Category: Festivals

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Groovin’ the Moo Announces 2013 Lineup

Groovin’ the Moo is back and ready to rock regional Australia once again.

The organisers have assembled an impressive lineup for 2013, including international acts They Might Be Giants, Tegan and Sara, The Kooks, and Example. The local talent is hardly lacking either, with The Temper Trap, Tame Impala, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Flume, and Urthboy all on the bill.

Punters will also enjoy local food stalls, markets, slingshot rides, and chill-out areas for those moments when it all gets too much.

Maitland and Canberra festival goers can get their tickets from 9 am on February 5, and music lovers in Bendigo, Townsville, and Bunbury can get theirs on February 6. How clever yet simple to see a festival staggering sales to prevent system meltdown! All tickets will be available from the Groovin’ the Moo website and Moshtix for $99.90 plus booking fee.

27 April 2013 – Maitland Showground, Maitland
28 April 2013 – University of Canberra, Canberra
4 May 2013 – Prince of Wales Showground, Bendigo
5 May 2013 – Murray Sports Complex @ Townsville Cricket Grounds, Townsville
11 May 2013 – Hay Park, Bunbury

Image source: Shervin Lainez @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, and More Join Bluesfest

Thought the Byron Bay Bluesfest lineup couldn’t get any bigger? Think again. The organisers have just announced a fresh crop of incredible international and local artists.

The most exciting for me is the coming together of Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite. These blues icons have just recorded a new album together called Get Up which they’ll showcase with their set. It seems meant to be as they actually met Bluesfest way back in 1996.

After Zac Brown Band were announced as Jason Mraz’s support act, I suspected they’d soon announce a Bluesfest show. It seems my hunch was correct; they’ll play on Easter Monday.

It’ll also be great to see the oldies from The Music Maker Blues Revue, including Ironing Board Sam and Major Handy, showing the young things how it’s done.

Music lovers will also enjoy sets from Leonardo’s Bride, Skipping Girl Vinegar, and Kim Churchill. And that’s along with everyone else we already knew about, including Robert Plant, Santana, Paul Simon, and Bonnie Raitt!

Bluesfest hits Byron Bay on the Easter long weekend, from March 28 to April 1. There are still some tickets left but I wouldn’t wait too long to get yours. This announcement should encourage a few more folks to indulge!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Graveyard Train Deliver “The Sermon”

Australian chain gang balladeers Graveyard Train are ringing in the New Year with the release of their brand new single “The Sermon” and a string of summer festival dates.

“The Sermon”’s music video might have been better released around Halloween rather than the New Year, but it sets the scene for this song beautifully. Have you ever seen such creepy puppets?

Graveyard Train have passed over the big name festivals for some of Australia’s more interesting events. These shows are the last chance you’ll have to see the band for some time, as they’re preparing to head back in to the studio to record album number four.

19 January 2013 – Mona Foma, Hobart
2 February 2013 – The Garden Party @ Recital Centre, Melbourne
24 March 2013 – West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots, Perth

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tim Finn, Hood Gurus, and More for Between the Bays

With a stellar line-up of Aussie acts, this year’s Between the Bays Music Festival is shaping up to be one of the best. This Mornington Peninsula festival might not be massive, but it’s managed to attract The Hoodoo Gurus, James Reyne, Troy Cassar-Daley, and Tim Finn for the 2013 event.

No doubt these acts are attracted to Between the Bays’ relaxed vibe and family-friendly community feel. Those city kids can keep their festivals with lengthy queues and greasy junk food. Between the Bays encourages punters to bring their own picnics or enjoy the food and wine from local providers.

For the eighth annual Between the Bays, organisers are trying something new. It’s starting a bit later, at 4 pm to be precise, and will run through to the evening. It seems like a pretty smart move as crowds won’t need to cope with stifling summer heats!

Between the Bays will hit a rural property on Rickards Road in Moorooduc in the Mornington Peninsula on February 23. Tickets cost just $59.90 and even less for the kids. Get yours through Ticketmaster now.

Image used with permission from Chrissie Vincent Publicity

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Robert Plant Heads New Bluesfest Lineup Announcement

The organisers of Byron Bay’s Bluesfest promised something special for their latest line-up announcement, and boy have they delivered. It’s a bill designed for the oldies, or young ones that appreciate classic music.

Robert Plant is heading up the latest additions with his new act, the Sensational Shape Shifters. Led Zep fans might be lucky enough to hear some of most iconic songs, as Robert’s been playing eight Led Zeppelin songs during his recent sets in South America. Let’s cross fingers!

As if that wasn’t enough to make you weak at the knees, Bluesfest will also bring Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson, Madness, Yes’ Jon Anderson, and Status Quo to Byron. Let’s just hope we don’t get a rendition of “Down Down, Prices are Down”!

These awesome acts join already named stars like Santana, Jimmy Cliff, Ben Harper, Chris Isaak, Joan Armatrading, and Iggy and the Stooges. Something tells me 2013’s Bluesfest is going to go off!
Bluesfest hits Byron Bay from March 28 to April 1.

Image source: Egghead06 @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Aussie Legends Play Regional Red Hot Summer Shows

Some of Australia’s most beloved artists will perform for regional audiences this summer. Dubbed the Red Hot Summer Tour, the travelling concert series features a bumper line-up including Cold Chisel comrades Jimmy Barnes and Ian Moss, Baby Animals, Dragon, Ross Wilson, and Chocolate Starfish.

Unfortunately not every act will perform at every show, but fans will still see value with tickets starting from just $79.90. The line-up for each event is also posted on the Red Hot Summer Tour website, so you can make sure your favourites are playing near you.

Line-ups like this don’t come along every day, especially in some of these country towns! Tickets go on sale this Thursday, October 25.

5 January 2012 – Tumut Showgrounds, Tumut
6 January 2012 – Harry Sawkin Park, Nowra
10 January 2012 – Centenary Oval, Port Lincoln
12 January 2012 – Mary Ann Reserve, Mannum
13 January 2012 – Nowingi Place Soundshell, Mildura
19 January 2012 – Mulwala Waterski Club, Mulwala
20 January 2012 – Morning Star Estate, Mt Eliza
26 January 2012 – Parklands Resort, Mudgee
27 January 2012 – Crossing Theatre Lawns, Narrabri
2 February 2012 – Kryal Castle, Ballarat
3 February 2012 – Victory Park Soundshell, Traralgon
9 February 2012 – Country Club Lawns, Launceston
10 February 2012 – On the Point – Wrestpoint, Hobart
30 March 2012 – Warrnambool Racecourse, Warrnambool
31 March 2012 – Mansfield Showgrounds, Mansfield

Image source: Ticketmaster

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Arrested Development Headlines Cockatoo Island Film Festival’s Concert Series

There’ll be more than movies at the 2012 Cockatoo Island Film Festival. The event will see the historic Sydney island transformed into an entertainment hub, with cinema screens and live music stages, from October 25 to 27.

Arrested Development will grace the main stage on Thursday October 25 as part of their 20th anniversary tour. Bluejuice and Jinja Safari will follow the American hip hop act on October 26, and Matt Corby will close the festival with another licensed all ages show on October 27.

If you want to party on after those acts make sure you head to the Precinct Nightclub. Artists like Gossling, Saskwatch, the Future Classic DJs, and Halfway Crooks will be pumping out tunes from 10 pm to the early hours of the morning.

Tickets for all Cockatoo Island Film Festival shows are available now through Moshtix.

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Big Names To Play 2013 Bluesfest

The first of four Bluesfest line-up announcements has been released, and already it’s enough to make me salivate. The bill includes big international names like Ben Harper, Santana, Iggy and the Stooges, Chris Isaak, the Steve Miller Band, Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, and Glen Hansard and the Frames.

We haven’t heard about any of the local acts who’ll play, but no doubt they’ll come in some of the next announcements. This current crop is definitely enough to whet my appetite!

Bluesfest will take over Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm in Byron Shire from March 28 to April 1. Tickets are on sale now through the Bluesfest website. Are you excited?

Image source: Festival Eurockeennes @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pyramid Rocks Phillip Island

Phillip Island’s got more than fairy penguins to offer New Year’s revellers. The Victorian township will again play host to the Pyramid Rock Festival from December 29 to January 1.

Organisers have assembled a great line-up for Pyramid’s ninth year, shaped largely through the suggestions of Pyramid fans. Aussies dominate the bill, including 360, Karnivool, Children Collide, Dead Letter Circus, Illy, Stonefield, and Xavier Rudd.

For the third year, prices have stayed steady too. How many other New Year’s parties can boast that? Two and three-day passes will go on sale from the Pyramid Rock Festival website from Tuesday September 4.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Temper Trap, Missy Higgins, and Bluejuice Play Soundscape

The fifth annual Soundscape Festival is shaping up to be the best yet, with The Temper Trap, Missy Higgins, and Bluejuice all taking their place on the bill.

Soundscape will settle into its new home at Prices Wharf Shed No. 1, on Castray Esplanade in Hobart on November 16 and 17. The location isn’t the only change this year. The festival’s moved from January to November to avoid stifling heat, and downsized the available tickets. That means fewer queues and more intimate performances.

Tickets are on sale now from the Soundscape Festival website.

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash