When reading most music festival guides, you’ll see the same massive national festival popping up. Getting out of the major cities, there is a plethora of boutique and indie festivals with massive local followings which showcase the best local Aussie talent and food. We’ve picked seven of the best local festivals to get you discovering some fresh talent.
Grow Your Own Festival
22 December 2017 | Forster-Tuncurry, NSW
Grow Your Own festival prides itself on bringing the best national and local talent to NSW’s Mid-North Coast. The music and produce festival is expected to reach a crowd of 3000 in its sophomore year, with local demand forcing the festival to upgrade its venue.
The killer 2017 lineup features Cloud Control (pictured), Skegss, The Belligerents, The Babe Rainbow, The Gooch Palms, Ruby Fields, Alex The Astronaut, LOS SCALLYWAGGS, The Ruiins and The Little Quirks, as well as massive DJ sets from I OH YOU DJs and Pina Coladascope. As well as a stellar lineup, the festival will also promote local produce and restaurants with tons of food trucks and produce stalls.
Grow Your Own is just a four hour drive from Sydney, so don’t miss out on this booming regional festival. More info on this years festival can be found here.
Inland Sea of Sound
5 & 6 November 2017 | Bathurst, NSW
If you’re a Bathurst local then no doubt you’d be familiar with Mount Panoramas annual festival Inland Sea of Sound. The boutique camping festival has been bringing the crowds from Central NSW since its inception in 2010, and this year was no different. Gracing the stage in 2017 was Meg Mac (pictured), Dan Sultan, Bernard Fanning, Megan Washington, Mia Dyson, as well as tons of local and international blues and roots bands.
Rounding out the all ages festival is the best of local eats, including Indigenous Bush Tucka serving the best of local indigenous treats. You can find more info on the festival here, and keep your eye peeled next year’s lineup announcement.
No Worries Festival
23 December 2017 | Moruya, NSW
Starting as a party thrown by a few mates in the NSW South Coast, No Worries Festival is as riotous and carefree as the name suggests. After getting shut down by the council for attracting a crowd of 600, the ‘Paradise South Crew’ turned their legendary party into a full fledged festival with bands from all over the country gracing the town of Moruya.
The 2017 festival is the second of their official events and boasts a lineup of Touch Sensitive (pictured), The VANNS, Moonbase, The Pinheads, Mild Manic, and loads of up and coming national talent, as well as a crazy DJ battle between Hockey Dad and Steppy-P. Who knows what will go down, but it’ll sure be one for the history books. You can find more info on No Worries Festival here.
Porchland
2 December 2017 | Adelaide, SA
Born from the Adelaide suburban concert series Porch Sessions, Porchland Festival is back for it’s second 2017 event. Taking place at The Range, just 45 minutes out of the city, Porchland has already released some massive names on the lineup: Thelma Plum, WA rising star Stella Donnelly (pictured), troubadour Stu Larsen, plus Bjéar and 30/70.
Making this festival truly unique will be a film screening of surf film maker Andy Manners of State of Surf, which promises to showcase the state’s best surfers as well as an all SA soundtrack.
You can find more info about Porchland and the Porch Sessions series here.
Barunga Festival
8-10 June 2018 | Barunga, NT
NT’s Barunga Festival has a rich history of celebrating Indigenous music, art, sport and culture. In 1988 then Prime Minister Bob Hawke visited the festival and was presented with the Barunga Statement, which called for treaty. It was this event that inspired Yothu Yindi’s iconic song “Treaty”. Since then, the festival is celebrated every year on the Queen’s birthday long weekend.
The 2018 lineup is yet to be announced, but judging by last years bill which included Missy Higgins (pictured), Coloured Stone and Skinnyfish Sound System, you can look forward to a mix of traditional and contemporary Australian music. More info on Barunga Festival can be found here.
Riverboats Music Festival
16-18 February | Echuca-Moama, Vic
Riverboats Festival takes place alongside the Murray River and is famous amongst locals for the laid back atmosphere where festival-goers can enjoy the historic paddle steamer cruises down the river as well as a stellar lineup of Aussie talent. This year’s festival is headlined by Neil and Liam Finn, Kasey Chambers (pictured) and Josh Pyke, as well as featuring The Black Sorrows with Vika and Linda Bull, The Teskey Brothers, Caiti Baker and tons more.
You can find more info about Riverboats Music Festival here.
Til the Wheels Fall Off
12-14 October 2017 | Launceston, Tas
Til the Wheels Fall Off festival is the brainchild of Luca Brasi‘s Tyler Richardson and Patrick Marshall. The weekend long party brings together the best of Aussie alternative and rock acts, and 2017 marked its fourth year running. This years festival featured five gigs across the three days and boasted a massive lineup including Luca Brasi (pictured), The Bennies, Camp Cope, Bad//Dreems, Ruby Fields, Maddy Jane, IV League and tons more. Til the Wheels Fall Off is known for an eclectic mix of acoustic sets, hectic mosh pits and crazy after parties.
You can find more info on Til the Wheels Fall Off and keep an eye out for the 2018 event here.
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