Overview
Recently we have been truly spoilt by the number of DIY festivals popping up Australia-wide. Sparked only a few years ago, arguably by the team at Secret Garden Festival, the boutique festival scene is now at an all time high. Goulburn-based newcomer Marmalade Skies however, finds a unique grounding for its first year by being completely crowdfunded. Earlier this year they launched their Pozible campaign which saw them raise above $22,000, surpassing their intended budget by over $7000.
Unfortunately the team have faced their first festival production hurdle; yesterday the team issued a statement that during a site inspection the Goulburn Mulwaree Council — alongside the local fire and police department — have decided to postpone the festival due to fire hazards threatening the area throughout December. New dates will be announced within a week.
Refunds have been offered, but the team have pleaded with guests to give them a chance "Once we announce the new date we will set up a refund option for those no-longer able to come; but for those that can, we ask you, please, to keep the faith a little while longer. You have invested in upcoming, young, Australian music, in a new production company, in a fresh new face on the Australian festival scene. Please allow us to prove you right. We at Marmalade Skies Festival are still confident of putting on an incredible party just, this time, on the other side of summer."
But the festival organisers shouldn't be too concerned yet. Marmalade Skies has seen an overwhelming amount of support and popularity, even before the lineup was announced — teams of local graphic designers and many other volunteers have been offering to assist the festival organisers for months. It is truly becoming the 'festival for the people' the team hoped it would be. The all-Australian lineup — featuring the likes of Fishing, Kilter and Luen — is one of the summer's most underrated (and largely unknown) lineups we've seen.
Stay tuned for Marmalade Skies' new date announcement over the next week.