Category: Festivals

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.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Western Australia Celebrates its Music with State of the Art Festival

Western Australia punches well above its weight when it comes to musical talents. If most states put together an event celebrating local music, it’d be a pretty lacklustre affair. However in Western Australia, such a festival is worth travelling for.

Thirty of Western Australia’s established musical exports and up and comers will descend on Perth’s Concert Hall on June 2 for the State of the Art music festival, an event which coincides with WA Day. Artists including Bob Evans, Gyroscope, Kav Temperley, Sons of Rico, Emperors, and Grace Woodroofe will play on three outdoor stages. Blues legends Dave Hole and Chain, gutsy pop act Abbe May, and hard rock royalty Karnivool will also play special showcase sets inside the venue.

Tickets are on sale for a mere $13.95 for access to the outdoor stages, and $24.60 per concert hall showcase. These premium tickets also allow punters to enjoy the music outside. Get your tickets now through Ticketek.

Image used with permission from The West Australian Music Industry Association Inc. Image credit Kane Hibberd

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Splendour Acts Come to Adelaide for Spin Off Festival

If you missed out on tickets for Splendour in the Grass, don’t stress. The good folks at Spin Off Festival are bringing many of the event’s big names to Adelaide on August 2.

The Spin Off Festival serves up a killer line-up of eclectic acts including Of Monsters and Men, Chet Faker, Passion Pit, and Dune Rats. Fans will enjoy their talents in the intimate surrounds of the Thebarton Theatre. Age is no barrier either. While it’s a licensed gig, music lovers of all ages are welcome.

Tickets are a whole lot cheaper than Splendour too at just $99. Get yours from Venuetix now.

Image source: Kennysun @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Drapht, Illy, and The Herd Headline Come Together

Sydney’s Luna Park will host Australia’s leading local hip-hop event Come Together Festival on June 8. Organisers have assembled an amazing line-up, featuring Drapht, Illy, The Herd, and Spit Syndicate, to celebrate the festival’s tenth anniversary.

While there’s a solid line-up of established hip-hop talent, it’s also a great opportunity to discover some fresh new talent including 21-year-old Adelaide rapper Allday, Sydney duo Jackie Onassis, and the exciting Crochet Crooks.

The all-ages event offers plenty of entertainment. The doors to the Big Top don’t open until 3:30 pm, but you’re best getting their early as your ticket includes free rides from 11:30 am. Tickets cost $60 and are on sale now from the Come Together website.

Image source: Stuart Sevastos @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Beards Tour First World Nations

After winning Australia over with their love of facial hair, The Beards are taking on the world.

The hirsute ones are currently spending time in North America, warming up for a return to home soil for a handful of holiday festivals. Then it’s back on a plane to dazzle European audiences before they arrive home triumphant for the world tour finale. It’s an ambitious schedule, but one that’s been carefully thought out by the band who decided to concentrate on the world’s most developed nations.

“People living in developed countries are more susceptible to shaving.” explained the band’s frontman, Johann Beardraven. “They are a high risk group, so it’s important for our message to reach them before it’s too late.”

Indeed. You can hear The Beards’ message at the following shows.

23 March 2013 – Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto (daytime show)
23 March 2013 – Bovine Sex Club, Toronto
24 March 2013 – Sons Of Essex, New York (daytime show)
28 March-1 April 2013 – Byron Bay Bluesfest, Byron Bay
25 April 2013 – The Gum Ball Festival, Hunter Valley
11 May 2013 – 4AD, Diksmuide
12 May 2013 – Paradiso, Amsterdam
13 May 2013 – Molotow, Hamburg
14 May 2013 – Fraanz Club, Berlin
16 May 2013 – Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh
17 May 2013 – Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
19 May 2013 – Bearded Theory Festival, Derby
20 May 2013 – Hoxton Square Bar, London
21 May 2013 – Hare and Hounds, Birmingham
22 May 2013 – Deaf Institute, Manchester
23 May 2013 – The Louisianna, Bristol
24 May 2013 – Leadmill, Sheffield
26 May 2013 – Scrumpstock Festival, Somerset
31 May 2013 – Jive, Adelaide
7 June 2013 – Amplifier Capitol, Perth
8 June 2013 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
13 June 2013 – Pelly Bar @ Pier Live, Frankston
14 June 2013 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine
15 June 2013 – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne
21 June 2013 – The Hi-Fi, Brisbane
22 June 2013 – The Northern, Byron Bay
27 June 2013 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
28 June 2013 – Waves, Wollongong
29 June 2013 – The Metro, Sydney

Image used with permission from Riot House Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Amity Affliction, Pez Headline Brisbane Youth Music Festival

Brisbane’s youth will be living it up this Easter at the inaugural Live it Up musical festival. A stellar local line-up featuring The Amity Affliction, Chance Waters, Pez, and The Getaway Plan will entertain under-aged music lovers on April 13.

But why just watch from the ground when you could be a part of the action? Live It Up organisers are inviting young bands and DJs to open the festival. Just head to the Live It Up festival website to see how you can get involved.

“Brisbane is full of talent, particularly young people and it’s a rare opportunity for them to get a gig and show fans what they can do,” explained festival organiser Zanda Strofield. “We’re committed not only to giving the best music event of the year for Brisbane’s 18 and unders, but also to support them and shine a light on what we have here in our backyard.”

Mums and dads can rest easy, as the event will be completely drug and alcohol free. Tickets are on sale now through the Live It Up website.

Image used with permission from SGC Media

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Nas Brings Movement Down Under

Nas is bringing his acclaimed Movement festival to Australia this April. He created the festival to look to the future of his beloved hip hop genre while celebrating its roots.

Nas will co-headline the event with one of his favourite Aussie bands, Bliss N Eso. The acts actually plan to record together, so music lovers might be treated to some special collaborations at these shows. Exciting new talent 2 Chainz, radio favourite Chiddy Bang, mixtape king and queen Joey Bada$$ and Angel Haze, and our own Spit Syndicate and Thundamentals are also on the bill. It’s a shame though that Thundamentals will only appear in Sydney, while Spit Syndicate will miss out on that show. The lineup’s dominated by international names, so it’s unfortunate that everyone won’t see all the Australian acts.

Tickets are on sale now for the following shows.

26 April 2013 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
27 April 2013 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
28 April 2013 – Riverstage, Brisbane
30 April 2013- Red Hill Auditorium, Perth

Image used with permission from Niche Productions