Category: Festivals

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Peats Ridge Music Festival Lineup Announced

The more laid-back alternative to Coaster, the Peats Ridge Music Festival, has announced another incredible line-up for the New Year.

Local darlings Sarah Blasko, Liam Finn, The Panics, Whitley, Ash Grunwald, Blue King Brown and many more will all travel to the Central Coast to take part.

The first and second run of tickets have already sold out on the festival’s reputation alone, but fear not. A third batch will go on sale on Wednesday 12 August from Oztix from 9 am. But don’t delay, as once these tickets go that’s it.

The Peats Ridge Music Festival is the first major music event in Australia to run entirely on renewable energy. So why not have a green New Year, and celebrate with some top tunes? The festival runs from December 29 to January 1.

Image source: Somaya @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Powderfinger Head Up Homebake Lineup

The cream of Australia’s music industry will head to The Domain in Sydney on December 5 for the 15th anniversary of Homebake.

Powderfinger have been named as headliners, but there’s plenty more of interest on the bill. Take for example the reunions of Underground Lovers and Tumbleweed, with original line-ups no less. The line-up also boasts “A special performance by Tim Finn,” as if his regular slots weren’t special enough. And acts that spend most of their time abroad like Sia, Daniel Merriweather, and Midnight Juggernauts will also make their presence felt. Add perennial favourites Jet, Hilltop Hoods, Eskimo Joe, Sarah Blasko, and more and you’ve got the recipe for a rollicking good time.

Tickets are on sale from August 17 from Ticketek, Moshtix, and the Homebake website.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bimbadgen Blues, Now with Added Roots, Funk and Grooves!

Jazz in the Vines isn’t the only hot music festival hitting the Hunter this year. If you prefer your sounds a little bluesier, I suggest checking out the revamped Bimbadgen Blues show on September 12.

To celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary it’s back with a brand new attitude. Now known as Bimbadgen Blues Roots Funk n Grooves the festival toasts some of the country’s best talent. To coincide with the fresh new image comes a fantastic line-up, featuring The Panics, Blue King Brown, Kram, Ash Grunwald, Bluejuice, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Dialectrix, and Here Come the Birds.

“I felt it was time to reinvigorate the festival and the 10th anniversary seems like the right time to do it” said event producer Grant Smith. “We are trying to create something memorable and a little bit different to the other concerts and festivals in the Hunter Valley – there are going to be a few surprises on the day and we have a lot of ideas to implement as the event grows.”

What was once a day-time show will now kick on after the sun goes down, with some of the best music, food, and wine around. What could be better than that?

Tickets cost $65 and are available from all the regular outlets from May 11.

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jazz in the Vines Just Keeps Getting Better

Jazz in the Vines is gearing up for another big year with more food, more wine, more music and more fun!

The annual Hunter Valley jazzfest is scheduled for October 31. A stellar line-up has already been announced, including The Australian Army Band and Dixieland Jazz Band, Watussi, Galapagos Duck, the fabulous foursome Christine Anu, Grace Knight, Paulini, and Monica Trapaga, and perennial favourite James Morrison.

Add six of the area’s premier wineries and a host of local restaurants and you’ve got a recipe for a fantastic day out.

Tickets are available from May 11 for the bargain price of $65. Get yours from the  Jazz in the Vines website, and all Ticketmaster and Moshtix outlets.

Image source: Stephen Michael Barnett @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Groove Armada Prepare to Board the Bacardi Express

As one half of Groove Armada, Andy Cato is preparing to head around Australia headlining the Bacardi Express 2009 tour. The train trip continues the band’s long running association with the brand. They’ve played Bacardi shows in Miami, Greece, Mexico, and Brazil already, on a whirlwind world tour which has had plenty of highlights.

“Greece was a big one. It was the first time we synced our DJ set to the lights, visuals and lazers. The gig was in a velodrome where the UK had won some of its very rare sporting gold medals. We added another win to the list that night. And Mexico crowds are always top class. That was another first too – the only gig we’ve done in a blow up arena,” he said.

Groove Armada are no strangers to Australia, playing here “a dozen times at least.”
“We’ve been to Australia a dozen times at least. We’ve had amazing gigs there over the last ten years. Centennial Park was special, as was the first time we played the Hordern. New Years Eve on Bondi Beach was everything you’d expect. We’ve played killer festivals outside Melbourne and Perth, and had a top ten night in the (now demolished) venue where the Beatles played on the Gold Coast. We’ve seen more nights to remember in Australian bars, clubs and house parties than you could hope to manage in a lifetime.”

This time around the band hope to visit the Match Bar and Grill in Melbourne.   ”A friend of ours has set it up to combine top food and drink with an enormous sound system out the back. Sounds like a one stop shop,” he enthused.

The Bacardi Express will depart Melbourne on March 26. It’ll make stops at Wagga Wagga and Wollongong before arriving in Sydney on March 28.

Image used with permission from Peer Group Media. Image credit: Derek Santini

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Target Rocks Melbourne Fashion Week

Department store Target will bring together fantastic Australian music, delicious food, and of course cool clothes at the Target Rocks Red Market. The 22 March event is part of Melbourne’s Fashion Festival celebrations.

It’s free to attend the markets, which will feature appearances from special guests and the crew from Nova100, the Battle of the Decks competition, Dolly Styling Sessions, Get Down and Dance classes, pop-up Target stores showcasing all the latest runway looks.

If you want a closer look at those fashions, make sure you get to one of the runway shows. At just $20 each, the Target shows are amongst the cheapest this fashion week. Tina Arena is the fitting headliner of the 100% Fabulous show, while DJ John Course will pump out beats for the 100% Electric show.

It all sounds like so much fun! Check it out at the Western Tip and Peninsula Central Pier, 161 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands from 11 am to 4 pm on March 22.

Image used with permission from Style Counsel

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Madness and The Human League Join V-Festival

The V-Festival just got a whole lot more interesting for old fogies like myself. Ska legends Madness and 80s electro-pop outfit The Human League have just joined the bill!

But it’s not all retro. Youngsters will be satisfied with the recent addition of Razorlight, The Kills, and ex-Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis.

There are more local acts too, with Children Collide, Howling Bells, Jackson Jackson, and Wolf and Cub all late additions to the bill.

They join the already spectacular line-up which includes international headliners The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs, Duffy, and Snow Patrol.

Here are the dates!

28 March 2009 – Centennial Park, Sydney
29 March 2009 – Avica Resort, Gold Coast
4 April 2009 – Showgrounds, Melbourne
5 April 2009 – Claremont Showgrounds, Perth

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bacardi Express Ready to Board

All aboard the Bacardi Express! The travelling concert will feature UK dance outfit Groove Armada alongside local acts British India, Bluejuice, Van She, and Lost Valentinos.

“Selecting the acts for the Bacardi Express is no mean feat as we need to ensure a good mix of genres and, more importantly, personality and stamina for this 48 hour journey,” festival organisers said.

“Eating, sleeping, jamming and partying in such close proximity is all part of the tour and we have to ensure everyone is up for that.”

The train will depart Melbourne on March 26. It’ll make stops at Wagga Wagga and Wollongong before arriving in Sydney on March 28.

You can win your seat on the train by visiting the Bacardi Express website.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fantomas To Play Director’s Cut at BDO

Fantomas fans are in for a real treat, with the band set to perform their entire album The Director’s Cut at their Big Day Out shows next year.

The Director’s Cut, a collection of reinvented film soundtrack songs, may have been released way back in 2001, but who cares? It’s a nice change from bands who just want to shove new songs down our throat without the golden oldies!

The Big Day Out festival kicks off on January 16 in Auckland, New Zealand, before travelling all around Australia and finishing up in Perth on February 1.

Image source: Stephan Cremer @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Lowdown on Big Day Out Sideshows

If you missed out on Big Day Out shows, or you’re just looking for a double dose of your favourite band, you’ll want to check out the recently announced sideshows.

Plenty of the big name international acts will play up close and personal shows around the country. Tickets to all the following shows go on sale on Monday 1 December.

The Prodigy
29 January 2009 – The Palace, Melbourne

Simian Mobile Disco
21 January 2009 – The Metro, Sydney
25 January – The Prince Bandroom, Melbourne

Arctic Monkeys
22 January 2009 – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney
24 January 2009 – The Palais Theatre, Melbourne

Pendulum
25 January 2009 – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney
28 January 2009 – The Forum, Melbourne

Lupe Fiasco with Muph N Plutonic and MC Pez
20 January 2009 – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney
27 January 2009 – The Palace, Melbourne

Hot Chip
21 Jan 2009 – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney
25 Jan 2009 – Billboard, Melbourne

Serj Tankian with Fantomas
21 January 2009 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
24 January 2009 – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney
25 January 2009 – The Palace, Melbourne

The Ting Tings
20 January 2009 – The Metro, Sydney
28 January 2009 – The Prince Bandroom, Melbourne

TV On The Radio with Wolf & Cub
24 January 2009 – The Metro, Sydney
29 January 2009 – The Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne

The Black Kids
20 January 2009 – The Gaelic Club, Sydney
24 January 2009 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne

Dropkick Murphys
25 January 2009 – The Metro, Sydney
28 January 2009 – Billboard, Melbourne

Image source: Mhauri @ Flickr