Category: Festivals

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

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Queensland’s Red Deer Fest Back

After a one-year hiatus, Red Deer Fest is back in Queensland, bigger and brighter than ever. This year’s event will see Frenzal Rhomb, Andy Bull, Salmonella Dub Soundsystem, Ayla, Hey Geronimo, and heaps more taking over the natural amphitheatre beneath the D’Aguilar range in the Samford Valley.

This is a festival that loves being different. Tickets are strictly limited to create an intimate atmosphere, there are food and market stalls, and camping is encouraged. If you do have your heart set on a night under the stars, be warned though. Organisers have reduced the number of camping tickets available to ensure this beautiful site stays at its best.

Red Deer Fest hits Mt Sampson on October 3. Tickets are available now from the festival website.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

San Cisco, Stonefield, and More Play Port Macquarie’s New Memory Lane Festival

Port Macquarie is a lovely place but the residents are a bit starved for live music. The occasional big name act plays The Glasshouse or the local pubs, but most often the people of Port have to make the long drive to Newcastle to see their favourite bands. So I was thrilled to see that Port’s getting a brand new festival, called Memory Lane, this October.

The line-up’s awesome, with San Cisco, Patrick James, Stonefield, and Zefereli playing alongside local heroes Bear in a Man Suit, Plebeian Groove, and Withernecks. There’s also going to be plenty of awesome food on sale and heaps more.

The event welcomes music lovers of all ages, and it’s entirely drug and alcohol free so parents can breathe easy. Something tells me we’re going to see plenty of young things blowing off steam before their end-of-year exams.

Memory Lane hits the laneway behind Port Central on October 18 between noon and 7 pm. Tickets go on sale tomorrow from Oztix.

Image source: MJR Presents

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Yours & Owls Gets an Upgrade

Wollongong’s annual Yours & Owls Music & Arts Festival is even bigger than ever this year. It’ll be run over two days, rather than just one as in previous years, and when you see the line-up you’ll understand why.

This year the festival will play host to Ash Grunwad, The Preatures, Cloud Control, The Smith Street Band, Saskwatchm and heaps more. There’ll also be a couple of film screenings, DJs, art installations, a twilight food market, and a giant birthday cake to commemorate the festival’s fifth year.

Yours & Owls Music & Arts Festival hits Wollongong’s Stuart Park on October 2 and 3. Tickets are available now through Moshtix.

Image used with permission from Habit Music Company

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Discover Something New at Emerge in the West Festival

Enjoy some great music, fashion, and culture for free at the Emerge in the West 2015 festival, which will take over Footscray’s Nicholson Street on May 16.

The event will have two stages showcasing the talents of emerging musicians, artists, circus performers, dancers, and fashion designers. These will be complemented by craft workshops, foodie experiences, and heaps more.

Since this is a music blog it’s worth noting what’s in store on the musical front. There’s truly something for everyone with Ethio-jazz act The Lalibelas featuring Nhatty Man, digital reggae band SKAAKI, the Somali Peace Band, and hip hop duo Royalty Noise all on the bill.

Emerge in the West runs from 1 to 7 pm on Saturday May 16. Entry is completely free, so there’s no excuse not to experience something new and support this great arts event.

Image used with permission from Multicultural Arts Victoria

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Phil Jamieson Hosts Port Macquarie Fundraising Festival

Grinspoon frontman Phil Jamieson has created the Magic Castle Festival, a new music festival in Port Macquarie. The event looks to raise money for local legend and Phil’s friend Lucas “Fruge” Farrugia, who was severely injured in a motorcycle accident later this year.

“To know Fruge is to love him, a generous soul with a raucous sense of humour, complete with many unforgivable tattoos,” Phil explained. “This accident put his loved ones in deep shock, and we just want to alleviate the financial burden of recovery so he can concentrate on the physical challenges, making Magic Castle a not-for-profit event, with all proceeds being directed to Fruge’s medical fund.”

Phil will host the event and introduce crowds to an eclectic mix of artists including three-piece garage band Royal Chant, punk rockers Pelican Itch, hip hop duo Korzdahavoc, and special guest DJs Healey and Starky. The bands will be complemented by taste dishes from XS and Fish Face Taco.

The Magic Castle Festival hits Port Macquarie’s Black Duck Brewery on April 11. Tickets are strictly limited and available from Oztix for $25 plus booking fee.

Image used with permission from RAWR Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Trio, The Jezabels Headline Big Pineapple Music Festival

I thought that the Big Pineapple was just a place for tourists to snap a few photos. But it turns out it’s also been hosting a sold-out music festival for the last couple of years. It’s little wonder the event’s so popular when organisers can put together a lineup featuring the John Butler Trio, The Jezabels, Thundamentals, Violent Soho, Jebadiah, and helps more.

This year it’s got a brand new site with space for 2500 people to camp, three stages, and plenty of car parking.

“We were given the opportunity to move to the land just across the road, which now gives us a stunning panoramic view to main stage area,” explained festival organiser Mark Pico. “We also gained two more beautiful areas for our smaller stages, double the site space, and the camping is now very close by – bringing the whole festival together.”

The third annual Big Pineapple Music Festival hits Nambour on May 30. Early-bird tickets go on sale tomorrow from the festival website for the bargain price of just $69.95 plus booking fees.