Tent Pole music festival cancelled

THE return of the Tent Pole music festival to Mt Duneed Estate in less than a month will not happen, with organisers annoucing the cancellation of this year’s event.

In a post on their official Facebook page earlier today, Tent Pole’s promoters cited “impossible” conditions were the reason the February 17 event, to be headlined by US band Dinosaur Jr., would not go ahead.

“In a very disappointing turn of events we have made the difficult decision to cancel Tent Pole 2024,” the page stated.

“This decision has not been made lightly as there is still strong belief in the event and what it can offer, however, the current economic climate coupled with the difficulties associated with establishing a new regional festival has made it impossible for us to proceed.”

As well as alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr, who were to play their 1993 album Where You Been in full, Tent Pole’s 2024 edition would have featured Scottish indie pioneers Mogwai, Arizona alt-country outfit Calexico, Melbourne band Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, and several other bands.

All ticket purchasers will receive an automatic refund.

In some consolation for Dinosaur Jr fans, the band has added a second show in Melbourne on February 17.

Tent Pole is the first collaboration between festival promoters Michael Newton from Roundhouse Entertainment (A Day on the Green), Brian “BT” Taranto from Love Police (Out On The Weekend and Boogie) and Johann Ponniah from I OH YOU (Out Of Bounds).

The festival’s debut last year featured seminal US alternative band Pavement, indie-rock royalty Spiderbait, Geelong legends Magic Dirt, alt-pop-rock favourites Floodlights, San Diego rock’n’soulers The Schizophonics, Northern Territory rockers Black Rock Band and punk trio Clamm, among others.