Dozens of music festivals have been cancelled in the past year, sparking a government inquiry to figure out how to save the live music industry. While the industry as a whole is challenged, metal fans are still showing up while other genres aren't. It’s a bad day to hold a music festival.Once everyone’s socks, shoes, and clothes are soaked through, the weather switches on a dime ((suddenly changes)).But all of that hasn’t deterred fans.
Around 30,000 people poured into Sydney's Centennial Park for the Good Things Festival.In fact, of the 27 multi-city festivals that happened two years ago, just 11 are returning this financial year. The mass cancellations led to a government inquiry to try to save the live music scene, with venues, festivals, and industry groups seeing increasing costs coupled with the cost of living crisis as some of the big challenges they’re facing. “Almost every line item on the budgets we have, have gone through the roof. Production, staging, labour. Venue hire costs have gone up. Insurances have gone up. All our tour management and production management fees have gone up. Hotels go up. It's more expensive to get on flights. It's more expensive for our freighting.” That's Chris O'Brien, promoter of Australia’s two remaining metal festivals - Good Things and Knotfest. “We have to manage that, and then manage the ticket price and try and get it to a level where we think the punter will still happily pay but the festival can remain afloat and be financially successful, which is easier said than done.” Although it’s been a challenge, the festivals are still managing to go ahead while many have been axed.“We met in high school and she showed me a couple bands, and that's what united us together. We've been going to shows ever since.”“It speaks to us, I think on a deeper level than, say, hip hop or something like tha