Mel Yuan for Brunswick

I’ve written about this before, and this year it was even more stark. The Bruswick Music Festival has turned its back on the local community.

Here is my email to local councillors.

Brunswick Communities for Nature had another successful festival outing but the feeling that the festival had completely changed is further evidenced by the participation of the Traders. This is the complete list of businesses who had on-street stall presences.

Only 8 food businesses participated. There was 1 local food truck (Juanita Peaches or Taco Truck) All the other food options were from elsewhere.
This must be a record low participation in the festival. Of course many businesses were open their normal trading hours but so few were actually involved in the festival. This is a very fair cry from pre-Covid times when the traders were out on the street introducing their businesses to the local community. One cafe I owner I spoke to said that it was quieter than usual. The festival draws away trade rather than bringing people to Sydney Rd. 

Brunswick chiropractor
Eve (yoga)
Lui boss (restaurant)
Rin sura (restaurant)
Choukette (bakery cafe)
Curiosities (vintage)
Snafu (homewares)
Don bosco op shop  (vintage)
Mokum (cafe)
Eat 24 (restaurant)
King tut (restaurant)
Souvlaki story (restaurant)
Bergy seltzer (bar, restaurant)
Vintage 56  (vintage)
Prince parade (real estate)
Epic vintage 37  (vintage)

As a resident since 2002 and a smallholder since 2015, the street party used to be a community essential. 

While there was good participation from the political parties, Tool library, Fawkner SES, Neighbourhood houses, Multicultural Womens sewing group, Climate Action Moreland, Accessible Transport, Brunswick History Society, Brunswick Voice, Maker Community – there was only 1 sporting club present. No Scouts, no Lions, no St Ambrose. And BC4N was the _only_ direct environmental group there – no Friends of Merri or Moonee Ponds Creeks or Royal Park or Merri Murnong or Ceres. No community gardens. No Bicycle Users Group. 

There used to be a community stage where local schools or community music groups could perform. There was no buskers stage. 
Brunswick City Band, Brunswick Secondary College, Brunswick Choir, and there are other local performance groups – none were present. 

For a community with a significant number of studios, artisans, etc. operating there was no obvious local makers present selling their products. 

I think this is an incredibly disappointing outcome for what should be a premier and unique event for the inner north community.