Eight must-see upcoming music festivals in Victoria
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22.12.2020

Eight must-see upcoming music festivals in Victoria

Photography by William Hamilton-Coates
Words by Kiera Varrese

Live music is back!

It feels so good to see live music back in action. Although there’s been a halt on international acts paying Australia a visit, festivals throughout Victoria will be showcasing the abundance of local talent we have in our own backyard.

So go grab a ticket to one (or more!) of these festivals. After the year that was, we all deserve to let our hair down!

 

New Years Day 2021

Start the new year on a high note at New Years Day!

From morning to midnight, the festival is a celebration of music, arts, and food. With a four-stage setup, New Years Day will host an array of electronic acts including Boogs, Spacey Space, and The Journey.

The festival will be held at Welcome to Thornbury, a beer garden and pub with plenty of room to dance!

Book your tickets to New Years Day here

SorBaes

For lovers of hip-hop, head down to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for SorBaes.

Hosted by DJ and designer Soju Gang, the lineup includes up and coming acts Kobi Spice and POOKIE as well as DJ sets from C.FRIM, MAI, and Soju Gang herself.

SorBaes is an all-ages event, and a portion of the ticket sales will go to the Dhadjowa Foundation. Founded by the daughter of the late Aunty Tanya Day, the organization supports the families of those who have died in custody.

The festival runs on Friday the 15th of January 2021 from 7 pm.

Get your tickets to SorBaes here

Sun Cycle

With the music industry suffering during COVID-19, Sun Cycle is all about highlighting local talent. With an all-domestic line-up, the festival will be a day “full of inspiration, resilience, and joy.”

The line-up also features CC: DISCO!, as well as acts including selector C.Frim and psychedelic act Midlife.

Moving from the Coburg Velodrome, this year Sun Cycle will take over the spacious Sidney Myer Music Bowl to allow for social distancing.

The festival has also stated the event will be a statement against racism, including beginning the day with a Welcome to Country.

Sun Cycle has moved from New Years Day to Saturday 30th of January 2021.

For more information on Sun Cycle, head to their website here

 

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Piknic Électronik

Piknic Électronik is back for its seventh season in Melbourne! The festival’s current line-up features DJ’s Sunshine, Carl Cox, and Eric Powel. More acts will be announced soon.

Set in the lush gardens of Kings Domain in Melbourne, Piknic Électronik will run over multiple days from January to April.

The festival is committed to sustainability, with a strategic plan that helps ensure environmental impacts are reduced at each event.

Get yourself a ticket to one of Piknic Électronik’s events here

So Frenchy So Chic

So Frenchy So Chic is your destination for all things French.

The garden party festival features French and sunshine pop from Julien Barbagallo of Tame Impala, Nadeah, Bananagun and So Frenchy So Chic DJs.

Not only is there a music lineup, but a cuisine lineup too! Festivalgoers will be treated to a picnic with a mouthwatering menu featuring several acclaimed chefs including Romu and Tarts Anon.

So Frenchy So Chic will be held at the mansion and gardens of the Rippon Lea Estate, which was established in 1868 and is apart of Victoria’s National Trust.

The festival will begin at 11 am on Sunday the 21st of February 2021.

For more information on So Frenchy So Chic, head to their website here

 

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SummerSalt

SummerSalt is all about embracing the great Australian outdoor summer. And what’s a better way to spend a summer’s day than with live music?

Next year, the touring concert series will be set in the picturesque North Gardens in Ballarat. The headliners include household names such as Montaigne, John Butler, and The Cat Empire.

SummerSalt will be a COVID-Safe event that is all about looking out for the community. The festival prioritises sustainability through green initiatives and aims to showcase local and cultural attractions.

Families will be pleased to know that SummerSalt is an all-ages event, and children under 12 years old get free admission!

The festival will be held on Sunday the 28th of February 2021, starting at 12:30 pm.

Head to their website here for more information

 

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Pitch Black

Even though Pitch Music & Arts Festival could not go ahead this year, founders Untitled Group still delivered!

Home to some of the best electronic acts, the lineup includes CC: DISCO!, DJ Seinfeld, and DJ Boring.

Set in inner-city Melbourne, Pitch Black recreates the vibe of their previous festival set up in the Grampians. Keeping their multi-level scaffolding stage, this time it will be expanded to accommodate all festival-goers and “transformed into a rectangular steel colosseum.” Sounds fancy! The colosseum will also feature a surround sound Function-One sound system.

Pitch Black is on Saturday the 6th of March 2021, starting at 12 pm.

Head to their website here for more information.

For The Love

For The Love was one of the last Australian music festivals to go ahead this year, running just before COVID-19 restrictions began. Luckily, the festival will keep the momentum going into the new year.

For The Love is one of Melbourne’s biggest electronic and dance festivals. The festival features a hefty lineup including headliners Flight Facilities, Mallrat, and Cosmo’s Midnight.

Set in Birrarung Marr, a popular location for local festivals, the park features an array of Aboriginal art installations that celebrate Victoria’s Indigenous culture.

For The Love’s Music For Oceans initiative aims to reduce single-use plastic at their festival.

For The Love will run on Saturday the 3rd of April 2021.

Sadly Melbourne’s date is already sold out. If you missed out, you can sign up for the waiting list here

 

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