It's back. The beloved festival has risen from the ashes.
Three years ago, Party In The Paddock – one of Australia’s premier festivals – announced that its 2020 edition would be its final event.
The Tassie music festival started in 2012 as a small, 500-people event for founder Jesse Higgs’ 21st birthday. Since then, the festival sold out for its last five years and booked massive headliner acts including Lily Allen and Matt Corby. The festival’s final event, which went down in Tassie in February just prior to the pandemic, featured Hermitude, Dune Rats, Jack River, Sneaky Sound System, Briggs, Mallrat and plenty more talent.
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Now, following some of the most challenging years for the music industry to date, the beloved festival has announced its return from the 10th, 11th and 12th of February 2023.
The event will be hosted at its brand new location Quercus Park, just 25min outside of Launceston. As with all reincarnations, PITP will be reborn into our big, new and beautiful home via lutruwita/Tasmania at Quercus Park! With more room for hay bales and plenty of bums – there will be no more squished campsites! Think huge mainstage acts each night, a full-tilt Vibestown Stage for alternative bands, non-stop bangers in the Dance Tent, roving performers, art, comedy, yoga and more!
Party In The Paddock was an established part of the Australian music scene and now it’s back, there’s plenty of work to be done. The festival’s heart is set on building on every year, taking inspiration from Kaizen, the Japanese word for continuous improvement! Party In The Paddock gives you a new era, and in doing so, a much larger, and more dynamic site among the beautiful rolling paddocks of the Quercus Parklands.
Three years on, and a lot has changed in our world; for the PITP team, this has been time to reflect on the 9 magic years that were Party In The Paddock. With a fresh perspective and renewed inspiration, the crew has reassembled, excited and ready for this next chapter. Hearing your calls for a major multi-day camping festival, it’s evident that Tassie’s been missing PITP & Falls Festival since their absence, but Vibestown is back on the job, and it’s going to be bigger than ever.
“In the absence of PITP we were able to reflect on what we created and the special community that bound the festival together. We are able to see clearly the importance and responsibility of this festival to the larger community of lutruwita/Tasmania and the future feels like a brighter place with the spirit of Party In The Paddock returning to our world. This is our commitment to bring back Vibestown’s most special event during the Tassie summer festival calendar and to celebrate it’s 10th year in spectacular fashion,” says Jesse Higgs, Artistic Director, Vibestown.
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In PITP absence, The company behind the festival, Vibestown Productions, went on to introduce Party In The Apocalypse back in 2021, a two day, non-camping music and arts festival in Launceston.
Bringing some of the country’s best live acts to the state for one of the biggest lineups to hit Tassie since COVID began, the festival’s first lineup announce included the likes of Lime Cordiale headlining alongside rock legends Dune Rats, the angelic sounds of Cub Sport, as well as Methyl Ethel, Ruby Fields, Sycco, King Stingray, Sly Withers, Teenage Joans and Noah Dillion, among others.
Filling the void of both Falls Festival and Party in the Paddock, Party In The Apocalypse went on to announce a second event in March earlier this year, this time taking to Hobart.
As successful as PITA was, nothing could ever really replace PITP though, or its unmatched creativity, uniqueness and diversity. Starting off as a small, grassroots event means that a certain vibe has carried throughout the festival’s lifespan. They’ve drawn in some big-name musicians and growing crowds, but maintained a sense of community that can sometimes get lost in big commercial events.
And so here we are. The 2023 Party In The Paddock is set up to be the fan favourite of any year prior, with the huge lineups and a stronger emphasis on art and festival culture, all set at a new, much larger and more dynamic site. This all comes with the commitment to another 10 years of the festival and taking PITP’s legacy up another step to becoming an Australian music festival institution.
With ticket options following the lineup announcement in weeks to come, camping to single day will be available. Revellers are encouraged to make the festival their own, those wanting to get their boogie on the hay bales for the whole three days can purchase 2 or 3-night camping tickets. While those who prefer to get kitted in their accommodation before the fun can purchase single-day or multi-day tickets.
Shuttle buses will be departing to and from Launceston, so with this and carpooling your transport is sorted. Head to the website to peep the lineup breakdown when announced and choose the best Paddock adventure for you.
More than just the magical music, Party In The Paddock also features a packed complement of comedy sets, yoga classes, guest speakers, art, market stalls, and more cool and crazy projects set to unfold across the three days. Those needing to put up their dancing shoes and chow down on some Tassie tucker can sit back and be entertained by all of the above!
Whether you’re a one-night wonder or a weekend warrior, a road trip to the Paddock is one you’ll be reminiscing on for years to come. Ready to lock it in? Well, don’t miss the party!
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