Category: Festivals

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lilith Fair Rumored To Head Down Under

Word is that the recently revived all-girl music festival Lilith Fair will wing its way to Australia later this year. The event’s co-founder Terry McBride told The Music Network “We’re hoping to bring Lilith to Australia in late September or October – we’re still working it out.”

I’d love to see some Lilith Fair shows in Oz. Australia has more than its fair share of incredible female artists, from the new breed of Lisa Mitchell, Kate Miller-Heidke, and Sarah Blasko to veterans like Renee Geyer, Deborah Conway, Kate Ceberano, and Olivia Newton-John. Big name international talents Carly Simon, Heart, Suzanne Vega, and festival founder Sarah McLachlan will play the North American tour, and I’d love to see some of these artists joining our home-grown acts later this year. Fingers crossed!

McLachlan poses for a portrait in Los Angeles

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Spiderbait, Gyroscope, and More for Hunter Valley’s Funk n Grooves Festival

The line-up for this year’s Funk n Grooves festival, which will hit the new site at 1882 Broke Road, Pokolbin on September 11, has been announced.

Groovin The Moo 2008 Festival


The bill features an eclectic mix of acts including Spiderbait, Gyroscope, British India, Bertie Blackman, Urthboy, Washington, Resin Dogs, The Bamboos, and Skipping Girl Vinegar. This festival is really finding its own identity as a kind of little sister to Jazz in the Vines. The blend of pop, rock, blues, and soul on the menu this year is really intriguing and should see a solid turnout for the event.

Tickets are available now for $80 plus booking fee from the Funk n Grooves website.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cypress Hill to Headline Coaster Festival

The folks at Coaster have pulled off a massive get this year, securing Cypress Hill to headline the 2010 festival. As a Central Coast girl myself, it’s pretty amazing to think that the old school American hip hoppers will be at Gosford Showgrounds on September 25.

But who will join them? All will be revealed on June 4 when the Coaster team makes the first of their major line-up announcements. Check back here for all the details as they come to hand!

Cypress Hill Visits Fuse TV

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Splendour in the Grass Announces Big Lineup for 2010

The line-up for this year’s Splendour in the Grass festival has been announced, and it’s an absolute doozy.

Mammoth modern acts like The Strokes, Scissor Sisters, Ben Harper, and Mumford and Sons will join elder statesmen The Pixies on the bill. Most of the big names come from abroad, but locals are represented by The Temper Trap, Midnight Juggernauts, Empire of the Sun, Paul Kelly, Angus & Julia Stone, and Wolfmother.

It’s an eclectic lineup which should see plenty of punters packing out Woodfordia in the Sunshine Coast hinterland from July 30 to August 1. If you want to get there, consider a combined event and camping ticket, offered for the first time this year. At just $100 more than the three-day event ticket, it’s promising to be the most economical option unless you live nearby or know someone who does! Tickets will go on sale via Moshtix on May 6.

Image source: Splendour in the Grass Facebook page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Michael Coppel Withdrawal Puts V Festival in Doubt

V Festival’s future in Australia is in doubt after promoter Michael Coppel refused to renew his deal with Sir Richard Branson. Unless the Virgin Group can find another major promoter before March, it looks like the show won’t go ahead.

“For the past three years, the Virgin Group and Michael Coppel Presents have worked together to deliver the acclaimed V Festival to Australian audiences,” Mr Coppel said in a statement.

“The presentation of V Festival in 2009 concluded this arrangement and the partnership is not being renewed. The Virgin Group will make further announcements regarding V Festival in Australia in the coming months.”

But whispers are that Michael Coppel’s not getting out of the festival biz altogether. Industry buzz says he’s working on a festival for late 2010, with many suggesting it could see Livid resurrected. I’ll miss V Festival, but that would certainly ease the pain!

Image source: Bradii @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Prodigy, Franz Ferdinand On Future Music Festival Bill

The Prodigy, Franz Ferdinand and John Digweed will join the leaked names Empire of the Sun and David Guetta on the Future Music Festival bill.

The first line-up announcement hit the media today, with Booka Shade, Sven Vath, Erick Morillo, and Does It Offend You, Yeah? also on the bill. The Future Music Festival is a massive ten-hour event showcasing some of the hottest hip-hop, indie, and dance music on the planet.

Tickets to the event go on sale on October 21 through Ticketmaster. Here are the dates!

27 February 2010 – Turf Club CP Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane
28 February 2010 – Ascot Racecourse, Perth
6 March 2010 – Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney
7 March 2010 – Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
8 March 2010 – Rundle & Rymill Parks, Adelaide

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Empire of the Sun and David Guetta do Future Music Festival

The organisers of the Future Music Festival have announced Empire of the Sun as its first headliner, a few days ahead of the line-up announcement.

With the local lads nominated for an impressive 11 ARIA awards yesterday, including several artisan awards, the timing couldn’t be better. French DJ David Guetta, who’s currently enjoying a number one possie on the charts, has also let slip that he’s on the bill.

The full line-up announcement will come on Monday, with tickets to the events going on sale on October 21.

27 February 2010 – Brisbane
28 February 2010 – Perth
6 March 2010 – Sydney
7 March 2010 – Melbourne
8 March 2010 – Adelaide

Image source: Ang3lak @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Megarampage Gets the Chop After Poor Ticket Sales

The big budget Megarampage festival, scheduled to play Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium on October 31 has been cancelled. Apparently the event struggled to gain sponsorship and failed to sell enough tickets to be viable.

They had the bands, with The Offspring, Good Charlotte, Wu-Tang Clan, Lil Jon, COG, and Mammal all on the bill. They had that very cool nine-storey high BMX ramp, and the extreme sports talent in Danny Way, Bob Burnquist and Morgan Wade.

But one thing they didn’t have was the press coverage. Honestly, I hadn’t heard about the festival at all until Lil Jon was added to the bill a few weeks ago. Sure I’m not in Victoria, and there may have been better media coverage there, but as a blogger I aim to keep my finger on the pulse. If I didn’t know it was happening, what chance did the average fan have? Things were definitely picking up, with the festival publicised in both Rolling Stone and Blunt this month, but it seems like too little too late.

If you were one of the few folks with tickets, you can get a refund at Ticketmaster.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Faith No More Headline Soundwave 2010

Metal funk heroes Faith No More will headline next year’s Soundwave festival.

They’ll share the bill with Jane’s Addiction, who will make good on their promise to return to Oz after cancelling their Splendour slot due to illness. These perennial favourites will join a jam-packed line-up which includes My Chemical Romance, Paramore, AFI, Eagles of Death Metal, Reel Big Fish, A Wilhelm Scream, and heaps more.

Soundwave will kick off in Brisbane before travelling to capital cities around the country. Information on early bird tickets for Soundwave 2010 will be released shortly, so keep an eye on the Soundwave website for details as they come to hand.

20 February 2010 – RNA Showground, Brisbane
21 February 2010 – Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney
26 February 2010 – Showgrounds, Melbourne
27 February 2010 – Bonython Park, Adelaide
1 March 2010 – Steel Blue Oval, Perth

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Moby and Yeah Yeah Yeahs for Falls

What a line-up the folks from the Falls Festival have put together this year!

Music lovers in Tasmania’s Marion Bay and Lorne in Victoria will be entertained by international superstars Moby and Yeah Yeah Yeahs and local heroes Sarah Blasko, Lisa Mitchell, Hiltop Hoods, Temper Trap, Little Birdy, Xavier Rudd, and heaps more.

The Falls Festival is a great way to ring in the New Year, but you’ll have to be lucky to score tickets. They’re available only via a special ballot on the website. The ballot closes on Monday August 24. Successful entrants will be notified on September 1.

Image source: Uncensored Interview @ Wikimedia Commons