Category: Festivals

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Neil Young to Headline Big Day Out

The official announcements don’t come until the end of the month but one cat is already out of the bag. Neil Young will headline the 2009 Big Day Out.

Festival promoters Lee and West confirmed the exciting news to Undercover News today.

No doubt all the kids still getting turned on to Harvest so many decades after its release will be thrilled at the news. While the BDO bill is sure to be killer, it’s probably not going to excite a lot of Neil Young’s older fans.

They’ll be pleased to know he’s already announced some sideshows in the major capitals. Tickets for these gigs go on sale on September 19.

See this living legend at the following venues:

21 January 2009 – Entertainment Centre, Brisbane
24 January 2009 – Entertainment Centre, Sydney
28 January 2009 – Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne

Image source: Yle.fi/pop @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cool Stuff at Coaster

Some exciting promos ensure Coaster will be more than just another festival.

Firstly the event has its very own mascot: Coasterman. It sounds a bit naff at first, but Coasterman is anything but. Apparently punters can look forward to Coasterman performing death-defying feats on his “killer scooter.” Now that just might be something worth seeing.

Artist signings are nothing new, so Coaster has spiced things up a bit with artist meet and greets. Fans will be able to spend half an hour hanging out with The Living End, Kisschasy, Blue King Brown, or one of the other artists on the Coaster bill. Only 50 tickets for each meet and greet will be available, ensuring those who put their cash down get value for money.

Inspired by the Tour de France, Coaster plans to give their favourite fans their own yellow jerseys. The Coaster Crew will choose someone they feel embodies the Coaster spirit to receive the honour. This Coaster with the Moaster will watch the bands from the side of stage, receive drink and food vouchers, and a souvenir T-shirt. When the crew finds someone else deserving of the yellow jersey, it’s passed on to them.

All sounds like a lot of fun! The first Coaster festival will hit Gosford Showgrounds on September 20.

Image source: Ilker @ Stock.xchng

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Madder Lake Back Together for Queenscliff

Fans of vintage Oz rock will be thrilled to hear Madder Lake have reformed to play this year’s Queenscliff Music Festival.

Madder Lake was one of Mushroom Records early success stories thanks to the hits “12 lb Toothbrush” and “Goodbye Lollipop.” They also wowed crowds at Australia’s Woodstock, the Sunbury Festival. And there’s more good news for fans of the band. According to the press kit the band they’re planning to release another album next year!

Madder Lake will join an eclectic line-up featuring American troubadour Howie Day, Aussie singer-songwriter Josh Pyke, comedy trio Tripod, local legend Ross Wilson, and eclectic songstress Kate Miller-Heidke.

It’s all happening in Victoria on November 28-30. Big Weekend tickets are on sale now from the Queenscliff Music Festival website.

Image source: Jsarcadia @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Pyramid Festival Rocks New Years

Do you fancy ringing in the New Year with a little music? Well the Pyramid Rock Festival on Phillip Island might be just the ticket.

It’s a truly international affair with British outfit Morcheeba, American duo The Black Keys, and German dance band Digitalism all making an appearance. There’s also a strong local contingent, with Midnight Juggernauts, Gyroscope, The Living End, Karnivool, Cut Copy, and The Galvatrons all on the bill.

Tickets to this massive NYE party go on sale on Thursday 4 September. Get yours from the festival website or selected indie music retailers.

Image source: CharlesFred @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Reggae Stars Visit Oz for Raggamuffin

The who’s who of reggae will head Down Under in the new year for the second annual Raggamuffin festival.

The impressive bill features Arrested Development, Ziggy Marley and brother Stephen, Eddy Grant, Shaggy, Inner Circle (are they still around?), and Bonjah.

Ticketek will sell tickets for Sydney, while Ticketmaster is handling the five other shows. Get your tickets for Raggamuffin from August 25 for Byron, Brisbane, the Hunter, and Melbourne, August 26 for Sydney, and October 13 for Perth. 

24 January 2009 – Supreme Court Gardens, Perth
26 January 2009 – Red Devil Park, Byron Bay
30 January 2009 – The Riverstage, Brisbane
31 January 2009 – Lindemans Winery, Hunter Valley
1 February 2009 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
3 February 2009 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Image source: Drew Wilson Photography @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Crowded House Headline Homebake

We might all be freezing our extremities off, but summer can’t be too far away. How do I know? Well, those summer festival announcements are filtering in.

Today the bill for Homebake was announced. That’s always particularly exciting because it’s a celebration of homegrown talents. And who needs to import bands when you can assemble a lineup like this?

We’ve got Crowded House as headliners. This is a massive deal considering they haven’t played here since those sold out shows last November. If you missed the lads then, here’s your chance.

They’ll be supported by a couple more Aussie rock heavyweights looking for comebacks: You Am I and The Vines. Add a little dance music courtesy of Sneaky Sound System, Cut Copy, and PNAU, a splash of country with Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, and a dash of pop with Gabriella Cilmi and it’s all sounding pretty impressive.

The 12th annual Homebake concert will hit The Domain on December 6. It always always sells out, so you’ll want to grab yours when they go on sale from Ticketek on August 18.

Image souce: Alterna2 @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Music Heaven at Mudgee

A Day on the Green is heading back to Mudgee with a massive Aussie lineup. Fresh from their comeback tour, The Angels will join the Hoodoo Gurus as co-headliners for the October 18 show at Oatley Wines.

But the classic Aussie artists don’t stop there, with The Models and Dragon (well, they’re adopted Australians, right?) also on the bill.

The day will kick off with local Mudgee outfit McGee.

You won’t see a lineup this good in some time, so it’s definitely worth a road trip. You can grab your tickets from Ticketmaster on August 1.

Image source: The Arris @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stonefest Celebrate the Big 4-0

Few music festivals survive a few years, let alone decades. So Stonefest’s 40th anniversary this year is cause for celebration. The Canberra music fest is pulling out the big guns this year, with a massive bill headlined by American indie gods The Dandy Warhols.

They’ll be ably supported by some massive local talent including Grinspoon, Faker, The Grates, Regurgitator, The Drones, Blue King Brown, and stacks more.

Any festival that can last four decades clearly knows how to entertain. This one might be worth a road trip for any interstate music lovers. It all happens at the University of Canberra on 31 October and 1 November. Tickets are available now through Ticketek. But sorry kids, it’s a strictly adults-only event.

Image source: JHT Photography @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Coaster Festival Kicks Off

There’s a brand new all-ages festival bringing the cream of Aussie talent to the Central Coast. It’s called Coaster, and it’s on for the very first time on September 20 at Gosford Showgrounds.

The lineup is massive, with The Living End, Kisschasy, The Potbelleez, Blue King Brown, Cog, and the Coast’s favourite sons Something with Numbers leading the charge.

With bands like this on the bill tickets won’t last. So make sure you get yours, and take advantage of the $10 earlybird discount, when they go on sale on Wednesday 2 July.

Image source: Pop Weasle @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Operator Please Play Valley Fiesta

The lineup for Brisbane’s biggest free music festival, Valley Fiesta, was announced today and it’s an absolute doozie.

The coolest kids around, Operator Please, will headline the star-studded lineup, which includes Urthboy, DJ Dexter of The Avalanches, Jeff Lang, Little Birdy’s Katy Steele, Sparkadia, and stacks more.

You can catch all the fun in the Fortitude Valley from September 12 to 14.

Image source: Christoph! @ Flickr