City of Newcastle (CN) has added another coup to its burgeoning stable of major events, with popular music festival Groovin the Moo set to stampede into Foreshore Park on 4 May.
More than 25,000 music fans are expected to converge on the city’s premier events space for the popular music festival as part of its national tour, which also includes stops in Adelaide, Canberra, Bendigo, Sunshine Coast and Bunbury.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle had cemented its status as a preferred destination for live music and major events.
“City of Newcastle is a strong supporter of live music and is committed to attracting and hosting major events as a primary driver of the local tourism visitor economy,” Cr Nelmes said.
“On the back of unforgettable performances last year by Elton John and Paul McCartney, and ahead of next month’s sold-out Pink concert, Newcastle has become a must stop destination for promoters looking for a world-class city to include on their national concert tour schedule.
“Groovin the Moo will be a valuable addition to this year’s events calendar, allowing locals to experience some of the best Australian and international acts in their own backyard.
“As the only NSW stop on the tour, the festival will play an important role in boosting tourism and the local economy by attracting thousands of music fans to travel to Newcastle for the event.
“These type of major music events have proven their value to Newcastle, with Elton John’s visit injecting more than $14 million into the local economy while Pink’s concert is forecast to deliver another $9 million economic windfall for the city.
“Ongoing investment in events and tourism is integral to building a thriving, diverse and robust economy.”
A Groovin the Moo spokesperson said they were looking forward to growing the event on Newcastle’s iconic foreshore.
“We’re really excited to be putting on a festival in Foreshore Park. The decision to move the festival was a very difficult one for us but ultimately we felt necessary to grow the event and take advantage of Newcastle’s impressive transport and accommodation options. Foreshore Park is a stunning location and we look forward to calling it home.”
The line-up for Groovin the Moo 2024 is expected to be announced soon ahead of tickets going on sale.
Live music advocate and King Street Hotel co-owner Greg Mathew welcomed the announcement of the tour, and said it would provide another great addition to the city’s thriving live music scene.
“Having major events such as Groovin The Moo select Newcastle is a great sign of how our city has grown and also how important it is the Australian music scene,” Mr Mathew said.
“It’s also a great boost for local business to have such a landmark festival call Newcastle home for its NSW leg.
“Newcastle has been a huge supporter of all genres of music and I am sure the city will embrace GTM.”
