Much loved boutique music festival Meadow (previously known as By The Meadow) is back for its seventh year in 2020.
Set to take place on March 27-29, the annual three-day and two-night celebration returns to the lush farmland hamlet of Bambra (Victoria’s enchanting Otway Surf Coast region) and has just dropped the names of three awesome artists for its first announcement.
First up, punters will be mesmerised by the dizzying DIY universe of Frankie Cosmos. Three years since the New York City four-piece last toured Australia, Meadow is bringing the whirling wit of Greta Kline and co. to their humble home among the gumtrees. Taking to the stage on Festival Saturday, Frankie Cosmos will deliver a live performance akin to a publicly broadcast day-dream; drawing from acclaimed 2019 record, Close It Quitely, expect a flurry of both calm and chaotic two-minute bedroom pop songs – an aural degustation if ever there was one.
Signifying their continued contribution to showcasing a diversity of talent which forms our thriving music landscape, leading the local menagerie of this first announcement is Elizabeth (Totally Mild) and Surprise Chef, both hailing from Melbourne.
Following the release of Totally Mild’s two picture-perfect albums Down Time and Her, front-woman Elizabeth Mitchell is no stranger to the Meadow stage, having charmed festivalgoers in Bambra twice before. Returning to The Otways once again, this time as her namesake solo project Elizabeth; Mitchell and her seven-piece all-female power-house band will bless the hills with richly produced, cinematic pop.
Bringing their moody shades of instrumental jazz-funk with a DIY mentality, Melbourne’s soul journeymen Surprise Chef promise to launch the Festival well and truly into the jazz-o-sphere. Influenced by soul/funk/jazz greats like Baby Huey, Curtis Mayfield and David Axelrod, their debut record, All News Is Good News, sold out the first pressing worldwide in less than a week. Now they bring the genre-pushing sound of that record and more to The Bambra Bowl for a loose Friday night.
These three acts simply mark the beginning of a carefully curated lineup set to be announced early in the New Year (keep an eye on www.meadowmf.com/). The complete bill will soundtrack an immersive three-day journey through the current Australian music scene.
Besides chopping its name into a punchy one-worder, Meadow hasn’t changed in vibe one bit, promising yet another three-day, two-night, once-in-a-year-time party. Grab your mates, grab your tents, stock up the Esky, and escape the rat race to the picturesque Otway Hinterlands – just 90-minutes South-West of Melbourne.
A limited release of tickets are now on sale, at the discounted price of $165+BF with glamping options available, teenagers accompanied by adults can join the festivities for the first time, and children under 12 are invited to be festival goers for free. All tickets can be purchased at www.meadowmf.com/