Goya Dmytryshchak
This year’s West Set Festival has been cancelled, Maribyrnong council announced last week.
The festival had aimed to celebrate a post-COVID return of live music with Footscray and Yarraville to host more than 50 free events.
For ticketed headline shows – Angie McMahon supported by Maple Glider, and Hayley Mary supported by Alma Zygier and Berkay Mete – full refunds will be offered.
“With many shows sold out, it is clear the festival has been embraced by our community and host venues,” the council said in a statement.
“But the safety of artists, festival and venue staff and audience members is our No. 1 priority.
“Given the highly contagious nature of the COVID-19 delta variant, and continued spread, means we cannot ensure the safety of all participants for this year’s festival.
“In lieu of the late cancellation and previous postponement in June, all artist payments will be honoured and the festival will connect artists with host venues to independently reschedule a performance when it is safe to do so.”
This year’s program employed more than 60 acts, many from the inner west, who had planned to play across 12 venues.
The council urged people to continue to support local host venues and fellow traders and all livelihoods connected to live music.
Details: westsetfestival.com
