Town of Port Hedland backflips on North West Fest snub, cancelling food festival for new music event

After just one iteration the Hedland Food Festival will be no more, with the Town of Port Hedland moving to instead plan a two-day music festival in August 2023. It comes after, in August 2022, the Town of Port Hedland announced North West Festival — the region’s premier music event — had been scrapped in favor of the Food Festival. The Food Festival went ahead in September with a low turnout — partly due to rains. Now, in the December ordinary council meeting, Town of Port Hedland councillors voted in favour of re-instating an August music event in the town. Held over two weekends, a Friday DJ after-work sundowner event, a Saturday major headliner ticketed event and a Sunday free family-friendly live music picnic will form part of the festival. It would then be repeated over two weekends. Town of Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter said there had been strong community support for a music festival featuring headlining acts after the North West Fest was canceled in 2020 and 2022 due to the ongoing impacts of Covid-19. North West Festival was launched in 2014 and quickly became Pilbara’s premier music event with a slew of top bands from across the country performing. Known for its eclectic music line-up, the two-day weekender has featured well-known artists including Birds of Tokyo, Baker Boy, Spiderbait, and even Amy Shark. The festival was a mainstay on the Port Hedland calendar, with residents from across the region descending on the town for two nights of live music. It was dropped in 2020 because of Federal Government bans on any gatherings, causing a major blow to the region’s economy, with more than 3000 people attending across two days in 2019. And after a packed crowd attended the festival in 2021 — headlined by San Cisco — it was canceled again in 2022. “The North West Fest was incredibly popular and we have been able to attract renowned artists such as Wolfmother, Missy Higgins, Amy Shark and Spiderbait in the past,” Mayor Carter said. “We know there is a thirst for a live-music experience in Hedland and we believe this festival will attract visitors from throughout the region and the State. “This event will really bring Hedland to life.” Councillors also endorsed two other major events for 2023 – the South Hedland 50th anniversary of gazettal celebration in May and the Spinifex Spree Carnival in July.