Amazing Weather. Picture Perfect Locations. What’s missing? Music. All over Australia, music festivals are a way to bring people together and enjoy their favorite bands. From indie to dub step to rock and blues, there’s a festival for everyone’s music tastes. Found all throughout the country, it doesn’t matter where you live, good music is not hard to find close by. We put together a list of some of the top music festivals in the country.
Field Day
Held on the first day of the year, Field Day is a festival made to make sure you start of the year with a bang. Located right in The Domain of Sydney, it brings some of the biggest names in music world wide.
When: January 1
Where: Sydney
Big Names: MØ, SALT-N-PEPA, Milkey Chance, RÜFÜS
Falls Festival
Not only is The Falls a music festival, but it also includes comedy and an art festival all wrapped in one. It’s held throughout the country in three separate locations, so check out the closest one so you don’t miss out.
When: Dec 28 – Jan 3, 2015
Where: Lorne (Dec 28-Jan 1) // Marion Bay (Dec 29 – Jan 1) // Byron Bay (Dec 30 – Jan 3)
Big Names: Empire of the Sun, La Roux, Jamie XX, Vance Joy, The Temper Trap
**2016 Dates TBD**
Stereosonic
This national music festival spans five different major cities across Australia. The multi-day event brings in the some well known international artists around the globe, while also promoting up and coming Australian artists.
When: Nov 28 – Dec 6
Where: Sydney (Nov 28) // Perth (Nov 29) // Adelaide (Dec 5) // Melbourne (Dec 5) // Brisbane (Dec 6)
Big Names: Calvin Harris, Markus Schulz, Steve Aoki, DJ Snake, Tiësto
Soundwave
Originally started in Perth and currently incorporating four major cities on the east coast, this festival prides itself on music from rock, metal, and punk backgrounds. This is the first year it will be a two day concert event, with lineups switching between paired cities each day.
When: Feb 21 – 22 and Feb 28 – Mar 1
Where: Adelaide/Melbourne (Feb 21 – 22) and Sydney/Brisbane (Feb 28 – Mar 1)
Big Names: Marilyn Manson, Fall Out Boy, All Time Low, Slipknot, The Smashing Pumpkins, Judas Priest
**2016 Dates TBD**
Splendour in the Grass
Splendour is a favorite festival with the option to camp and is known for selling out fast. With record breaking sell outs in under three hours some years, it’s a mad dash to get tickets to this 3 day event.
When: July 24 – 26 2015
Where: Byron Bay
Big Names: Mark Ronson, Of Monsters and Men, Florence and The Machine, Peking Duk, Azealia Banks
Splendour in the Grass (cc license, Bradii)St. Jermone’s Laneway
Originally started in Melbourne, this event has grown to international status, with concerts in Singapore, Detroit, and Auckland, as well as five major Australian cities.
When: Jan 31 – Feb 1, Feb 6 – 8
Where: Adelaide (Feb 6) // Brisbane (Jan 31) // Fremantle (Feb 8) // Melbourne (Feb 7) // Sydney (Feb 1)
Big Names: BANKS, POND, Royal Blood, St Vincent, Future Islands
**2016 Dates TBD**
Groovin the Moo
Another sell out concert series that spans six different locations in Australia, often in more rural areas compared to the city based festivals. Groovin aims to bring in top names artists along side up and coming to give it’s audience some to mooooove to, day and night.
When: April 25 – 26, May 2 – 3, May 9 – 10
Where: Oakbank (April 25) // Bunbury (April 26) // Bendigo (May 2) // Canberra (May 3) // Maitland (May 9) // Townsville (May 10)
Big Names: Charli XCX, Sticky Fingers, Meg Mac, You Me At Six, Hermitude
**2016 Dates TBD**
Byron Bay Bluesfest
Another popular camping festival, this five day long event showcases the best of blues and roots, both internationally and within Australia. Over 25 years of sell outs shows and big name artists, this festival seems to have hit the sweet spot year after year.
Where: Byron Bay
When: April 2 – 6
Big Names: Hozier, Dispatch, Alabama Shakes, Zac Brown Band, Hunter Hayes, Train
**2016 Dates, March 24-28**
Matt Sirois is interning in the TEAN Chicago office this summer. He is a Global Ambassador at the University of Rhode Island and studied abroad with TEAN on the Gold Coast, Australia.
