The gates have opened on one of Australia’s most beloved music festivals, which has returned after a multi-year hiatus with a lineup dominated by local acts spanning rock, electronic, hip-hop and folk. The event, held on sprawling parkland outside a regional city, has long been a pilgrimage for music lovers who value its blend of established headliners and emerging talent. This year organisers made a deliberate decision to favour Australian artists, a move that reflects both audience demand and a desire to support the domestic industry after a punishing period of cancellations, border closures and economic uncertainty. Early ticket sales smashed expectations, and the first evening saw capacity crowds dancing under a canopy of stars and elaborate light installations.
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The festival’s comeback is more than a musical event; it is a barometer of the cultural sector’s recovery. Vendors in the food and market stalls, many of whom are small independent operators, reported brisk trade, with locally crafted goods and gourmet street food drawing long queues. Workshops on sustainability, First Nations storytelling and mental health were woven through the program, a nod to the festival’s roots in countercultural community values. Security and medical teams, alert to the risks of heat and large gatherings, were visible but unobtrusive, and a well-organised camping zone allowed families and older attendees to enjoy the experience on their own terms.
Headline acts spanned generations, from a veteran rock band celebrating four decades of music to a young singer-songwriter whose debut album went platinum while the nation was locked down. The crowd’s ecstatic response to the latter was a reminder that audiences have been yearning for the collective euphoria that only live performance can deliver. Electronic producers from Melbourne’s underground scene found new audiences, their sets pulsing across a main stage that had previously been reserved for international heavyweights. Critics noted a palpable sense of gratitude running both ways, with artists frequently pausing to thank the crowd for showing up and keeping faith during uncertain times.
