© Lauren Baxter 2021.
The big hitters
Chances are if you’ve got an Australian festival bucket list, these are the festivals right at the top. They are the festivals you’ve all heard of, and for good reason. They hit it for six time and time again. We get that you’re not the biggest fan of camping, but if the crew get together, you’ll grab the Wet Wipes and make it work. Or even take up one of those swanky glamping options. Maybe hire a yurt and pretend you’re Mick Jagger. Attracting (arguably) the biggest names across the country, these are the events (often taking place over the holidays or a cheeky long weekend) that get you hyping up the group chat, stashing booze in all the nooks and crannies of your car (“Hey kids, drink responsibly”) and coordinating group outfits. But come on guys, it’s 2018. You are more original than Where’s Wally.
Hometown heroes
Alright, alright we heard you. Camping ain’t your thing. You’d rather finish off a day of great music back in your own bed. It’s alright, you don’t have to pretend you’re as young as you used to be. We get it, 10pm hits and that sweet siren song of the sofa is calling. For you, these are your hometown heroes. They are the festivals, big and small, that won’t have you straying too far from all your creature comforts but instead deliver the festive goods in a neat little package addressed to your home address. They are the festivals that will save you if you find yourself at home, all dressed up with nowhere to go. They are the festivals for those of us who have suffered through one too many deflated-air-mattress nights or maybe those who have stumbled out of a tent to find an actual human shit. Yes that really happened. No we did not identify the culprit.
Let’s get lost
Totally man. But for once, it’s all about the destination not the journey. Or maybe… like the destination is the journey. Whoa. In any case, we reckon you’d dig these festivals that are all about getting back to nature, embracing visual art and music of the more electronic persuasion. The festivals that are grabbing you by the shoulders and urging you to hit the wide open road and sleep under the stars. We’re told costumes are mandatory and eco-friendly glitter is a must, but at the heart of it, it’s really all about self-expression. Embracing what makes us all unique and finding yourself by getting lost. Maybe start by throwing off the shackles of your mortal beings – whatever you take that to mean – grab your swag, hit the road and we promise you will be in for a good time.
Moving to the country
Yes, we are gonna eat a lot of peaches. And yes, another source has also confirmed that the water does taste a lot like wine. If those two reasons are enough to get you hitting the road, we think these boutique country affairs will be the perfect fit for you. We get that you too have a hankering for those wide open roads and starry skies, but rather than getting lost, you like the GPS on and the referdex out. These are the niche festivals set in locations that are serene enough for you to live out your own Hakuna Matata while still enjoying all the festival action. Summer festival season is the perfect excuse for a road trip so why not get off the beaten path and go explore what else Australia has to offer. These are the festivals that will make it worth your while.
Original article: The Music October Issue