Beyond the Valley Music Festival to Host Victoria’s First Pill Testing Trial: ‘It Saves Lives’

Beyond the Valley is set to host Victoria’s first pill testing trial.

The music festival, which takes place annually at Barunah Plains Homestead in Hesse, Victoria, will take part in drug-checking trials after the State Government passed legislation last month allowing it.

Premier Jacinta Allan said that the procedure, which is confidential, anonymous and takes around 15 minutes, will ‘save lives.’

However, police operations, which often include drug sniffer dogs, will continue at the four day event, which will be held between the 28th of December 2024 and the 1st of Jan 2025.

The move followed an increase in deadly drug overdoses in 2024.

It comes after news that top Australian DJ Fisher will lead a stellar lineup at this year’s Beyond the Valley festival.

Beyond the Valley is set to host Victoria’s first pill testing trial. Pictured: Revelers including Mia Fevola party at last year’s Beyond The Valley

The music festival, which takes place annually at Barunah Plains Homestead in Hesse, Victoria, will take part in drug-checking trials after the State Government passed legislation last month

The 37-year-old dance guru joins US hip hop ‘drill’ queen Ice Spice at the top of the bill for the four day event which kicks off on December 28 at Barunah Plains in Hesse, Victoria.

Organisers took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce the stars of this year’s dance and pop music festival which will also include UK drum ‘n’ bass performers Chase & Status.

Gold Coast born ARIA award-winning DJ Fisher will also be sharing the stage with famed Brit pop veterans Sugababes.

Formed in 1998, the all-girl group are expected to wow fans with their classic hits like Run for Cover and Soul Sound.

Also featured at this year’s ninth BTV festival is Berlin based rave-king DJ Marlon Hoffstadt, Sydney duo Royal Otis and R&B American pop star Tinashe.

UK Garage music star Sammy Virji will also be spinning the decks at the 2024 event alongside Brit dance pop ‘These Words’ hitmaker Natasha Bedingfield.

Also performing live will be Confidence Man, Teenage Dads, Neil Frances, and Lola Young.

Ghetts, The Rions, Barkaa, Kita Alexander, The Grogans, Billie Marten, The Terrys, and Sycco will also be hitting the stage during the popular event.

Top Australian DJ Fisher (pictured) will lead the stellar lineup at this year’s Beyond the Valley festival which takes place at Barunah Plains in Hesse, Victoria in December

Likewise featured over the four day New Year’s Eve rave will be electronica acts including HorsegiirL, KI/KI, DJ BORING, and SG Lewis.

Located west of Geelong, 126kms from Melbourne, the Beyond the Valley 2024 festival runs between December 28 and January 1.

Event organisers have also announced that single day tickets will be available for the festival with pre-sales beginning on August 28.

In a move bound to delight festival goers, fans will be able to check each day’s lineup on the event website.

Meanwhile, Bluesfest called it quits after 35 years, marking the end of one of Australia’s longest running music festivals.

The Byron Bay music festival announced on Wednesday that its four-day event starting April 17, 2025, will be its ‘final curtain call’.

‘Bluesfest Byron Bay, Australia’s premier and most awarded music festival in Australia ever, proudly announces that the 2025 edition will be its final curtain call,’ organisers said.

‘After 35 years of celebrating the very best in Blues, Roots music, and beyond, the legendary institution that has brought the world’s greatest artists to Australia, plus a whole bunch of our own, will host its last festival.’

Also featured at the four day event will be US hip hop ‘drill’ queen Ice Spice (pictured) which kicks off December 28 and runs until January 1

The final Bluesfest will take place from April 17 to 20 on Byron Events Farm.

Festival director Peter Noble OAM said Bluesfest was a ‘labour of love’ and celebration of community, music and resilient spirit of the fans.

However, Mr Noble, who has been at the helm of the festival since 1994 and in the music industry for more than 50 years, said it was time to ‘close this chapter’.

‘After the 2025 festival, as much as it pains me to say this, it’s time to close this chapter,’ he said.

Like many Australian festivals, Bluesfest has faced many challenges including cost increases, changes in ticket-buying behaviour and being forced to shut down due to the Covid pandemic and extreme weather.

Bluesfest is the latest in a long line of Australian music festivals which have been axed this year including Splendour in the Grass, Groovin the Moo and ValleyWays.