' |accessdate=2012-04-12 }}</ref> "The noise created by crowds and thumping bass at Easterfest has become one of Toowoomba’s most debated issues. - Kevin Farmer"<ref name="Chron03" /> "The city is split down the middle between those who love the music festival and its inner-city location and those who want it moved".<ref name="Chron03" /> Co-ordinator Mr Schenk said: "We did have at least one breach and worked closely with council to get the noise within the prescribed limit. The biggest challenge came on Saturday night when we had three or four of our venues operating at the same time after 10pm, when the limits drop. Any one stage was okay, but cumulatively they were over the limit."<ref name="Chron03">{{cite web |author=Chris Calcino |date=2012-04-12 |publisher=The Chronicle |url=http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2012/04/12/easterfests-noise-a-hot-issue-toowoomba/ |title=Easterfest's noise a hot issue |accessdate=2012-04-12 }}</ref><ref name="Chron04" /> Residents have established their own messageboard to publish their grievances.<ref name="Chron04">{{cite web |author=Chris Calcino |date=2012-04-14 |publisher=The Chronicle |url=http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2012/04/14/debate-rages-loud-and-clear-easterfest/ |title=Debate rages loud and clear |accessdate=2012-04-16 }}</ref> |
2012: Numbers were 20,000!<ref name="Chron02">{{cite web |author=Unattributed Editorial |date=2012-04-11 |publisher=The Chronicle |url=http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2012/04/11/easterfest-gives-a-boost-to-business/ |title='Easterfest boosts business' |accessdate=2012-04-12 }}</ref> "The noise created by crowds and thumping bass at Easterfest has become one of Toowoomba’s most debated issues. - Kevin Farmer"<ref name="Chron03" /> "The city is split down the middle between those who love the music festival and its inner-city location and those who want it moved".<ref name="Chron03" /> Co-ordinator Mr Schenk said: "We did have at least one breach and worked closely with council to get the noise within the prescribed limit. The biggest challenge came on Saturday night when we had three or four of our venues operating at the same time after 10pm, when the limits drop. Any one stage was okay, but cumulatively they were over the limit."<ref name="Chron03">{{cite web |author=Chris Calcino |date=2012-04-12 |publisher=The Chronicle |url=http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2012/04/12/easterfests-noise-a-hot-issue-toowoomba/ |title=Easterfest's noise a hot issue |accessdate=2012-04-12 }}</ref><ref name="Chron04" /> Residents have established their own messageboard http://easterfussed.forumsland.com/easterfussed.html to publish their grievances.<ref name="Chron04">{{cite web |author=Chris Calcino |date=2012-04-14 |publisher=The Chronicle |url=http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2012/04/14/debate-rages-loud-and-clear-easterfest/ |title=Debate rages loud and clear |accessdate=2012-04-16 }}</ref> |
||
== References == |
== References == |
||
Revision as of 13:25, 31 March 2013
Easterfest (previously known as the Australian Gospel Music Festival) is an annual three-day music festival held in Toowoomba, Australia.
The first festival was held in 1999, with a mixture of successful and unsuccessful events. In 2001, the festival re-focused by holding most events in Queen’s Park (previously, events were held in multiple venues throughout the city). Since the initial move to Queen’s Park, the festival has grown and moved back to multiple venues, including the streets.
During the Easter weekend, most of Queen’s Park and some of Toowoomba's CBD is converted into an event precinct, with venue and residential tents, stages and other attractions. During the event setup and packdown, most of Queen's Park is inaccessible to the general public.
At a cost to ratepayers of over $60,000 and loss of the use of their facilities with no compensation offered to Toowoomba locals in the way of free entry or 50% off tickets. It is also the most disruptive festival to the city it is held in and the noise from this can be heard at distances of over 5 kilometres causing distress to much of the city of Toowoomba and the event attendees tend to get abusive towards those that complain about the level of noise!
Festival History
Tens of thousands of people attended the ticketed and free events during three-day festival in 2005,[1][2] and over 20,000 tickets were allegedly sold in 2006. In 2009, about 40,000 people attended.[3]
2011: Easterfest announced late Saturday night that the program in the main venue, Queens Park, had been cancelled.[4] The creek running right alongside the entrance to the Queen's Park venue, which had been the scene of major flooding earlier this year, became a raging river, making for a precarious exit.[4] Organisers confirmed the tent had partially collapsed but there were no injuries and everyone had been accounted for.[4] Police were closing off roads as the torrential rain turned roads into rapids.[4] Numerous cars were abandoned after they stalled.[4] Ricky Robinson, 18, of Petrie, who was camping at the site said there was like a small river going through the area. The water was up to patron’s knees in the moshpit as the US band Switchfoot played on, despite the deluge. The lead singer Jon Foreman was climbing up the support structures for the giant display screens. “He was crazy. He was drenched pretty much" Ricky said.[4] Thousands of people were scrambling through rushing water as they exited Easterfest.[5] Security staff and volunteers first advised people to head to the Big Top but that too was being flooded so many just headed across East Creek to the city and higher ground.[5] Police and fire sirens only added to the drama.[5]
2012: Numbers were 20,000![6] "The noise created by crowds and thumping bass at Easterfest has become one of Toowoomba’s most debated issues. - Kevin Farmer"[7] "The city is split down the middle between those who love the music festival and its inner-city location and those who want it moved".[7] Co-ordinator Mr Schenk said: "We did have at least one breach and worked closely with council to get the noise within the prescribed limit. The biggest challenge came on Saturday night when we had three or four of our venues operating at the same time after 10pm, when the limits drop. Any one stage was okay, but cumulatively they were over the limit."[7][8] Residents have established their own messageboard http://easterfussed.forumsland.com/easterfussed.html to publish their grievances.[8]
References
- ^ Smith, Phil (2005-03-29). "'Australian Gospel Music Festival - ABC Queensland'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
- ^ Mullan, Catherine (2006-04-19). "'AGMF- it's the vibe - Journey'". Queensland Uniting Church. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
- ^ Unattributed Editorial (2009-03-10). "'Easterfest 2009 Festival Guide'". The Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- ^ a b c d e f Mark Furler in Toowoomba (2011-04-23). "Easterfest hit by flash flood". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- ^ a b c Mark Furler (2011-04-25). "20 minutes of fear at Easterfest". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- ^ Unattributed Editorial (2012-04-11). "'Easterfest boosts business'". The Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- ^ a b c Chris Calcino (2012-04-12). "Easterfest's noise a hot issue". The Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
- ^ a b Chris Calcino (2012-04-14). "Debate rages loud and clear". The Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-04-16.