Laneway announces new venue for Melbourne but remains in Footscray

Laneway festival this morning announced a new home for its Melbourne show.

From 2019, it will be held at Footscray Park in Footscray.

The festival said: “The new site retains all the elements that we loved about our original Footscray Community Arts Centre home – the stunning city views, the local community, the Maribyrnong River – but allows for a more flexible, convenient placement of stages and amenities.

“A short walk from Footscray station, the beautiful, green, heritage-listed site features bountiful garden beds, ponds and trees for shade: in other words, it’s the ultimate location for a summer festival.”

This is the third venue for Laneway in the southern city. It started 15 years ago in a Lonsdale St alleyway.

Founders Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio said: ‘We are SO excited to move around the corner to Footscray Park and have been working tirelessly with the super supportive Maribyrnong City Council for the past three years to secure the new site.

“It was important for us to stay in Footscray and we’re excited to unleash the full potential of this beautiful park.

“We’re so proud to be able to continue building on our reputation for utilising some of the most unique and interesting sites around the country - just wait til you see Footscray Park in full flight!’

The mayor of the City of Maribyrnong, Cr Cuc Lam added: “We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with internationally renowned St Jerome’s Laneway Festival.

“As Festival City, we are committed to encouraging cultural, community and creative endeavours, like Laneway, that contribute to the growth of our ever-changing city.

“We look forward to welcoming Laneway to its new home at Footscray Park.”

All dates, venues and the full-line up for the 15^th edition of Laneway will be unveiled soon.

The festival encourages punters to sign up to the mailing list here for more info.