There will be 30 music legends and emerging artists delivering free live music on the Geelong Waterfront.
While Geelong’s iconic Festival of Sails has long been known for its exciting action on the water, it’s also become a favourite entertainment destination over the traditional January 26 holiday break.
And according to Event Director Steve Harper, as the event looks forward to celebrating its 180th-anniversary milestone this January, the entertainment lineup has been reinvented to appeal to a more diverse local and visiting audience with 30 incredible acts across three stages.
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“In 2023, we’re really keen to deliver a broader entertainment offering, which maintains our traditional nod to past musical acts, but we also want to introduce and showcase a wide range of emerging and independent artists and acts from across Melbourne and Victoria,” he says.
“Looking at our lineup of talent from Thursday, January 26 through to Sunday, January 29 I’m feeling pretty confident that we’ll have something for just about everyone to enjoy!”
From Melbourne group Quivers, standby for their anthemic and spellbinding jangle pop delivered by their glorious quartet of male and female voices. Their tuneful jangle and heart-filling harmonies about grief, friendship and love make Quivers a must-see on your entertainment must-do list.
If you’re looking for intelligent music and great musicianship, then ‘Skyscraper’ Stan Woodhouse is your man. Lauded for his observational lyricism and his cocktail of wit and grit, delivered in a versatile baritone, what’s not to love about this critically acclaimed musical powerhouse?
Indie rocker Tam Vantage will also be joining the 2023 Festival of Sails lineup with his much-loved and moody take on life. An industry veteran who never disappoints, this multi-talented and enduring artist is one not to miss.
Melbourne cosmic-country-rocker Ben Mastwyk and his seven-piece band don’t shy away from their swaggering, psychedelic bar-room tributes that have evolved from his love of classic country music and music adventures across America’s south. Gold-suited, rhinestones and award-nominated, this is country at its best!
And the talent just keeps coming!
Winter McQuinn’s sweet spot is a showcase of free-spirited and light-footed paisley boogie. His debut album ‘A Rabble of Bees’ was described as “psychedelic pop that draws on the ‘60s flower power that comes pollinated with dashes of 21st Century environmentalism and political awareness”. Intrigued? You’ll find this Melbourne/Naarm musician centre stage at the Festival of Sails.
Rolling Stone magazine described her as “one of the best sounds in Australian music today” and Jess Locke won’t disappoint when this Melbourne-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist struts her stuff. Her haunting lyrics and powerful presentation will captivate you. As Rolling Stone describes her ‘…a songwriter capable of balancing introspective reflection with pop-skewed accessibility’, you have to witness Jess in action.
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And for old-school Aussie rock hits and faves lovers, you can’t go past The Badloves, Chocolate Starfish and perennial favourites The Chantoozies (who all need no introduction) to deliver a veritable musical feast of classic Aussie rock and pop gems from the 90’s to now.
Award-winning, crowd favourites and Aussie music institutions; they’ll all feature at the Festival of Sails.
You’ll find full details of the fabulous lineup of entertainment at festivalofsails.com.au/livemusic. For all other info, visit festivalofsails.com.au.
This article was made in partnership with Festival of Sails.
