Despite gaining approval from local council earlier this year to stage the Victoria leg of Falls Festival at its new location at Birregurra (in the Colac Otway Shire), event organisers have been forced to move the 2022 festival to a Melbourne CBD location – as a one-off.
To be staged at Sidney Myer Music Bowl and surrounds across the same dates (29-31 December), and rebranded as Falls Downtown Melbourne the new event will feature the same line-up (headlined by Arctic Monkeys, Lil Nas X, Peggy Gou, CHVRCHES, Jamie xx) already announced.The decision to move the event to Melbourne was precipitated by a small group of Colac Otway locals who have appealed Colac Shire Otway Council's decision to grant Falls the planning permit (on 30 June, 2022) to stage the festival on their Birregurra site to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal; that hearing is slated to take place February/ March 2023.
"Thanks so much for all the support from stakeholders, the venue, artists, all who contribute to Falls and especially our patrons," Falls Co-Producer Jessica Ducrou says.
"We're thrilled that the show will go on at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, ringing in the new year in Downtown Melbourne!"
Alongside two main stages, Falls Downtown Melbourne will also offer revellers Club Falls and Rancho Relaxo, plus multiple bars and food trucks.
Those ticket holders who are not able to attend the new venue in Melbourne can apply for a refund from 12pm EST today until 5pm EDT on 13 October. All camping tickets will be automatically refunded from 29 September, 2022.
Music lovers who still want to embrace the full camping experience Falls Byron is the place for you, with a range of camping options available. Bring your own kit and camp with or without your van or car. If hammering pegs isn't really your thing, other options include Rent a Tent and Flash Camping.
More than $1M in restoration works are currently underway on the North Byron Parklands with additional drainage, ground and roadworks to upgrade the venue for the summer event.
As previously announced, Falls Downtown Fremantle has moved homes to Fremantle Park and Fremantle Arts Centre.
Tickets for Falls Downtown Melbourne on sale from 9am EST on 14 September. Tickets to the Byron and Fremantle legs are on sale.
Falls Festival 2022-2023 Dates
29-31 Dec - Sidney Myer Music Bowl (Melbourne)31 Dec to 1-2 Jan - North Byron Parklands (Northern Rivers)
7-8 Jan - Fremantle Park (Fremantle)
Falls Festival 2022-2023 Line-up
Arctic MonkeysLil Nas X
Peggy Gou
CHVRCHES
Jamie xx
Aminé
Ocean Alley
Camelphat
Spacey Jane
DMA'S
G Flip
PinkPantheress
Rico Nasty
Amyl And The Sniffers
Mall Grab
Ben Böhmer (live)
DJ Seinfeld
Genesis Owusu
TSHA
CC:Disco!
Young Franco
Anna Lunoe
Luude
Lastlings
May-A
Choomba
The Vanns
King Stingray
Peach PRC
Beddy Rays
Jean Dawson
Telenova
Biscits
Barry Can't Swim
Floodlights
Elkka
Wongo
Yng Martyr
1300
Moktar
Magdalena Bay
Dameeeela
Ebony Boadu
Elsy Wameyo
Rona.
Juno Mamba
+ Special Guests The OG Wiggles