Newcastle-based music festival Fat As Butter has been growing from strength to strength and, now in its six year, has been looking to expand into a camping festival, an expansion that drew ire from local residents concerned over the implications of thousands pouring upon the local foreshore for the event after festival promoters, Mothership Music made an application to local council.

Regardless of the mild controversy surrounding its on-site revellers, Fat As Butter has announced the official date for it’s 2013 addition, confirming the addition of camping facilities for the first time ever, taking place on Saturday 26th October.

As for the musical acts that will be filling the idyllic setting of the Foreshore Newcastle with sights and sounds, the full band lineup will be announced on Tuesday 23rd July, with tickets for the October 26th event going on sale two days later on Thursday 25th Jul for the multi stage event, which has been internationally recognised for its efforts over the last half-decade as the winner of the World Festival and Event City by the International Festivals and Events Association.

Organisers tease that “2013 will see the event clock the scales, with a calorie count on goodness that will thrust you into a new era of festival experience! Its fatter and creamier than ever…Fat as Butter 2013 will make your heart stop!” The inclusion of the Fat As Butter “camp experience” will see travellers hitting the festival surrounded by “beaches, the harbour, and accompanied by a ferry ride into the event precinct.”  “2013 will see the event clock the scales, with a calorie count on goodness that will thrust you into a new era of festival experience!” – Fat As Butter

Local resident Alan McMaster however, is concerned that there won’t be enough police and security to deal with the camping site and its reams of festival-goers, despite assurances from promoters Mothership Music and local council that there will be enough security staff on site – an 18+ area with fenced, licensed areas, a fun fair, a spit roast buffet and entertainment according to documents submitted to Stockton Council.

“We’ve seen what’s happened with alcohol over in the centre of Newcastle and I’m extremely worried that some of those issues are going to be transported over to Stockton” McMaster lamented. He also adds that a council brochure about the event raises concerns. ”On it it’s got written, ‘This year camping for up to 1,500 people will be available… That sounds like the decision has already been made without proper community consultation, in my opinion.”

The expansion plans come amidst a nasty legal tussle with Flo Rida, real name Tramar Dillard, who was ordered by a NSW court to pay financial reimbursement to the organisers of the music festival for his no-show at Fat As Butter 2011, pulling out just two hours before he was due on stage, angering many of the 11,000-strong crowd – who’d payed upwards of $110 a ticket – with presenters fluffing, “Flo Rida has slept in and will not be able to make the concert.”

Despite Mothership Music’s best efforts to transport the rapper headliner to the event, apologising profusely over social media to the many disgruntled punters, they eventually served Flo Rida and his management with papers over Facebook.

Last September, Flo Rida and his management appealed against the $380,400 in damages and $37,745 in legal fees ordered to be paid to Mothership Music, but in the Court Of Appeal last week Flo Rida is now claiming that the Australian court has no power over him. The case continues.

Last year’s event was far less fraught with controversy, with a lineup that featured pop punk headliners Good Charlotte and Yellowcard, 90s revival bands Wheatus and Eiffel 65, internationals Mystery Jets and Marianas Trench, as well as a healthy selection of domestic talent like 360, Grinspoon, Yacht Club DJs, Urthboy, Pond, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Seth Sentry, The Rubens, and more.

Fat As Butter 2013 Dates

Saturday 26th October, 2013
The Foreshore, Newcastle

Lineup Announcement – Tuesday 23rd July
Tickets On Sale Thursday 25th July
http://www.fatasbutter.com.au/

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