Geelong Beer Festival say "I Can Make You Love Me" with their humongous offering across beverage, bands and belly laughs.
Geelong Beer Festival once again returns to its home in Geelong CBD, transforming Johnstone Park for a quenching day of drinks, music, arts and culinary experiences.
Taking place on Saturday 18 January 2025 between 12pm – 8pm, the annual festival has hit the nail on the head with their diverse offering of sun-soaked sessions and stalls.
Dive head-first into the fun of Geelong Beer Festival.
Geelong Beer Festival
- When: Saturday 18 January 2025, 12pm – 8pm
- Where: Johnstone Park, Geelong
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
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‘Take Me With You’ – Magical music moments of Geelong Beer Festival
Split across two zones, music is always a centrepiece of the Geelong Beer Festival. Years gone by have seen the likes of Bag Raiders (2024), Tyne James Organ (2023), Art vs Science and many more headline the Johnstone Park main stage and this year the festival has pulled in some big guns for the celebrations.
As gates open from 12pm, wind through the central park land down to the mainstage to ease into the day with local talent Rhianna Fibbins. This Bellarine balladeer is best known for her country kicks. Having had a wildly successful career with her sister in The Sideshow Brides, Fibbins has played on stages with some of the worlds most illustrious artists including Dallas Crane, Cold Chisel, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tim Rogers, Tex Perkins and Matt Walker. On her own, Fibbins has dared to develop as an artist, spending the latter part of 2024 in the studio.
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Fibbins is followed by local change-maker Hassall. Hassall has been a mainstay to the Geelong music scene with her self-described ‘share-house pop’, activating unconventional spaces to share her music. Her signature red hat is her recognition but it’s her stirring songwriting that keeps audiences captivated.
Joining the lineup is Jordy Maxwell. In 2017 Maxwell crossed the bounds of creativity, stepping out from behind the lens and onto the stage. Picking up an acoustic guitar, Maxwell has built a significant global following amassing over 30 million streams on Spotify alone across his catalogue of EP’s. In 2024, Maxwell jumped up for over 70 live shows, including two Australian tours supporting Jack Botts and Felipe Baldomir, 22 shows in Europe and finished off the year playing Good Day Sunshine Festival in Margaret River. On top of that, he recorded his debut album and dropped lead single ‘Words Don’t Feel The Same’.
Filling the lineup is Felipe Baldomir. Baldomir is a Coastal Indie-Folk singer/songwriter from Uruguay, South America; currently based in Byron Bay, Australia. From street busking to being a festival favourite, Baldomir has won over audiences at the likes of Queenscliff Music Festival, NYE On The Hill, Bluesfest, Ocean Sounds, and Changing Tides Festival with his indie surf stylings.
7.00pm sees the standout of the day take to the stage. You may know them as pub rock favourites from their early years touring around the country or as national names who have six studio albums to their name, mega hits under their belt and a bunch of industry acclaim. British India bring the event to an epic close, tackling their hits ‘Suddenly’, ‘I Said I’m Sorry’, ‘I Can make You Love Me’ and ‘Vanilla’. This past year the band celebrated 20 years since their inception, wrapping up the year with a tour around the nation. Their live show is wildly celebrated and is set to be stellar for Geelong Beer Festival.
The introduction of the Sound Lounge saw the festival include an intimate party zone for punters to participate in sing-alongs and join in competitions, forging a partnership with the party people of central Geelong venue Piano Bar to deliver. This year the relationship is tighten with Piano Bar hosting two sessions throughout the day. Kicking off at 2pm, expect to be submerged by jangling piano keys and big voices as classic ballads and big hits take flight. Favourites are always Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’, A Star Is Born ballad ‘Shallow’, Tina Turner’s ‘Proud Mary’ and anything from Adele. They will return from 6pm with Ale Capones, one of Melbourne’s best brass bands, to set the night alight with tunes.
Between sets, dancing is on the agenda. 4.00pm sees a dance competition invade the space along with DJ Grooves. Try your best moves out – whether it’s whipping out Raygun’s signature Olympic breakdancing routine, sliding into the sprinkler or stiffening up with The Robot.
Comedy Central – A Crafted Corner
Served up next to the ice cold beer are the cackles of the comedy corner of Geelong Beer Festival. What a lineup they have ready to rip! The first is Andrew Hansen of The Chaser and Australian Epic fame. Marrying comedy with music, this comedy class-act is satirical and so damn relatable!
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Funnyman Bob Franklin steps into the comedy corner. The award-winning comedian, writer, director, author and actor is a must-see for the most outrageous laughs. No stranger to the comedy circuit and the television, Franklin has featured on Thank God You’re Here, Bad Eggs, and Please Like Me.
Froths and further
An obvious attraction of Geelong Beer Festival is the drinks running throughout the event. The line of beers is a long one with Blackman’s Brewery, Barrabool Hills Brewery, Coopers, Farm Dog Brew, Flowstate, Great Ocean Road Brewing, Kaiju Beer, Little Creature Brewing, Mountain Culture Beer Co, Mountain Goat Beer, Mount Pleasant Road, Murray Towns Brewing Co, One Drop Brewing Co, Ramblers Ale Works, Stomping Ground Brewing Co, Urban Alley Brewery, and White Rabbit all represented on site.
“If it’s clear and yella’, you’ve got juice there, fella. If it’s tangy and brown, you’re in cider town.” – Ned Flanders offer his wise words on differentiating juice and cider and honestly he is spot on! Over in cider town at Geelong Beer Festival is Pipsqueak, Golden Axe, Spreyton Cider, Franks, Farm Dog Brew, and Daylesford Cider.
Continue to treat yourself with some tasty items from food trucks and vendors. The list includes Chubby Bao, Lil Dumplings Van, Happy Mexican, Gypsys Lunchbox, Pizza Party, Amazing Calamari, the Hot Dog Guy and Wildfire BBQ.
After consuming all of those tasters it would be unwise to travel far. Geelong Beer Festival have you sorted with accommodation partnerships through Holiday Inn & Suites and travel options. Jump in here to explore your options.
Geelong Beer Festival will not disappoint! Whether you want to give the gift of a great time or simply want to head along for yourself, tickets are available for purchase here.
