As of Tuesday, 3rd September, tickets for the inaugural Boomerang Festival officially hit the market, though things haven’t gotten off to the best start. Sales are dangerously below the required quota, prompting the event’s promoter Peter Noble to voice his concerns about a country growing apathetic towards its indigenous population.
In order for the event to break even, a total of 3500 tickets need to be sold for each day of the 3-day event. However, now approaching the 48th hour since sales began, between 700 and 1000 tickets have been shifted. Of that, only 74 Sydney residents purchase tickets (and from that, only 1 person from the metropolitan area) with Melbourne’s purchases totalling 75. To put this into perspective, Nobel’s other event, Bluesfest shifts an average of 20,000 tickets in Sydney alone.
Nobel told Fairfax today that slow ticket sales were reflective of a widening gap between Indigenous and white Australia:
“How many people actually know an Australian indigenous person or have ever met one properly? Here’s your big chance…maybe you would be enriched as a person? At one level apathy equals cultural apartheid…if people remain apathetic, what that means is we don’t care about our indigenous Australians.”
With Boomerang’s lineup shaping up to be a totally unique experience, he could be on the money. The festival includes headlining performances from Gurrumul Yunupingu and Archie Roach, as well as appearances by Thelma Plum and a plethora of other entertainers and activities.
Nobel is reportedly fronting $1.2mil of his own cash to fund the festival but refuses to back down from the event, which he claims celebrates Indigenous culture on an “unprecedented scale” and will continue with his plans “by hook or by crook.”
Comforted by the fact that ticket sales for inaugural festivals tend to increase with the brand’s presence, Nobel still hasn’t lost heart. “I’m just not prepared to accept there’s not enough Australians who care [about] indigenous culture.” he says.
Organisers are currently working on adding additional pulling power to the lineup, and have recently added Dan Sultan and John Williamson.
Boomerang will be held between Friday, 4th October and Sunday 6th October in Byron Bay. Tickets are available now through the festival’s official website.
Boomerang Festival 2013
Friday, 4th October to Sunday, 6th October 2013
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay
Tix: http://www.boomerangfestival.com.au/
Boomerang Festival
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th October
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay
Music
Gurrumul with the 24 piece Queensland Virtuoso Symphony Orchestra
Archie Roach with Lou Bennett, Emma Donovan & Deline Briscoe and a ten-piece ensemble feat. string quartet
John Williamson
Dan Sultan
Shellie Morris
The Medics
Thelma Plum
Dance
Wantok SING SING performs Wan Solwara Pipel
Arakwal Dancers
Speakers
Ernie Dingo
Larissa Behrendt
Comedy
Sean Choolburra- 50 Shades of Black
Theatre
Tammy Anderson’s – I don’t Wanna Play House
Film
Butcher Paper, Texta, Blackboard and Chalk
(Via SMH)
