close
Culture

Beats In The Heat: A Guide To Lesser-Known Summer Festivals

Summer and music festivals go hand-in-hand. But if you would rather avoid the crowds, bogans and overpriced drinks, small niche music festivals are the way to go. Here’s my pick of the finest music events over the summer.

Melbourne Music Week

MMW is a nine-day event featuring over 200 local and international electronic music artists. Events will be taking place all over this fine city, including a secret location called Where?House. This festival features the electronic duo Collarbones and pop quartet Crayon Fields amongst others. Also on the bill is America’s ESKIMO, whose electronic beats have been described as “sophisticated post-Dilla hip-hop, funk” by bleep.com. I beg to differ, yet he’s still worth checking out to experience his unique sound for yourself.

JamGrass

A little Bluegrass anyone? Inspired by the overseas bluegrass and ‘new-grass’ resurgence, JamGrass is a celebration of all things bluegrass, right here in Melbourne. This year the two-night festival is being held at The Thornbury Theatre’s Velvet Room, and features a fantastic line-up of bands including local acts Mustered Courage, Immigrant Union, The Quarry Mountain Dead Rats and The Stillsons. Come October 19th, it’s time to bust out the overalls, crack open the whiskey and get down to JamGrass for some unforgettable finger pickin’ action.

Australian World Music Expo

Featuring the cream of the world music scene, and attracting huge international artists like Nigeria’s Seun Kuti and Jamaica’s The Abyssinians, AWME will be four days of roots packed goodness. Aussie artists include local legends The Bamboos, Saskwatch, Deep Street Soul, Watussi and Clare Bowditch. Melbourne based Kelitzmer-gypsie-jazz-folk-pop band FLAP! will also make an appearance at this year’s Expo after a whirl-wind European tour.

All shows are separately ticketed, with some awesome free shows in the mix. My pick is Watussi, Madre Monte, East Journey, Kamerunga and Lee ‘Sonnyboy’ Morgan at the APRA stage at Curve Bar on November 18th; all completely free!

Wangaratta Jazz Festival

For lovers of Jazz and Blues, Wangaratta Jazz Festival is made for you. Taking place on the Melbourne Cup long weekend (2-5th November) WJF showcases a sublime array of Australian and International artists. French songstress Cyrille Amiee, Gregory Porter and Australia’s own jazz heavyweight Vince Jones will all make appearances. Staff from the Monash Jazz and Popular Studies program will also feature at the festival, including Head of Music Rob Burke and his band The Marc Hannaford Quartet, and Steve Magnusson with pianist Mike Nock.

Queenscliff Music Festival

Queenscliff turns sweet sixteen this year, and boy has it come of age in the music stakes! Featuring the likes of The Cat Empire, Missy Higgins, Something for Kate, British India, TZU, Emma Louise, Ngaiire, Kira Puru & the Bruise, Jackson Firebird, The Beards and Mia Dyson, this year’s festival has something for everyone.

The ‘QMF Soul and Funk Revue’ is also back again this year, featuring the dapper Deep Street Soul, Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes and Cherry Bar’s infamous ‘soul in the basement’ DJs Vince Peach and Pierre Baroni. Sweet times are guaranteed.

Riverboats Music Festival

Between the trees along the banks of the Murray at Echuca lies the single stage of Riverboats Music Festival. This laid back, family orientated festival has good food, wine and some great acts lined up for 2013. The Bombay Royale, Clairy Browne & the Bangin’ Rackettes, Mia Dyson, Gossling, Tim Rodgers, Archie Roach, Pete Murray and Better than the Wizards will all be gracing the Riverboats stage in mid-February..

Inca Roads

Inca Roads Music Festival is the main event for the not-for-profit, social music club Inca Roads. The festival is held in a secret location, an hour away from Melbourne, and is free for all club members (membership is $80). Included in this year’s line-up are Animaux, Poco la Pax, Albert Salt, I’lls and The McQueens. This is an awesome alternative for those who missed out on tickets for Falls Festival or Pyramid Rock, but hurry, because tickets are selling fast.

Tamworth Country Music Festival

The NSW town of Tamworth comes to life every February with the sounds of the the ol’ west. Broadbrim hats, leather boots and denim are a must. A feature of Tamworth is its coveted Golden Guitar Award, and The Telstra Road to Discovery Award final, which in the past has uncovered artists including Harry Hookeyand Jessica Mauboy. This festival will bring out the line-dancing, toe-tapping part of your soul you never knew existed.

Port Fairy Folk Festival

Port Fairy Folk is four-day camping festival full of frivolity, good tunes, and relaxed vibes. 2012’s festival was deliciously good, serving up acts like John Butler, Ben Sollee and Eagle and the Worm. Already announced for next year’s menu is Eric Boggle and Arlo Guthrie, with the remaining acts due to be revealed very soon.

Leah Phillips

The author Leah Phillips

Leave a Response