Category: Festivals

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Wildwood Music Festival Brings Musical Magic to Port Macquarie

For some amazing Australian music in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, look no further than the Wildwood Music Festival, which is hitting Port Macquarie this October.

Now in its third year, this boutique festival boasts an exciting line-up featuring Blue King Brown, Montaigne, Claude Hay, The Lyrical, Mar Haze, and heaps more. The musical acts will be complemented by market stalls and children’s activities.

“Last year we knew we had reached new heights with the festival which has traditionally been attended by local folks. It’s been so well received we decided to ramp it up a notch and encourage like-minded festival people from Brisbane to Sydney to come,” explained Simon Leigh, the man behind Wildwood.

“At the conclusion of last year’s event, the whole forest filled with fireflies as punters were leaving the venue and adults and kids alike were covered from head to toe illuminated in their sparkling aurora. It was truly a magical ending to a really special day.”

Wildwood Music Festival is at Cassegrains Winery in Port Macquarie on October 2. Tickets are available from the LiveTix website.

Image used with permission from RAWR Music PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mystery Mark Will Get Sydney Dancing

Dance music fans are in for a treat this November when the Mystery Mark festival makes its debut in Sydney.

Joel Fletcher, Yolanda Be Cool, Bombs Away, Uberjak’d, SCNDL, and Brooke Evers are among the big names scheduled to take the stage.

Mystery Mark hits the Sydney Showground on November 19. It’s a 15+ event, but there’ll be licensed facilities for the adults in the crowds. VIP and early bird tickets are available now from the Mystery Mark website.

Image used with permission from Paris is Patient

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matt Corby, Peking Duk Headline Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival

The highlight of the Sunshine Coast’s cultural calendar, the Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival, is fast approaching. Now in its second year, the event has attracted an impressive line-up, with Matt Corby, Peking Duk, Allday, George Maple, Ngaiire, Boo Seeka, Vera Blue, and heaps more all set to entertain crowds.

In addition, an array of local visual artists will create works on the day. The latest work in Amanda Parer’s acclaimed “Fantastic Planet” series will also make its debut before travelling all around the globe.

The Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival hits the old Horton Park Golf Course on Saturday September 10. Tickets are on sale now from the festival’s website.

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival Line-Up Announced

Matt Corby and Peking Duk are among the big name acts already scheduled to appear at this year’s Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival.

They’ll be joined by exciting and diverse artists including Allday, George Maple, Client Liaison, Ngaiire, Boo Seeka, and Bad//Dreems. For something really civilised, head to the event’s Champagne & Oyster Garden, where up-and-comers like Inigo, Forevr, and BATZ are scheduled to perform.

The Maroochy Music and Visual Arts Festival will hit the old Horton Park Golf Course on the Sunshine Coast on September 10. Early bird tickets are currently available from the festival’s website.

Image used with permission from Mucho Bravado

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jazz in the Vines Announces Line-Up for Final Festival

I still can’t quite believe that this year the Hunter Valley will host its last ever Jazz in the Vines. My favourite music festival is going out with a bang though, with arguably its best line-up. Announced today, James Morrison, Leo Sayer, Mental as Anything, John Morrison’s Swing City Big Band, Monica Trapaga, Emma Pask, and Lisa Hunt are all on the bill. And that’s just for starters!
Add some amazing wine from Tyrell’s, fantastic food from some of the Hunter’s best restaurants, and good vibes into the mix and you’ve got a recipe for a superb day out.

Jazz in the Vines hits Tyrell’s Winery in the Hunter Valley on October 29. Tickets are on sale now and are bound to sell out, so get yours via the Jazz in the Vines website today.

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Legion Music Festival Aims to Break Crowdfunding Record

If you’ve been mourning the loss of Soundwave, never fear. Fans of the festival are banding together and attempting to stage their own, and break a crowdfunding world recording in the process.

This is no mere pipe dream. John Sankey, the drummer of Los Angeles based heavy metal band Devil You Know is driving the festival he calls Legion Music Festival and he’s got the support of a number of industry bigwigs who believe the initiative could change the way music festivals work around the world. That’s because it reduces the financial risk for bands, fans, and suppliers.

“All the fans need to do is pledge – which gets them a guaranteed ticket to the festival BUT their payment won’t actually get processed until the goal is reached and the event is guaranteed,” John Sankey explained. “That way everyone involved can have complete confidence that all costs are covered and the event will go ahead before committing time, services or money to the festival”, he said.

Perhaps most importantly, the project also has the support of Aussie and international acts. Bands like Devil Driver, Frontline Assembly, Aversions Crown, Devil You Know, Darkest Hour, Caligula’s Horse, MofoIsDead, and 28 Days have already signed on.

If the crowdfunding goal of $3.27 million is reached, the festival will take place over the Easter long weekend in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. Smaller “mini” festivals will hit Adelaide and Perth on the following weekend. If you want to see this happen, put your money where your mouth is and pledge at the Legion Music Festival’s Pozible page.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Mountain Sounds Make New Line-Up Announcement as Festival Approaches

The team behind the Mountain Sounds Festival has reminded us that the festival season is in full swing with a massive second line-up announcement today.

Cut Snake, Elaskia, Nocturnal Tapes, Ocean Alley, Roof, Skegss, and Jake Grigg from Something with Numbers have all been added to the bill. Dreems, Adi Toohey, Kato, Lancelot, and Motorik Vibe Council have also been announced to play the brand new secret stage fuelled by tastemaker agency UNDR ctrl.

As a Coastie I might be a little biased, but I think the opportunity to camp out in the Mount Penang Parklands at Kariong while catching some great live music is pretty difficult to pass up. Head to the WOW Tents website to learn more about your camping options.

The Mountain Sounds Festival hits Mount Penang on February 20. Tickets are still available from the Mountain Sounds website for $99 plus booking fee.

Image used with permission from Positive Feedback

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Lockhearts Champion Local Music with Old Mate’s Block Party Festival

When Soundwave was axed recently, there was some chatter that Australia’s live music scene was dead. The Lockhearts are having none of that, so they’re throwing a party, and they’d love people who still believe in the strength of the local music landscape to join in the fun.

The Lockhearts will headline Old Mate’s Block Party, a music festival celebrating the great music coming out of Sydney’s inner west, or an inner-westival if you will. They’ll be joined by Papa Pilko and the Binrats, The Dead Love, The Cherry Dolls, The Daphne Rawling Band, The Mountains, and heaps more.

“These artists have been handpicked by us,” The Lockhearts confirmed. “They’re not just our favourite local bands but some of our favourite bands full stop. Think of this festival as our mix tape we made you to show you our feelings and put it in your locker in our free period.”

Old Mate’s Block Party will take over the Factory Theatre in Marrickville on January 30. Tickets are available from the venue for just $20.

Image used with permission from The Lockhearts

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Barunga Festival Announces 2016 Line-Up

July might seem like an awfully long time away, but if 2015 has taught me anything it’s that the months are racing by at a rapid pace. Before your calendar gets too full, if you’re anywhere in the Territory, or just fancy a visit to this beautiful part of the country, you should lock in the 2016 Barunga Festival.

This year’s theme is “Celebrate Women, Celebrate Community Life,” so as you can imagine there’s a kick-ass lineup of women scheduled to play including Courtney Barnett, Jen Cloher, Justine Clarke, and indigenous act Wildflower. Gurrumul will also be there in solidarity with the ladies. And this is just the initial music line-up; you can expect plenty more superb acts to grace the Barunga Festival stage next year.

The 2016 Barunga Festival runs from July 10 to 12 at the Barunga community, approximately 70 kays south-east of Katherine. Tickets are on sale now from Moshtix.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cheap Fakes Release a Good Song

It might be Monday, but Brisbane party band Cheap Fakes will help put a spring in your step with their latest single “Baby, It’s a Good Song.” This track is just what it says on the tin, a high energy number effortlessly blending ska, funk, and pop.

It’s just one of the tracks to come from the band’s third-full length album, Mondern Vintage, which saw them working with legendary producer John Merchant. You might not know his name, but he was responsible for music from Michael Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, the Bee Gees, and Barbra Streisand. In short, he’s a big deal.

Strangely enough, this “Baby, It’s a Good Song” didn’t actually come from the sessions with John Merchant. In fact, a rough cut was recorded around 15 years ago. Hayden Andrews recently rediscovered it on one of his old cassette tapes and he couldn’t get it out of his head. So even though the album was nearly complete, he knew it deserved a place on Modern Vintage.

Modern Vintage hits stores on October 9. Before the release, you can catch Cheap Fakes doing their thing at the following Queensland festivals.

21 & 22 August 2015 – Yeppoon Village Festival, Yeppoon
20 September 2015 – Mitchell Creek Rock N Blues Festival, Sunshine Coast
25 September 2015 – Brisbane Festival, Theatre Republic, Brisbane
3 October 2015 – Red Deer Music Festival, Brisbane