Spike in interstate crowds cause early sellouts for BASSINTHEGRASS, Mona Foma

Music fans starved for festivals in their own states are getting their kicks across state lines.

Two major festivals reported a spike in crowds from outside their turf, which led to the events hitting full capacity in record time.

Darwin’s BASSINTHEGRASS sold out its 10,000 tickets last Friday (January 15), an unprecedented four months early.

Tasmania’s Mona Foma also reported it had to put patrons for ticketed events on waiting lists after three hours.

BASSINTHEGRASS returns on May 15 to Mindil Beach for a second year, after being postponed and eventually cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus.

Northern Territory Major Events chief executive, Tim Watsford, said: “We have seen phenomenal demand for BASSINTHEGRASS tickets this year, especially from interstate, with more tickets sold to non-Territorians than ever before.”

In 2019, the festival drew 3,000 intestate visitors. This year, it’s climbed to 5,000.

“Thousands of people from across Australia will be descending on Darwin for the event, which is great news for local businesses,” he added.

“It’s roughly a 50/50 split of Territorians and interstaters, so we’ll also see thousands of locals heading to Mindil Beach to enjoy a world-class line-up on their home turf.”

The government is ramping up its tourism push, encouraging non-Territorians to extend their stay to experience its attractions.

Funded by the government, BASSINTHEGRASS has always managed to book major acts.

This year it’s featuring Boo Seeka, Chillinit, DMA’s, G Flip, Hayden James, Illy, Jack Rivers, The Jungle Giants, Lime Cordiale, Missy Higgins, Ocean Alley, Peking Duk, Safia, The Rubens, Thelma Plum and Violent Soho.

Adam Hyde of Peking Duk responded to the sell-out news: “Having played BASSINTHEGRASS twice in the past, we cannot wait to get back and get sweaty with all the amazing people up in Darwin.

“We’re stoked to be playing in front of a sell-out crowd – this show is going to be incredible.”

Mona Foma drew 46,000 people in 2019 to ticketed and free events.  Those from the mainland made up one-third of the crowd.

This year, it was up to 49%, executive producer Shelley McCuaig told the Mercury, despite the 2021 event being unable to book big international names.

This year’s crowds are capped due to COVID-Safe procedures, as the festival stages in two cities.

It ran from January 15-17 in Launceston, before moving to Hobart in January 22-24.

Usually its artists are split evenly about 30% between local, intestate and international.

This year, the locals make up 90%, representing a wider cross section of locations from around the island, and many of whom have never played a festival before.