New South Wales music festival operators have criticised the State Government's new strict licencing scheme, saying it stifles the music industry and that festival-goers should be free to take their own risks.

Key points: The organiser of a "low-risk" music festival has called new licencing "an invasion of civil liberties"

The organiser of a "low-risk" music festival has called new licencing "an invasion of civil liberties" Director of the "high-risk" Up Down festival says the strict licencing is a result of this week's state elections

Director of the "high-risk" Up Down festival says the strict licencing is a result of this week's state elections The new licencing scheme was introduced after the deaths of five festival-goers at music festivals since September 2018

Matt "Magpie" Johnston has been running The Gum Ball and other music festivals on his family's Hunter Valley property for 14 years, and said it was "a scary time" for new players entering the market.

"If I was to start now, I don't think I'd be able to do it," Mr Johnston said.

Audiences enjoy live music performances at the Dashville festival in the Hunter Valley. ( Dashville Skyline: Supplied )

In NSW, 14 festivals found to be high-risk by the Government's panel of experts were forced to apply for a new licence through the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), from March 1.

Mr Johnston said The Gum Ball annual music festival was a "family-friendly" event and he sympathised with the festivals placed on the high-risk list.

"I don't want to give the Government a pat on the back, but I'm grateful for the fact that they consider us low-risk," he said.

"The people that come to The Gum Ball, they're full of respect because they know that they're coming onto our family property.

"They can see a whole bunch of people working hard and it's a good time."

Mr Johnston says the family-friendly focus at his festivals has kept them off the State Government's high-risk list. ( Dashville: Supplied )

Music purists: 'Festivals not about drugs, alcohol'

The new classification scheme for licensed festivals was put in place by the Government after five people died at music festivals in NSW over the summer months.

The Government released the list of affected festivals in February and said the festivals listed had a history of, or were considered at risk of, drug-related overdoses or deaths.

A government spokesperson said in a statement:

"Festivals required to operate under the new licensing regime will be festivals where a serious drug-related illness or death has occurred in the past three years or where the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) has determined, having regard to expert advice from NSW Health and NSW Police, that there may be a significant risk of serious drug-related illness or death."

Mr Johnston said the issue of illegal drugs had "never really been an issue for us, so I don't have that problem to consider".

A hospitality worker serves alcohol the festival-goers at the Hunter Valley music festival. ( Supplied: Dashville )

"I've worked hard to create an environment that's not about drugs and alcohol," he said.

Dashville, a campground and events site on the Johnston family property, is the venue for two licensed music festivals annually, where the crowds are capped at 2,000.

It was inspired 15 years ago by the Falls Festival and Meredith Music Festival, which combined live music with camping weekends.

"I was about 18 or 19, and experiencing that, and I'd been going to Bluesfest [in Byron Bay] since I was about 15," Mr Johnston said.

He said his festivals target "music purists" and "music lovers".

"There's 40 bands and they're all different bands … a lot of different genres," Mr Johnston said.

"[We] make it inclusive, and give everybody a slice of content that they might not be aware of, so that then they could make their own mind up about what they like."

'An invasion of civil liberties'

Mr Johnston said by targeting music festivals the Government could potentially stifle creative industries which derived income from live performances.

"Anybody who enjoys music would understand how important festivals are these days to the music industry," he said.

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To obtain a music festival licence in NSW organisers must present a safety management plan for the event.

Mr Johnston said it was impossible to mitigate the dangers associated with illegal drugs entirely.

"I think it's an invasion of civil liberties in a way," he said.

"I'm not going to pat down people as they come in — and what sort of festival would do that?

"Festivals are an outlet for having fun and enjoying yourself, and if that's what you like to do, that's your risk and your decision."

High-risk classifications 'a political move'

Audiences enjoy live music at the festival in the NSW Hunter Valley. ( Dashville: Supplied )

Newcastle music festivals Up Down and This That, along with the Subsonic festival at Riverwood Downs near Dungog, are on the list of 14 festivals subjected to the strict new conditions.

Up Down director, Brent Lean, questioned why his event was on the list and said ILGA had been unable to explain what the event needed to improve.

"We've always operated to a top-level and we've been doing major events now for 20 years," Mr Lean said.

"It's a political move, obviously moving into an election and something had to be seen to be done."

Scott Commens from Subsonic, planned for December, said he did not know why the event had been added to the list.

"If elements of the festival are deemed to be too risky, we'll put a system in place to remove that risk," Mr Commens said.

"We take things seriously and so do the local agencies."

ILGA will regularly review the high-risk festivals and those considered to have improved their safety may no longer need the licence.