Popular regional festival Groovin the Moo pulls plug on 2020

Groovin the Moo has cancelled its national run due to the coronavirus outbreak.

This year will be the first since 2005 that the popular regional tour, which first came to WA in 2010, hasn’t been held.

Scheduled to kick off at the Adelaide Showground on April 24 and end at Bunbury’s Hay Park on May 9, GTM’s line-up wass led by rockers Gang of Youths, Britpop icons Supergrass and record-breaking Dance Monkey singer Tones and I.

Other acts on the bill include Fremantle’s San Cisco, Milkshake hit-maker Kelis, pop sisters the Veronicas and veteran rap crew the Sugarhill Gang.

Festival organisers said that the Government’s recommendations and general uncertainty in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis make it impossible to hold GTM this year.

They are unable to reschedule the 2020 event due to the uncertainty surrounding how long the ban on non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people will in place as well as the logistics involved in co-ordinating the schedules of many acts and six venues in six States.

Promoters Steve Halpin and Rod Little said that “there is nothing that we love more than seeing our Moo Crew in each of our regions and we are deeply saddened that this won’t be happening this year”.

Fans can hold on to their tickets for next year’s festival or receive a full refund.

Organisers encouraged ticket holders seeking reimbursement to use the funds to support a regional business affected by the recent bushfires.

Next year’s festival run begins at the Adelaide Showground on April 23 and moves through Maitland in NSW, Canberra, Bendigo and Townsville before hitting Bunbury.