THIS That promoter Brent Lean concedes Newcastle's largest music festival would have been cancelled had the NSW Government not eased COVID restrictions last week.
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Wickham Park will host This That next Saturday for the first time since November 2019. A crowd of 18,000 to 20,000 people is expected to watch artists such as Illy, San Cisco and The Chats.
On March 12 Wickham Park will host the sister festival, Scene & Heard, aimed at an older demographic and featuring '90s bands Grinspoon and Spiderbait.
Mr Lean's Mothership Events had postponed This That and Scene & Heard four times since November 2020, and if bans on dancing and singing had not been repelled on February 25, the festivals would have been scrapped.
"We thought we'd have one more crack, but this is the final crack," Mr Lean said. "Thankfully then the ban was lifted and we're good to go.
"There was an huge sigh of relief because if that hadn't have happened we just wouldn't have been able to reschedule again and it would been impossible."
Work on This That's expanded Wickham Park site will begin on Monday to build four stages and amenities. Mr Lean estimates the festivals will employ 600 event industry staff.
Mr Lean admitted ticket sales were down on previous years, which usually sold out.
"Every time you cancel you have to offer refunds and quite a lot refunds go out," he said. "Consumer confidence out there at the moment, I don't think it's great. It's going to take a little while for everyone to realise we're free again. It is operation normal."
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
