Category: Festivals

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paul Dempsey Headlines Glenelg’s New Blues Festival

Paul Dempsey will headline Follow the Sun Festival, a brand new festival in the picturesque South Australian town of Glenelg. The one-day blues and roots event will also feature performances by Bonjah, Dallas Frasca, Benjalu, Lyall Moloney, and more.

Event organisers are aiming to create a backyard BBQ vibe with a relaxed atmosphere, local wines, and first class food.

“Follow The Sun festival will be a great opportunity to showcase Glenelg. Some outstanding Aussie music talent and a few drinks with your mates. What could be better?” explained event founder David Elmes. “It will almost be like a party in your own backyard. I am really excited for Follow The Sun and to create something unique for the bay.”

Tickets are available from Oztix now.

Image used with permission from 123 Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Melbourne Ska Orchestra Ready for World Tour

I was so sad to hear of the recent axing of the ABC’s rebooted Spicks and Specks. Sure it took a little while for Josh, Ella, and Adam to settle in to the chairs. However, I felt that the essence of the show remained that same, and for that reason it’s a shame more people didn’t tune in.

Watching the show I was delighted at so many of those quirky acts that chose to transform hits for “Look What They’ve Done to My Song Ma.” The Melbourne Ska Orchestra was one of those bands that blew my mind, so I’m thrilled to see they’re moving on to bigger and better things.

The 25-piece have played shows all over Australia supporting the release of their debut album, and now they’re preparing to take it to the world. Their originals and surprising ska covers of classics like the Get Smart theme are sure to win over music lovers at high-profile events like Glastonbury and the Montreal Jazz Festival. Rest assured readers in other parts of the world, you don’t want to miss this truly original act.

26 June 2014 – The Forge, Camden, London
27 & 28 June 2014 – Glastonbury Festival
30 June & 1 & 2 July 2014 – Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal
3 July 2014 – Festival D’ete, Quebec City
4 July 2014 – Yonge, Dundas Square, Toronto
5 July 2014 – Northern Lights Festival Boreal, Ontario

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dungog Festival Comes to the Hunter

Good music, film, food, and wine will come together this August at the first annual Dungog Festival. From August 28 to 31, a full line-up of entertainment will be showcased in the Upper Hunter.

“I’m delighted to be here on behalf of the NSW Government for the launch of the new Dungog Festival,” George Souris, Member for Upper Hunter, said at official announcement. “The Government is committed to supporting the creative industries and the Australian film industry, as well as fostering great regional events that bring so much to the local community. With this in mind, we have entered into a partnership with the Dungog Arts Foundation to support The Dungog Festival for the next three years, through our tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.”

Details are a little thin on the ground at this point, but the strong sense of community spirit and picturesque location should help make the Dungog Festival something special. The event is expected to bring 3,000 visitors to the area, and inject around $3.6 million into the local economy.

Early bird tickets will be available from June 10 from the Dungog Festival website.

Image used with permission from Secret Service Public Relations

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pokey LaFarge Announces First Australian Shows

They don’t make musicians like Pokey LaFarge anymore. This American musician, songwriter, bandleader, and all-round entertainer takes us back to a time when swing, bluegrass, country, and jazz were all over the radio. And with a self-titled, full-length album now in stores, he’s making his first visit to Australia.

It might be a little old-timey for modern tastes, but listen to it with an open mind and you’ll discover a performer that really knows his stuff.

He’s also got one of the best bands that I’ve ever seen. Check out this video of them performing “Sadie Green” at the recent Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion for proof.

If you like what you see, make sure you grab a ticket for one of Pokey’s upcoming Aussie shows.

7 & 8 March 2014 – Port Fairy Folk Music Festival, Port Fairy
9 & 10 March 2014 – WOMADelaide, Botanic Park, Adelaide
12 March 2014 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
13 March 2014 – The Basement, Sydney

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Washington and The Rubens Headline Lost Picnic

If you’re tired of all of those crowded, sweaty summer festivals, then you should definitely check out the much more elegant Lost Picnic. With its talented local musicians, gourmet food, and lush backdrop of Sydney’s Centennial Park, this is a festival with a difference.

The first year is set to be something special with entertainment from Megan Washington, The Rubens, Emma Louise, Dustin Tebbutt, and Sons of the East. Picnic hampers will also be available from the talented chefs behind some of Sydney’s best restaurants including Rushcutters and Icebergs Dining Room and Bar.

“We’ve grown up organising successful dance events in Sydney and although this will always be a passion of ours, we have evolved and we want our events to evolve with us,” explained Simon Beckingham, who’s organising the event along with his partner in crime, Wade Cawood. “Growing up in the UK festival scene, we know Sydney is looking for the next generation in music events. Lost Picnic is exactly that, a boutique-style event that not only supports local musical talent but local restaurants, to offer a completely different experience to the Sydney entertainment calendar.”

Lost Picnic hit Centennial Park on 23 March 2014. Tickets and picnic hampers are available to pre-order now from the Lost Picnic website.

Image used with permission from Lost Picnic

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Peninsula Picnic Sounds Incredible

I’m not really a festivals kind of person. I can’t think of anything worse than fighting through crowds, enduring a bunch of acts that only the cool kids like, and paying too much money for lukewarm beer. But the Peninsula Picnic has caught my attention. It sounds like my kind of festival, and I wish I was closer to the Mornington Peninsula so I could get along.

The Peninsula Picnic is all about three of my favorite things: good music, good food, and good wine. The musical line-up is stellar, with The Waifs, Paul Dempsey, The Pierce Brothers, Tinpan Orange, and Hayden Calnin all on the bill. Ian Curley, and the teams from Terre, Montalto, Pope Joan, The Long Table Restaurant, Dee’s Kitchen, DOC Mornington, and Terminus at Flinders Hotel will take care of the food.

The Peninsula Picnic hits the Mornington Racecourse on March 29. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek.

Image used with permission from Secret Service Public Relations

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Panama Does Things Differently

The summer festival season gets pretty crowded, but if you’re looking for something different next year you need to pencil March 8 and 9 into your calendar. That’s when Panama takes over the forests of north-eastern Tasmania.

Panama looks to provide a point of difference with Australian and international bands and sideshows of bebop, jazz, soulful dance music, and cabaret acts. The bill’s only just starting to take shape, but Tassie will welcome The Daptones’ Charles Bradley, local heroes Husky, and vintage rockers The Frowning Clouds. That eclectic early bill gives you a bit of an idea of the diversity this festival will celebrate.

It’s also not your usual overcrowded festival with people who want to be seen and warm beer. It’s an event which cares about music, so you’re going to have great sound and an intimate gathering rather than a massive throng of punters. Limited tickets for Panama will go on sale on December 1 from the festival’s website.

Image used with permission from Panama Festival

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Island Vibe Heading Back to Stradbroke Island for 8th Year

Island Vibe is coming back to Stradbroke Island for more reggae, dub, soul music, and good times from October 25 to 27.

Rather than serving up the same old line-up, the Island Vibe crew has looked further afield to bring out many international artists who’ve never graced our shoes. They include New York’s dancehall phenomenon Electric Punanny, British reggae queen MC Soom T, New Zealand’s Dub Terminator, Jamaican soul diva Silva MC, and Chile’s own Jah Red Lion.

Promoters haven’t forgotten about our homegrown talent though. Kingfisha, Dubmarine, Bobby Alu, Darky Roots, and Die Rude are just some of the local acts who’ll grace the Island Vibe stage.

Talk about a great excuse for an island holiday. Tickets are on sale now through the Island Vibe website.

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Parklife Crew Brings Us Listen Out

The organisers of Parklife have decided to put their famous dance festival on hold to concentrate on a smaller party dubbed Listen Out. The creators have gone to great pains to stress this isn’t a festival; it’s an “intelligent dance music party”.

The 2013 line-up looks good, with Disclosure, Azealia Banks, and TNGHT – a collaboration between Hudson Mohawke and Lunice – all heading up the bill. The philosophy’s even better though. Listen Out’s been created as an antidote to the big music festivals, with a handpicked of lineup that’s the best rather than the biggest. You can also say goodbye to those timetable clashes, long hikes to stages, and the crowds you can’t relate to.

Get your tickets from the Listen Out website for the following shows. They’ll get more expensive as the date nears, so go procrastinating!

28 September 2013 – Centennial Park, Sydney
29 September 2013 – Ozone Reserve, Perth
5 October 2013 – Observatory Precinct @ Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
6 October 2013 – Cultural Forecourt @ South Bank, Brisbane

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

360, Drapht, and Seth Sentry Headline Sprung Hip Hop Festival

After delighting hip hop fans in Brisbane for the past two years, the Sprung Festival is travelling down south. After playing Brisbane’s Victoria Park Cricket Ovals on September 21, the festival will move to Melbourne’s Kevin Bartlett Sport and Rec Complex on October 19.

This year’s all-ages event is shaping up to be something special, with 360, Drapht, Seth Sentry, Urthboy, and Thundamentals all on the bill. Considering the level of talent, the tickets are a steal at just $79 plus booking fee. Get yours through Oztix or the Sprung website.