Is Shirts-Off/ Roid Culture Killing Large Festivals?
With the recent halting of Future Music Festival, the morphing of Summadayze/fieldayze into more boutique events, the annexing of Soundwave's Adelaide and Perth legs and more, questions are being asked of the cause of the uncommerciality of large-format festvals.
More than a few armchair fingers are being pointed at the owners of bared, iv-fuelled torsos. Whether it's strutting, preening or simply cooling off, the practice has long been identified as a cause of disdain among many. So much so that the promoters of Stereosonic 'banned' shirts-off as far back as 2009. Sort of.
Soundwave's AJ Maddah has cited the tyranny of distance and the costs of touring large entourages – and one can hardly imagine a bronzed (oranged) chest, plucked within an inch of its life would cause attendees to withdraw from future events.
Meredith Festival promotes a 'No Dickhead' policy, which doesn't expressly prohibit shirt abandonment, but the rural stayer doesn't appear to suffer under a deluge of skin.
What do you reckon?
Poll Closed.
