Byron Music Festival (BMF) is an all-ages, all-inclusive, multi-venue, weekend-long music festival combined with a flagship cultural placemaking event that celebrates the immense creative talent of Byron Bay and beyond.
A vision of Byron Music Shop owner and director Nick Sergi says, years in the making, the purpose of the event is to reinvigorate the local music industry by creating paid and exposure opportunities for Northern Rivers-based artists, and to re-establish a connection for the local music industry and wider community, as part of the long road to recovery for regionally based artists and arts workers post-pandemic.
These activities will directly and positively impact the local economy by revitalising the Byron Bay night time economy, including multiple local businesses across an array of industries, creating cultural engagement that has myriad social benefits including community connection, and contributing to the town centre’s flourishing during low tourist season.
Nick Sergi says this event is essentially a gift to our community. ‘As a music retailer, I witnessed firsthand how our local musicians struggled through the pandemic and felt helpless as many left the region because they couldn’t afford to live here any more. We sadly haemorrhaged countless talented people who were major contributors to our cultural profile and community in general, and we’re still feeling the effects. We’re also losing industry professionals who create events and projects that make our area so wonderful to live in because there are so few creative employment opportunities locally. I took it on myself to create something that we can all look forward to again, and a way for our emerging and mid-tier artists to perform and get paid again.’
Over three days Byron Music Festival hosts a diverse lineup of all-local musicians throughout venues including Treehouse at Belongil, The Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay Services Club, Salty’s, and an iconic beachfront event in Dening Park. Spanning all genres and demographics, the program is designed to appeal to and be accessible to locals.
‘We’re filling the gaps between the major festivals that many locals find hard to afford or get to, while producing high-quality programming and experiences to showcase what the people of our area of capable of. It’s a reminder to us all why Byron Bay is so special to live in and for us to come together in celebration again. It is the ultimate event that’s ‘made by locals for locals’.
Byron Music Festival 2023. Friday 16 – Sunday 18 June
Main Event: Dening Park, Byron Bay, Arakwal Bundjalung Country.
Saturday 17 June, 11am – 8:30pm
Find out more: www.byronmusicfestival.com.au.
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