Start clearing the schedule, these are the best music festivals to get across your radar for April 2022.
We’ve knocked over one quarter of the year already, and we can hardly believe it. This year sure does have a lead foot, but we hope it is treating you well.
April, of course, kicks off with April Fools’ Day. Seen as one of the greatest pranks of all time, was a segment that appeared on BBC TV show Panorama in 1957. Known as the ‘Swiss spaghetti harvest’, the segment spoke about a bumper year for Ticino’s spaghetti harvesting, thanks to the mild weather that eliminated the spaghetti weevil. It’s available on YouTube. Or you can keep it simple by mixing in some M&Ms with skittles.
But maybe you’re not one for such sneaky shenanigans. You don’t like tomfoolery in your backyard. You close shop during monkey business hours. You would rather leave horseplay to horses. If you’re not one for hijinks, we have put together some festivals in one neat little package. An Allen key is included in the box.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Colac Otway Arts Trail
Various venues throughout April
An artist’s work is never done
Encouraging creative tourism, the trail promotes and celebrates local artists, with attendees able to visit artists in working studio environments. Artists include Alda Hubbard, Gillian Bowen-Johnston, Dominic O’Leary, Renee Carpenter, Francis McMahon, Lea Barker, Linnet Hunter and Pam Fyfe.
More through colacotwayartstrail.com
Cresfest
Creswick, April 1-3
Be your best with Cresfest
Your line-up is Neil Adam, Archer, Eric Bogle Trio, Amie Brûlée & Geoff McArthur, Bushwahzee, Kathryn Clements, Pete Denahy, Emma Donovan & the Putbacks, Mary Doumany, Evan & Mischa, Liz Frencham, Fools, Freya Josephine Hollick, Invy Horn Jam, Kee’ahn, Enda Kenny, Jali Buba Kuyateh, The Maes, Kat Mear, Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club, Mickey & Michelle, Parvyn and Josh, Angy Rigby, Fiona Ross & Shane O’Mara, The Royal High Jinx, Sweet Monas Choir, D’Arcy Spiller, Bruce Watson, Lucy Wise, ZÖJ, Zourouna and Asking for Trouble.
More through cresfest.com.au
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Great Australian Beer Festival
Johnstone Park, Geelong on April 2 (day session from 11am-4pm and night session from 5-10pm)
Homer no function beer well without
Your line-up includes The Badloves and The Settlement (day session) and Art vs. Science and Beans (night session), along with some 200 beers and ciders and food aplenty.
More through gabfgeelong.com.au
Superfuzz Festival
Platform Arts, Geelong on April 2
There is a buzz about fuzz
Designed by teens to support underage music, this AA festival welcomes Mundane Jane, De Porsal, Slimy and the Fishstix, Paraquay, Operation Karma, Sirens, Nurse Ratchet and Neuritis.
More through platformarts.org.au
Wrapped Up 3
Phoenix Park, Ballan, April 2
They’ll be rapt to have you
Your line-up is RVG, Civic, Krakatau, Leah Senior, Bananagun, The Living Eyes, Parsnip, Sleeper & Snake, Guy Blackman, Focus Group, Delivery, Hot Tubs Time Machine, OUZO!, Chimpanzee, Connor Toomey Dream Band and Odd Jobs DJs.
More through eggbooking.com.au
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Dialogues
The Castlemaine Goods Shed and various venues, Castlemaine – April 7-10
Start a conversation
Thinkers, writers and theorists discuss the issue of ‘change’. The line-up includes Bill and Chloe Shorten, Julia Banks, Tim Burrowes, John Safran, Stephanie Alexander, Julie Gibbs, Jeff Sparrow, Rebecca Huntley, Eliza Hull, Sarah Walker and Ennis Cehic.
More through castlemainefestival.com.au
Surround Sounds and Bellarine Music Festival
Geelong and the Bellarine, April 7-May 8
So much to do, so much time
Your line-up includes Crowded House, Paul Kelly, The Rubens, Kasey Chambers & Busby Marou, Adalita, The Waifs, Lloyd Spiegel, The Delta Riggs, Sweet Felicia, Children Collide, Hard-Ons, Human Nature and more. The event will take to some of the region’s iconic venues across a four-week marathon.
More through geelongaustralia.com.au
Land of Plenty
Showgrounds, Shepparton on April 9
There is plenty to go around
Your line-up is Ball Park Music, G Flip, Drapht, Bodyjar, Birdz, Teenage Joans, Baiyiya Garra presented by Still Here, Vince the Kid, Matilda Pearl and Go Dog Go, along with DJs Paris Lawrence, The Deck vs The Termi, Luna, Jeffo, Falla vs Hooka, Erica Dal and Fresh Kiwi vs Shades.
More through landofplentyfestival.com
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Ocean Grove Acoustic Festival
The Pavilion, Ocean Grove Park on April 9
The lighter side of life
Your line-up includes Famous Will Band, Peter Paul & Marion, Finnigan August, The Fillmores, Von Robertsons and Isabella Khalife.
More through oceangroveacousticfestival.com.au
Goulburn Valley Country Music Festival
Showgrounds, Shepparton on April 10
Thank God I’m a country boy
Your line-up is Lee Kernaghan, Brad Cox, Casey Barnes, Felicity Urquhart, Andrew Swift, The Davidson Brothers, Cass Hopetoun, Robert K Champion, Jade Gibson, JB and Me, Kane Vincent and Madi Colville-Walker.
More through goulburnvalleycountrymusicfestival.com.au
Easter Blues Bender
Various venues, Bendigo, April 14-18
Rock Happening of 2022
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much info at the time of writing. However, the Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival will deliver some local favourites and visitors to various venues across Bendigo. A highlight is Easter Saturday at The Vine, which will host a 50-year anniversary celebration of Sunbury with four acts from the original line-up.
More through bendigoblues.com
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Boogie
Our Friend’s Farm, Tallarook, April 15-17
We’ve got that boogie fever
Your line-up is Alex Hamilton & Band, Augie March, Bad Bangs, Caitlin Harnett & the Pony Boys, Endless Boogie, Hard-Ons, Howlin’ Rain, Jack Davies & the Bush Chooks, Mindy Meng Wang, Mylee Grace, Pond, Quality Used Cars, Rot TV, The Skips, Southern River Band and Tropical Fuck Storm.
More through boogie.net.au
Rainbow Reunion
Melbourne Pavilion – April 17
There’s a pot of gold waiting for you
Your line-up is Antix, Grouch, Freq, Spoonbill, Ashez, Augmented, AyaBloom, Bayawaka, Bec Grenfell, Bobby Raver, Brian Fantana, Doppel, d-Rektional, GMJ & Matter, Goosebumpz, Gus Till, Hypnotech, Jamie Stevens, JPS, Karl Pilbrow, Kasey Taylor, Kundalini, Kodiak Kid, Milk Man, Ozzy, Shantaram, Sunshine, The Oddness, UOne, Wilma and Zimonix.
More through rainbowserpent.net
OK Motels
Geelong West Town Hall, Geelong on April 22
Everything is going to be okay
Your line-up is Cosmic Psychos, The Living Eyes, Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice and Operation Karma.
More through okmotels.com.au
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Stars & Bars Festival
Palling Brothers Brewery, Heathcote on April 23
Where the real star is you
A multi-locale bus tour featuring a line-up of The Seven-Ups, Nathan Seeckts, J.D. Delves & Harvest Moon, Alister Turrill, Joshua Seymour, Pete Daly and Mariah McCarthy.
More through starsandbars.com.au
Fight Floods & War with Rock & Love
Barwon Club, Geelong on April 23
All you need is love… and rock
A NSW/Queensland floods and Ukrainian humanitarian fundraiser featuring Redro Redriguez & His Inner Demons, Green Blanket, Jelly Mammoth, Rennie & the Shitchair, Sacramento Sweaters, Strange Unit, Shanty Tramp, Amba Fear, Old El Parso, Jarosite, Ghosts, DJ Stinky Mike, Cruella de Cowgirl and more.
More through barwonclub.com.au
A Day on the Green
Mt Duneed Estate, Waurn Ponds on April 23
It’s only natural you’re going to love this
Your line-up is Crowded House, along with special guests Angus & Julia Stone and The Waifs.
More through adayonthegreen.com.au
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Groovin the Moo
Prince of Wales Showgrounds, Bendigo on April 30
Everybody’s movin’, everybody’s groovin’, baby
Your line-up is Alice Ivy, Broods, Chaii, Hilltop Hoods, Hockey Dad, Hope D, HP Boyz, Jesswar, JK-47, Mashd N Kutcher, Masked Wolf, Middle Kids, Milky Chance, Montaigne, Peking Duk, Polaris, RedHook, Riton, Shouse, Snakehips, Spiderbait, Sycco, Thomas Headon and Wolf Alice.
More through gtm.net.au
Clunes Booktown Festival
Clunes, April 30-May 1
One more chapter before bed
Authors featured include Tony Birch, Jock Serong, J.P. Pomare, Eliza Hull, Don Watson, Sean O’Beirne, Chloe Hooper, Fiona Scott Norman, Arnold Zable and Jacinta Parsons.
More through clunesbooktown.com.au
