THIS year was tipped to be the biggest for growing Princetown music festival Loch Hart.
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Set on the rolling 2500 acre Kangaroobie Camp overlooking the Great Ocean Road and winding Gellibrand River, Loch Hart was on track for its third return to the south-west but like most events this year, was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The BYO festival organisers have launched a creative way for patrons to 'loch in' their 2021 tickets while helping regional arts bounce back from a challenging year.
For $25, festival-goers can purchase a 'Loch Hart Music Festival 2020' stubby holder which doubles as a deposit to next year's ticket.
Festival founder and director Jayden Bath, from Colac, said it means before any tickets officially go 'on sale' next year, the team will get in touch with purchasers of the stubby holders to ensure they don't miss out.
"After doubling our attendance in our second year, not being able to host our third festival this year was devastating," Bath said.
"The support at this time would mean the world to us.
"By encouraging people to secure tickets now it can help us book the best bands and ensure we can plan appropriately for Loch Hart 2021."
The inaugural 2018 festival had 450 attendees, which doubled to 900 in 2019, and Bath said the event was on track to double again this year.
"To measure the potential loss and impact of cancelling a third-year festival is not possible. However, how we bounce back in 2021 will forever determine the future of the festival," he said.
"COVID has dealt a massive blow to regional artists, communities and the economy alike. Particularly in the south-west, with the cancellation of the Port Fairy Folk and Jazz Music Festivals, the closure of Kennedy's Creek and Grampians Music Festivals and the ongoing uncertainty around Falls Festival Lorne.
"We need to be adaptive and responsive in 2021, and any support to do this is going to be critical to the survival of the festival."
The grassroots event plays host to more than 20 Australian acts over three days on one stage in a natural amphitheater and has seen performances from the likes of Warrnambool's Didirri, Alice Ivy, Alpine, Waax, Last Dinosaurs and Genesis Owusu.
Loch Hart was recently named a long-list finalist for Music Victoria's Best Festival Award.
"We cannot wait to welcome everyone back to Princetown in 2021."
Stubby holders/festival tickets can be found here.
Loch Hart Music Festival will take place November 19-21 2021.
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