A MAITLAND music festival has become an early casualty of the heatwave and dangerous bushfire conditions predicted to hit the Hunter on the weekend.
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The Lunar Electric festival was due to begin at Maitland Showground at 11.30am on Saturday but its promoters announced on Thursday it would not proceed.
In a statement to ticket holders they attributed the change to the extreme weather authorities are expecting will push firefighters already battling blazes across the region and state even further.
The festival's line-up had included performers Timmy, Will Sparks, Luude, Enschway, Bombs Away, Bonka, Riot Ten, Maruda, Brynny, Thieves and Skepsis.
"With temperatures expected to soar to 44 degrees, we are extremely disappointed to announce that we must postpone Lunar Maitland 2020," they said in a statement.
"We did all the right things. However what is out of our control is the extreme weather conditions our country is now facing.
"A combination of dry air from the raging fires and heat from an extreme weather forecast unfortunately leaves us with no other choice."
The music festival will be rescheduled, organisers said, with dates yet to be decided.
A second date is already scheduled on the Gold Coast in March.
Saturday's Maitland festival has been replaced with a concert at Newcastle's Cambridge Hotel on Saturday night, which is free for ticket holders.
Those who weren't going to the festival can buy tickets from $40.
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Matt Carr
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
Matt began his Newcastle Herald career as a cadet in 2009. He is a Walkley nominated reporter who has covered councils, police and general news rounds across the Upper Hunter, Port Stephens, Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle. Now his focus is on digital storytelling and breaking news.
