On Saturday, Torquay Commons was turned into a festival ground for the 2025 edition of Summersalt. Though the name suggested balmy afternoons and golden rays, reality had other plans: grey skies, patches of rain, and a top of 13 degrees made it feel more like “Wintersalt.” Still, the less-than-ideal conditions didn’t dampen spirits too much. Attendees rolled out their camping chairs, grabbed a spot, and braced for a day stacked with music that small-town Victoria rarely gets to host. With a lineup featuring The Wombats, DMA’S and Ball Park Music alongside rising names like Fremantle’s Ra Ra Viper, UK newcomer Bea and Her Business, and New York’s Del Water Gap, it was never going to be a quiet Saturday.
Despite the weather, Summersalt delivered plenty of charm. The festival’s laid-back vibe fit Torquay like a glove, with the Commons offering plenty of space for seated punters as well as a standing zone up front. Food trucks and bars kept people fuelled, and for the most part, the day moved along smoothly, though the long half-hour waits between sets did cool the atmosphere at times.
Ra Ra Viper opened, their breezy style making the drizzle feel almost intentional as they nailed the difficult job of playing to the early arrivals. The Fremantle post-surf rock band definitely caught my attention as they played as though they were headlining an arena. Next up, Bea and Her Business played her debut Australian set. At just 21, UK-born Bea Wheeler is killing it, with her 2023 hit single “Born To Be Alive” putting her on the radar. As Del Water Gap took to the stage, a crowd was building. The solo project of Holden Jaffe, Del Water Gap brought undeniable rockstar energy to the stage. He thanked Triple J for playing his music, and noted that his two top cities on Spotify were both Australian. His set was incredibly fun as he encouraged fans to scream lyrics back at him, and even climbed the rigging at one point.
As the afternoon rolled on, Ball Park Music warmed the crowd up (literally) by making them get their groover on with their signature mix of cheek and charm. The sun even peeked out just in time for their set, complete with a lyric slip-up and some footy banter from Sam Cromack that made it all the more fun. DMA’S followed, bringing their usual anthemic energy, and by then Torquay was well and truly in party mode, the coastal backdrop making their set all the more special.
Unfortunately, the lengthy breaks between acts started to weigh on the evening session and by 8:30, the cold was definitely killing the vibe. Thankfully, The Wombats arrived to turn things around. The UK trio closed out the festival with an incredible performance, rolling through hit after hit with faultless delivery. For a small regional festival, hosting a band of their calibre felt massive, and they left the crowd buzzing despite the weather.
Summersalt was a triumph of music over meteorology. Sure, the weather was a letdown and the set breaks dragged a little, but the payoff was well worth it. To see world-class acts like The Wombats, DMA’S and Ball Park Music just half an hour down the road in regional Victoria felt like a luxury. Last year Summersault hosted Hozier at the Commons, so it has well and truly proved itself. With hopefully another tour in the warmer months, Summersalt continues to deliver on bringing big names to regional areas.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Header image of DMA’S by Eloise Coomber
