One of our favourite local festivals is making a return for its 15th edition.
Good news for all the local musicians, one of the biggest open mic festivals is back.
Returning for its 15th year, the Aireys Open Mic Music Festival is set to take over this coastal town from Friday 18 – Sunday 20 March, with over 150 acts performing across nine different stages. To celebrate the 15-year milestone, the festival has revealed it will feature not one, but two mystery guests.
A much-loved annual tradition, each year the coveted closing act slot is reserved for a Special Mystery Guest. The identity of the guest is always a closely guarded secret but with the likes of Colin Hay, Tim Rogers, Mark Seymour, The Hoodoo Gurus, Rockwiz Orkestra with Ella Hooper and Vika and Linda Bull, Dan Sultan, Ross Wilson, The Pierce Brothers and Tash Sultana having dropped in for a set in past years, you can bet it’s going to be two very iconic acts.
Musicians interested in performing at the iconic festival will need to register from today, January 1, 2022.
The key takeaways
- The Aireys Inlet Open Mic returns for its 15th year
- To celebrate the 15-year milestone, the festival has revealed it will feature not one, but two mystery guests.
- Registrations to play open on January 1 2022
Keep up with the latest festival news via our website.
The whole idea behind the beloved festival is to give artists a chance to perform in front of an appreciative audience and to encourage a love of music. From full rock bands to solo acoustic acts – anyone can apply when registrations open.
The 2021 edition saw the likes of Jothi, Momoko Rose, Cry Baby, Benjamin Trillado, Seph Cove, Acoustic Foxx, St Augustine, Lucy Lorenne, Cosmic Rain, Dirty Dance Machine, and Rifle Birds take to the stage, alongside Seb Szabo, Tapes, Riordan, Butterfunked, Wildflower, The Mojo Corner, Daniel Aaron, Intrepid Soul, and Sam Buckley, just to name a few. Some are names you’ll recognise from the local touring circuit, while others are emerging musicians ready to share their talent and love of music to an adoring crowd across nine different stages. And that’s consistent with the festival each and every year.
Providing a fantastic opportunity for musicians and with annual attendance at over 5000 across the three days – we have a feeling next year’s festival is going to be the best one yet… especially in a time where the industry and all its workers have endured the most difficult couple of years of their lives.
Since the festival first began some 15 years ago, it has seen an explosion in the number of local bands popping up; especially amongst the younger generation who have grown up with this chance to see great music in their own backyard each year. A huge range of musical tastes are catered for – and if you’re not into one act, you can move to a different stage or wait around for the next one. You’re sure to find a new favourite act to follow!
The best part is the homegrown festival adopts the ‘donate what you feel it’s worth’ approach, meaning that there is no need to pre-purchase tickets – just head on down and enjoy what local music has to offer! Whether they continue this approach is unknown at this time, but for the 15th event we’re encouraging you to support the artists (who all play for free) by snapping up some merch in the merchandise tent that sets up at Aireys Pub.
We cant wait to see you again, Aireys.
Registrations open on January 1 2022 via the festival website.
