Another music festival has bitten the dust this year with Brisbane’s arts and music festival Red Deer announcing today that it will not go forward with its 2014 event, deciding instead to take a one-year hiatus to ensure its longevity in years to come.
“We are saddened to announce Red Deer Fest will be taking a forced one-year hiatus in order to ensure the festival’s longevity,” read a post on the event’s Facebook page. “A lengthy council application means we will not be able to return until September, 2015.”
TheMusic reports, festival director Julian De Maria revealed that the decision was purely administrational, with Moreton Bay Regional Council requesting the event “change the material use of the land” before the festival can go ahead.
“The festival has been running off a temporary permit for the first four years and for us to permanently host the event and secure the festival’s future, we have to change the material use of the land,” explained De Maria. “We’ve done everything we can to get through this application process in time for this year’s festival, but unfortunately due to the sheer depth of this permit, it hasn’t been possible.”
Making its debut in 2010, the boutique festival is renown for celebrating homegrown talent on its curated lineup. Last year’s event featured performances from the likes of The Grates, The Kite String Tangle, Chance Waters and Kingswood. While 2012’s bill was headed by local rock heros Regurgitator and Melbourne songstress Clare Bowditch.
De Maria confirmed Red Deer is slated to return in September 2015. “Our priority for Red Deer is to make sure it retains that intimate, community feel that is all about the experience – and not just another festival,” he said. “We’re gutted that there’s no festival this year, but we’ll be back better than ever.”
