‘Most remote music festival in the world’ sells out

The three-day Birdsville Big Red Bash festival has officially sold out – with around 10,000 attendees set to swarm on the Simpson Desert in outback Queensland in July. 

The event bills itself as ‘The most remote music festival in the world’ and will feature Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Jon Stevens, Kate Ceberano, Richard Clapton, Shannon Noll, Bachelor Girl and Mel Dyer.

Festival owner and managing director of the Outback Music Festival Group, Greg Donovan, said the final 5% of tickets had sold earlier than the group was anticipating, something for which he was “incredibly grateful” after a tough few years for live music.

“We moved heaven and Earth to get the Big Red Bash off the ground last year. The COVID protocols we put in place were extraordinary, and day-by-day we had a new set of hurdles to overcome – from performers in hot spots to additional Government requirements,” he said.

“But we did it, and din’t have a single outbreak resulting from the event. We’re lucky to operate exclusively outdoors and on a huge event footprint with the biggest concert space in Australia. That combined with the vaccine levels will help keep us all safe again this year.”

Donovan noted just how special this year’s event would be, with Barnes returning as headliner after six years, and the incredible backdrop adding to the atmosphere.

“It will be next level to hear Jimmy belting out his raw rock and Missy’s beautiful ballads being performed with the spectacular backdrop of Big Red in the Simpson Desert. They’re both such well known and loved performers, and what we’re offering with the Big Red Bash and the Mundi Mundi Bash will be a totally unique experience.

“Our rugged, remote, red-earthed destinations bring a whole new dimension to the performance experience that you can’t possibly get at an indoor or winery venue.

“Jimmy sings about a shooting star against a desert sky, and with the magic of the Milky Way crystal clear above us shooting stars are a common occurrence at our desert home.”

The event is in the running for the Festival of the Year at the 2022 Queensland Music Awards.

It also offers comedy and outdoor film screenings, scenic helicopter flights, dune surfing, beach volleyball, camel rides, and a Nutbush dance world record attempt.

Donovan also flagged even more sold out-events to come.

“This will be the biggest year we’ve ever had as we’re also launching a new sister event to the Big Red Bash – the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi, and will stage two versions of that new event,” he added.

“We’re getting closer to the April Mundi Mundi Bash selling out, and then there will only be tickets to the August event – which features a nearly identical line-up to the Big Bash headlined by Jimmy Barnes and Missy Higgins.”

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.