UNCERTAINTY over COVID-19 restrictions has forced Dashville promoter Matt Johnston to cancel this year's Dashville Skyline and postpone Thrashville until February.
The Hunter Valley alt-country and Americana-themed festival was scheduled for October 1-5 as part of an expanded five-day event known as Sky Ball, which combined Dashville Skyline with The Gum Ball.
The Gum Ball was postponed in April due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"We are still endeavouring to produce an event of some kind on the October long weekend," Johnston said in a statement.
"However, due to the ongoing uncertainty around future public gatherings, along with the concern for public health and safety, it is no longer viable for it to be a five-day event and at the full capacity we intended when it was created with haste as things hit the deck back in March."
Dashville still hope to host a smaller three-day Sky Ball festival for between 100 to 500 people over the October long weekend if NSW restrictions on events and social distancing have eased by that stage.
Thrashville, the smaller heavy rock and metal festival, was scheduled to return after a one-year hiatus on September 12, but it has been postponed until February 13, 2021. The Gum Ball will return on April 16-18, 2021.
Due to Dashville being in "a critical financial position" refunds cannot be given. All ticket-holders for Gum Ball, Sky Ball and Thrashville will receive a credit to be used at all future Dashville events.
PROLIFIC We're not even halfway through 2020 and already Steve Kilbey has released three albums. First came his terrific collaboration with Kate Ceberano and Sean Sennett, The Dangerous Age, which was followed by his two albums with classical guitarist Gareth Koch - Chryse Planitia and Songs From Another Life (Music Of Antiquity).
The collaborations with Koch see The Church frontman pursuing classical, folk and Eastern influences in an esoteric mix. Kilbey and Koch are bringing their new music to Lizotte's on July 24 where they'll be joined on stage by former Icehouse keyboardist Roger Mason and ex-Models drummer Barton Price. Tickets are limited to 50.
ROUGH TAKE The legendary Paul Kelly released a new album on Thursday, Forty Days. The extremely low-fi recordings were taken from Kelly's smart phone during the COVID-19 lockdown and would challenge the patience of even the most avid fan.
EARLY BLUES It goes without saying it's been annus horribilis in 2020 when it comes to music festivals. This week Australia's biggest festival, Splendour In The Grass, announced it had scrapped its decision to postpone the 20th edition to October due to the likelihood international acts would be unable to enter the country.
Fellow Byron Bay event, Bluesfest, was cancelled at Easter due to COVID-19, but plans are already underway for the 2021 edition. On July 8 the five-day festival will unveil its earliest first announcement. Early bird tickets go on sale July 1, but after the lengthy wait for refunds following this year's cancellation, only the bravest punters would be handing over their cash at that point.
