We haven’t even seen the full line-up announcement yet, but this year’s Fat As Butter Festival is already shaping up to be pretty spectacular. How many other opportunities do you have to catch American hip hop legends Naughty by Nature and our own Living End on the same stage?

Fat as Butter will take over Newcastle’s Camp Shortland on October 22. Those early leaks have me salivating to see who else will make the complete line-up when it’s announced on July 25. If you’re keen for tickets I suggest signing up for the presale list through the Fat as Butter website. Anyone on that list can score tickets on August 1, two full days before the general public, and five lucky eager beavers will win a VIP pass!

Image source: Fat as Butter website

This year’s Falls Festival is shaping up to be something pretty special, with Crystal Castles, J Mascis, Josh Pyke, and Papa vs Pretty, DJ Yoda, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra all recent additions to the bill.

The latest group of local and international acts joins already announced headliners Arctic Monkeys, Fleet Foes, The Jezabels, Easy Star All Stars, and Arj Barker. They’ll all play the all ages event in Marion Bay, Tasmania from December 29 to 31 and the adults only version in Lorne, Victoria from December 28 to 31. What a way to ring in the New Year, right?

If the announced acts excite you, make sure you add your name to the ticket ballot on the Falls Festival website before August 5. The majority of tickets will be distributed amongst these Falls enthusiasts before the general sale on August 17.

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

The Island Vibe Festival is heading back to Stradbroke Island this October long weekend for another big year.

After he wowed crowds in 2009 former Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli star MC Chali 2na has been announced as this year’s headliner. He’ll join first class local talents Blue King Brown, Dubmarine, Bobby Alu, Opiuo, Grace Barbe from the Seychelles, and heaps more.

Island Vibe is a music festival with a difference thanks to its magnificent beachside location and focus on culture and the environment. Check it out from October 28 to 30. Fans can enjoy discounted early bird tickets through the Rudekat Records website now.

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Now in its fourth year, Central Coast’s fledgling music festival appears to be going from strength to strength. John Butler Trio are heading up an all-Australian line-up for this year’s event at Gosford Showgrounds.

They’ll join hometown heroes Something with Numbers and One Dollar Short, Jebediah, Little Red, The Potbelleez, Andy Bull, and heaps more. The festival’s Tomorrow Land dance quarter will also return with Ajax, Nina Las Vegas, Purple Sneakers DJs, and Wolfpack.

Coaster will hit Gosford Showgrounds on September 17. Tickets will be available from June 23 from the Coaster website, Oztix, and a variety of retailers including ESS Boardstore in Erina, Network Communications in Lake Haven, and the Newcastle Rock Shop.

Who needs Byron Bay or Fremantle? Sydney’s holding its own with its own blues and roots festival this October.

OK, so there’s no Bob Dylan, no BB King, and no Elvis Costello, but the predominantly local artists who have made the bill are first class. Jeff Lang, Ash Grunwald, and The Tea Party’s Jeff Martin are amongst the acts already announced, and there’s more to come when the second crop are named on July 1.

The bands will take over restaurants, cafes, and hotels in the picturesque Hawkesbury River region from October 28 to 30. Discounted early bird three-day passes are currently available for $119 from the Sydney Blues and Roots festival website. It sounds like an excellent opportunity for a road trip to me!

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

With the success of the Day on the Green shows and the enduring Jazz in the Vines festival, folks are starting to realize the beauty of getting out of the big city and seeing a show in more intimate, natural surrounds. I know I’ll always choose one of these organic ampitheatres over a cold, impersonal entertainment center so I was thrilled to learn of another event in The Valley.

The Wollombi Music Festival will hit the region on Saturday September 17. Now in its second year, the event has grown to feature a second intimate stage inside its Chai Tent, more bands, and more market stalls. Watussi, Benjalu, Rachael Brady, and local supergroup Wollombi Radio are all part of this year’s eclectic lineup.

You probably won’t be in any hurry to return to the big smoke, so it’s impressive that the entry to the VIP camping area is included with all tickets. They only cost $80 a piece too (or $100 on the day), so you’ll see real value even if you don’t plan on pitching a tent. And if you just don’t want to rough it there are also plenty of hotels and bed and breakfasts in the local area.

There are just 500 tickets available to ensure the event stays intimate and personal, so don’t delay in getting yours from the Wollombi Music Festival website.

Image used with permission from Wollombi Music Festival

As if the line-up for Soundwave Revolution wasn’t already big enough, organisers have a few more big names to the bill. Van Halen and Alice Cooper will bring some much needed old-school cred to proceedings.

The presence of both artists is sure to excite fans. This is the first time David Lee Roth has performed with his Van Halen bandmates in Oz, and Alice is set to showcase his Welcome Two My Nightmare album. I’m crossing my fingers for some side shows, as I have a feeling the Soundwave set isn’t going to be enough for me!

Hole, Bad Religion, Danzig, and Sisters of Mercy are also amongst the new additions to the bill. They’ll join Dashboard Confessional, Panic! At the Disco, The Used, Face to Face, Yellowcard and a bunch of other acts on this travelling festival tour.

No doubt all those new announcements are going to escalate the frenzy when tickets go on sale on June 2.

24 September 2011 – Brisbane
25 September 2011 – Sydney
30 September 2011 – Melbourne
1 October 2011 – Adelaide
3 October 2011 – Perth

Image source: Samboob @ Wikipedia Commons

The Cat Empire will ensure things are extra funky at this year’s annual Funk N Grooves festival.

The ultimate Aussie party band will join Amy Meredith, Hungry Kids from Hungary, Ash Grunwald, King Tide, at Tyrell’s Vineyard in the Hunter Valley on September 10. The bill is one of the strongest I’ve seen in recent years as it seems to be getting back to that funky, groovy vibe I first fell in love with. Add in one of the most gorgeous natural settings going and you’ve got the recipe for a pretty fabulous Saturday.

Tickets will cost $85 from the Funk N Grooves website, Ticketmaster, and Moshtix. Get yours from May 2.

Image source: Joey O’Rourke @ Flickr

I’m not quite sure how they manage to do it, but somehow the organisers of Splendour in the Grass always manage to assemble a line-up which is more impressive than the year before. The 2011 bill is headed up by Kanye West, Coldplay, and Regina Spektor in what we’re promised will be their only Aussie shows.

That does leave the way open for sideshows from other Splendour artists including Jane’s Addiction, Pulp, The Hives, and Kaiser Chiefs. Heading up the Aussie contingent we’ve got The Living End, Bliss N Eso, Pnau, The Grates, The Vines, and Eskimo Joe, to name but a few.

Splendour in the Grass will take over Woodfordia in Southern Queensland from July 29 to 31. Tickets will go on sale on May 5 from Moshtix.

Image source: Matthew Field @ Wikipedia Commons

Musicians from around the world will take over Griffith University’s Meadowbrook Campus on April 30 for the New Ground Festival. The event is designed to celebrate diversity, so it’s only fitting that it’ll take place in Logan, one of Queensland’s most culturally rich cities.

There are more artists to be announced, but already the bill is shaping up to be something special. Acts already announced include reigning Australian Idol Stan Walker, Sudanese singer Ajak Kwai, Sydney reggae act V Tribe, the Silk Girls Ensemble from China, and the Carribean’s Pantastic Steel Band. The musicians will be joined by dance crews, and an array of multicultural foods, arts, and crafts.

Tickets are on sale now through the New Ground Festival website, the Logan PCYC, and other venues around the city.

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash