Emma Pritchard
Phenomenal, fantastic, stunning, awesome, amazing, incredible, and mind-blowing.
These were just some of the adjectives used by members of the audience at Groove on the Grass to describe the free concert in Market Square on January 28.
Speaking with attendees during the Grafton Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting last week, Event Manager Mark Blackadder proudly repeated many of them.
Describing Groove on the Grass as overwhelmingly successful, Mr Blackadder revealed the inaugural event funded by the NSW Government’s $25 million Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program in partnership with the support of Clarence Valley Council (CVC), cost a total of $197000, and had many social, tourism, and economic benefits within the region.
While Groove on the Grass attracted an energetic crowd of over 5000 adoring fans who came to watch Jem Cassar-Daley, Dami Im, and Jessica Mauboy perform live, Mr Blackadder revealed 840 people travelled from outside the Clarence Valley to attend the event, with 40 percent of overall attendees agreeing the free concert enabled them to make new connections within the Clarence Valley.
3480 people from within the 2460 postcode attended the event, while another 620 people outside the 2460 postcode from the Clarence Valley also attended.
“It was the largest event Grafton had seen in many years,” Mr Blackadder said.
“Along with bringing people together, which is what we wanted to see, accommodation providers, local eateries, retailers, food vendors, hire businesses, photographers, graphic design and printing businesses, security, bar and production staff, and user pay police, they all benefited from the night.
“It provided a significant economic boost outside other mainstream events such as the Grafton Jacaranda Festival and the July Racing Carnival.
“It was such a fantastic event for a regional community like Grafton, and the wider Clarence Valley community.”
Mr Blackadder said crowd behaviour was also praised during the event, and none of the 40 security guards on site reported any issues.
“We also proved we can fit over 5000 people in Market Square,” he added.
“It was a very comfortable night.
“That’s also really encouraging news for event organisers moving forward as it provides us with a successful platform to plan similar events.”
Mr Blackadder also confirmed 100 percent of attendees replied “yes”, when asked if they enjoyed the free concert and would like to see more events like Groove on the Grass in the Clarence Valley.
“I’m sure there is room for two or three more events in Grafton,” he said optimistically.