Australia’s first touring pride festival Summer Camp announces new November date
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26.04.2022

Australia’s first touring pride festival Summer Camp announces new November date

The inaugural Summer Camp festival will now be coming to Melbourne on Saturday November 12 at Reunion Park.

Announcing its debut with a bang comes the inaugural Summer Camp Festival – Australia’s first touring pride festival – bringing a celebration of freedom and diversity to Sydney on Saturday, November 5 at Centennial Park, and Melbourne on Saturday, November 12 at Reunion Park.

The festival was originally scheduled to go ahead back in February this year but was postponed due to COVID restrictions at the time.

The organisers are aiming to create a ‘summer camp’ for adults, a playground of music and art culture that “suspends reality and transcends the boundaries of imagination”. Summer Camp is marketing itself as a place where everyone is truly welcome – no matter who you love, your pronouns, or your star sign.

The key takeaways

  • Summer Camp Festival is the new LGBTQI festival coming to Melbourne
  • It will be held at Reunion Park on November 12
  • Headliners include Years & Years, Cub Sport, The Veronicas and more

Keep up with the latest festival news here.

Within the festival bounds and across two stages, attendees will indulge in music, dance, performance art, culture, art installations.

The event will be headlined by London’s Years & Years, also known as actor, singer and man of the moment Olly Alexander. 2021 has been a year of highs for Olly Alexander, from his acclaimed performance in the award-winning global hit drama It’s A Sin, to his collaboration on Lady Gaga’s reimagined album, his duet with Kylie Minogue and his performance with Elton John at the Brit Awards in London.

Hailing from New Orleans’ hip hop and electronic scene, the CEO of bounce music Big Freedia has a slew of music royalty credits to her name. Featuring on tracks with Beyonce, Drake, Lizzo, Kesha and more, and joining the panel on the current season of the iconic Ru Paul’s Drag Race All Stars her charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent will shake up the Summer Camp stage.

Much loved duo The Veronicas will appear in their first LGBTQIA+ performance since New York Pride in 2019, leaving no audience member feeling untouched. Global pop powerhouse Cub Sport have sold out dates across four continents and the prolific Brisbane band released their fourth album early last year and are yet to take it on tour.

There’s also ARIA award-winning luminary Ladyhawke, party starters Confidence Man, chart-topping producer Young Franco, festival staple Kinder, up and coming New Zealand rapper JessB, alt-pop breakout Sycco, and WA/Darwin born and bred duo The Merindas. They’ll be joined by over 150 DJ’s, drag queens, dancers & performance artists in each city.

Speaking on the need for Summer Camp, Kat Dopper shares “After 2 years of cancelled parties, loose event calendars and empty dance floors, I couldn’t be more excited for Summer Camp Festival which will bring together some of my favourite parts of queer culture for massive one-day parties in four cities.”

Set to be the biggest ticketed LGBTQIA+ music festival in the southern hemisphere, Summer Camp Festival will donate a percentage of every ticket to their Summer Camp Artists Grants Program. Post-event, this quick response grants program will be available for artists to access capital in a timely matter.

Aligned with their inclusivity mission, tickets start at $99 for the day and a priority has reportedly been placed on accessible amenities and extra precautions taken to comply with health and safety protocols.

In development for over two years, Summer Camp Festival is created by industry leaders who are excited to finally implement funding from the federal government’s RISE Grant program ensuring a monumental experience for attendees.

On creating a space for every walk of life, Dopper exclaims “Summer Camp Festival is a new inclusive festival experience that accepts all the cuties. It’s a chance to frolic in the forest with pals, dress up, and celebrate the true meaning of pride, Love has no labels at Summer Camp – it’s a place to call ‘homo’ this pride season. Let’s get sweaty this summer and feel the euphoria of being together and dancing again”

Summer Camp 2022 Festival Lineup

Years & Years (UK) (Exclusive)
Big Freedia (USA) (Exclusive)
The Veronicas
Cub Sport
Ladyhawke (NZ)
Jess B (NZ)
Kinder
Art Simone
Stereogamous

Head to the Summer Camp 2022 festival website here for all the info.