Music News

This was my first experience at a Parkway Drive gig and I can whole heartedly say it’ll be an experience I’ll never forget. The anticipation from the crowd was ground shaking at the Fortitude Musical Hall. The venue was sold out with diehard and newcomers alike, standing shoulder to shoulder in gleeful hysterical joy. The security told me in abundance be ready for this crowd because they won’t stop moshing until the band takes their final bows. When the lights went down the crowd erupted and kept that energy throughout the entire setlist, truely a one of a kind spectacle. Kudos Parkway Drive.

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The band’s December 2025 Koko performance arrives as a new live album this October

Babyshambles are celebrating their return with a new live album, Live At Koko, set for release 9 October via Strap Originals.

Recorded during the band’s sold-out show at London’s legendary Koko in December 2025, the album captures Babyshambles in full flight — loose, loud and unpredictable, with a set built around some of the band’s most recognisable songs.

The release follows the band’s return to the stage last year after an 11-year absence. Their comeback UK tour sold out, with the shows met by an enthusiastic response from fans and marking a new chapter for the band.

Ahead of the album, Babyshambles have released a four-track live EP, featuring the opening songs from the Koko set: ‘Killamangiro’, ‘Delivery’, ‘I Wish’ and ‘Sedative’.

A live video for ‘Delivery’, edited by Roger Sargent, has also been released, giving fans a glimpse of the energy captured across the full Koko recording.

Live At Koko will be released digitally, on CD and across limited-edition Sky Blue, Tangerine and black vinyl. The vinyl and CD editions will follow digitally on 16 October.

The physical and digital editions will also include four bonus tracks omitted from the vinyl release due to running-time restrictions: ‘La Belle et la Bête’, ‘What Katie Did’ featuring Carl Barat, ‘Lost Art Of Murder’ and ‘Wolfman’ featuring original drummer Gemma Clarke.

Live At Koko Tracklist

Introduction by Bill Bailey / Killamangiro

Delivery

I Wish

Sedative

Beg Steal Or Borrow

There She Goes

Unstookie Titled

8 Dead Boys

Baddie’s Boogie

Pipedown

Fuck Forever

Formed in London in 2003 by Peter Doherty after his first departure from The Libertines, Babyshambles became known for a combination of indie rock, punk and folk, underpinned by Doherty’s distinctive songwriting and the band’s deliberately unpolished live energy.

Alongside Doherty, the current line-up features Mick Whitnall, Drew McConnell and Adam Ficek. The band has released three studio albums — Down in Albion (2005), Shotter’s Nation (2007) and Sequel to the Prequel (2013) — and scored UK Top 10 singles including ‘Killamangiro’, ‘Fuck Forever’, ‘Albion’ and ‘Delivery’.

The band have continued their return to the live circuit throughout 2026, with festival appearances and headline shows across Europe.

Their upcoming schedule includes appearances at Open Flair Festival, Poolbar Festival, Open Air Arena Wien, Rock N Roll Circus with The Streets, Nox Orae Festival and Dreamland in Margate, alongside shows in Cork, Dublin and Belfast.

Babyshambles will headline Dreamland in Margate on 30 August, before returning to Europe in October for shows in Rome, Milan, Düsseldorf and Le Havre.

The band will also play a headline show in Luxembourg in December.

Doherty is separately set to perform three October shows in France with his new band, featuring Mike Joyce on drums.

With the Koko recording now making its way to fans, Live At Koko offers a snapshot of Babyshambles at a particularly significant point in their story — a band once again on stage, revisiting the songs that helped define their place in British indie rock while continuing to build a new chapter.

Babyshambles — Live At Koko
Digital: 9 October 2026
CD & Vinyl: 16 October 2026
Strap Originals

Babyshambles — Official Website

Babyshambles play the following shows in 2026:

AUGUST

8th SAT Eschwege DE Open Flair Festival

14th FRI Feldkirch AT Poolbar Festival

15th SAT Vienna AT Open Air Arena Wien

21st FRI Norwich R n R Circus (with The Streets)

22nd SATCork IECyprus Avenue

23rd SUNDublin IEVicar Street

24th MONBelfast IEThe Limelight

27th THU  Vexey CH  Nox Orae festival

28th FRI Sheffield  R n R Circus (with The Streets)

30th SUN Margate Dreamland

OCTOBER

7thWEDRome ITOrion Live Club

8th THUMilan ITAlcatraz

9th FRI Dusseldorf DE New Fall Festival

16th FRI Le Havre FR Ouest Park Festival

DECEMBER

5th SAT Luxembourg BE Den Atelier

Peter Doherty will also be playing three shows with his new band (featuring Mike Joyce on drums) during October in France.

OCTOBER

13th TUE Strasbourg FR La Laiterie PD BAND

14th WED Nancy FR Jazz Pulsation Festival PD BAND

15th THUOrleans FRAstrolabe PD BAND

For further BABYSHAMBLES information:

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YOU TUBE TikTok SMART LINK X

Venue registrations are now open for a new national platform designed to make touring connections easier across Australia’s live music scene.

Register: Australian Music Touring Network

Australia’s live music industry is getting a new piece of touring infrastructure, with the Australian Music Touring Network (AMTN) opening venue registrations ahead of its national launch later this year.

Developed by the Australian Music Industry Network (AMIN), the free platform is being built to connect original live music venues with artists, tour managers, booking teams and other industry professionals through a national, map-based directory.

The idea is straightforward: make it easier to find where original music is being presented across Australia, and make it easier for artists and their teams to connect with those venues.

The network is designed to cover the full breadth of Australia’s live music landscape, from established city venues to regional pubs, community halls, arts centres, cafés and other spaces presenting original contemporary music.

For touring artists, venue profiles will include practical information such as performance spaces, technical specifications, accessibility, facilities, programming preferences and booking contacts. The aim is to give artists and their teams a clearer starting point when planning tours and looking beyond the usual venues and major cities.

“Touring is the lifeblood of our industry, and knowing where to take your music and who to connect with is essential to every artist,” says Emily Tulloch, Acting General Manager of the Australian Music Industry Network.

“The Australian Music Touring Network connects artists to venues, and promotes touring and industry relationships across the country. I’m really proud to be working on a project that addresses equity of access to information, and provides the tools needed to form the relationships that underpin successful touring.”

AMIN represents Australia’s eight state and territory contemporary music peak bodies: MusicACT, MusicNT, MusicNSW, Music Victoria, MusicSA, Music Tasmania, QMusic and WAM.

The network has been in development for the past two years and is built around AMIN’s belief that “music is local before it is national.”

That local focus is important in a country where touring routes can vary dramatically between states and territories. A small regional venue can be just as important to an artist’s touring network as a major metropolitan room, particularly for artists looking to build audiences outside the capital cities.

“AMIN is thrilled to announce the stage one launch of the Australian Music Touring Network,” the organisation says. “AMIN’s deep acknowledgment of the inherently local nature of Australian musicmaking underpins this project, which seeks to connect the right artists to the right venues across the country.”

For venues, joining the network will provide another way to be discovered by artists, managers, booking agents, festivals, presenters, councils and other industry stakeholders.

Registration is open to physical venues that regularly present original contemporary live music, whether that is daily, weekly, monthly or at another regular interval. Dry-hire spaces and multi-purpose venues can also register.

Participating venues must support fair pay for artists, provide a safe and welcoming environment, maintain an online presence and have a public booking contact.

The launch of venue registrations is the first stage of AMTN’s rollout. The full public platform is scheduled to launch in October 2026, when artists, tour managers and the wider music community will be able to access the national directory.

For Australia’s touring sector, the value of the platform will ultimately come down to the connections it creates — putting more venues on the radar, making information easier to find and potentially opening up new routes for artists moving between cities and regional communities.

Original live music venues across Australia can now register for free and become part of the network.

Register: Australian Music Touring Network

Full website launches October 2026.

The Australian Music Touring Network has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

Green Velvet, Torren Foot and RONA. b2b DJ JNETT join Dom Dolla this September

Dom Dolla is bringing his biggest hometown show to date to Marvel Stadium this September, with the Australian dance music heavyweight revealing the full line-up joining him for his highly anticipated Melbourne homecoming.

Taking place on Thursday 24 September, the Australian-exclusive stadium show will see Dom joined by Chicago house pioneer Green Velvet, Australian favourite Torren Foot, and electronic duo RONA. b2b DJ JNETT.

For Melbourne, the return of Green Velvet is a particularly significant addition. One of Chicago house’s most influential figures, the producer and DJ will return to Australia for the first time since 2019, bringing his distinctive sound and decades of influence to a city with a deep connection to underground electronic music.

The stadium show will also mark the world premiere of Dom Dolla’s brand-new stadium production, following his record-breaking, sold-out Allianz Stadium debut in Sydney in December 2025.

That Sydney performance cemented Dom’s ability to take his club-focused sound into some of Australia’s biggest spaces. His Melbourne return now takes that vision even further, with Marvel Stadium set to become the backdrop for a new production built specifically for the scale of the venue.

The hometown show arrives during another major year for Dom Dolla. Internationally, he has continued to expand his presence with a sold-out headline performance at London’s Old Royal Naval College, alongside newly announced North American headline dates in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Nashville.

He is also holding down residencies at Hï Ibiza and LIV Las Vegas, continuing a run that has positioned him among the most in-demand Australian electronic artists on the global stage.

Musically, 2026 has seen Dom continue to explore new territory. His recent releases and collaborations include the Dom Dolla Relapse remix of Puretone’s “Addicted to Bass”, a collaboration with Tiga on “Don’t Worry Baby”, and an official remix of KETTAMA’s “Comes & Goes”.

But before the international calendar continues, Dom Dolla is heading home.

With Green Velvet, Torren Foot and RONA. b2b DJ JNETT joining the bill, the Marvel Stadium show is shaping up as one of Melbourne’s major electronic music events of the year — and a rare opportunity to see one of Australia’s biggest dance exports deliver a brand-new stadium production in his hometown.

Dom Dolla
Thursday 24 September 2026
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
18+

Tickets and further information are available via Dom Dolla’s official website.

Dom Dolla — Follow

As BIGSOUND heads into its 25th year, the Australian music industry’s biggest annual meeting point is taking shape as one of its most ambitious editions yet.

From 1–4 September, Fortitude Valley will become a collision point for artists, labels, promoters, managers, publishers, journalists, educators, technology companies and international music executives, with the full professional development and hubs program now confirmed. More than 100 additional industry guests have joined the 2026 lineup, adding another layer to a week built around discovery, conversation and the business of music.

At the centre of the latest announcement is Paul Kelly, who will appear in conversation with ABC journalist Sarah Kanowski in a special session examining songwriting and its place in Australian culture.

Presented in conjunction with APRA AMCOS as part of its 100-year celebration of Australian songwriting, the conversation gives BIGSOUND delegates the chance to hear directly from one of the country’s most enduring songwriters about the craft behind the songs and the role music can play in shaping a national identity.

“As APRA celebrates 100 years of supporting Australian songwriters, composers and music publishers, and BIGSOUND clocks up 25 years of showcasing the best of our music industry, it seemed only fitting that we bring out one of Australia’s most beloved songwriters, Paul Kelly,” said Karen Don, Head of Membership at APRA AMCOS.

Kelly is joined by a substantial cross-section of the music business, including Annabelle Herd, CEO of ARIA; Hans Schafer, SVP Global Touring at Live Nation; artist Pete Murray; Kimberley Galceran, Music Director of Dark Mofo; and Van Picken, Global Head of Music Strategy at TEG.

The lineup stretches well beyond the traditional record-company conference. Representatives from touring, festivals, venues, publishing, sync, education, technology, media and artist management are all represented, making BIGSOUND 2026 as much about understanding where the industry is going as it is about celebrating where it has been.

‘Building Like Bad Bunny’ will examine the Puerto Rican superstar’s extraordinary rise and what Australian artists and music companies can learn from the way culture, language and identity can become powerful drivers of international growth.

The session brings together Australian and international perspectives on the expanding relationship between Australia and Latin America, with Hans Schafer offering insight from the global touring side of the business.

For an industry increasingly looking beyond traditional Western markets, it is a timely conversation about how artists can build international audiences without stripping away the cultural identity that makes them distinctive in the first place.

That idea of artists building their own infrastructure also runs through another session featuring Carla Fowler, founder of Create Mate, and Will Cuming of UNIFIED Music Group.

Hosted by Meg Williams, the discussion looks at the growing musician-entrepreneur pipeline and how people working inside music are identifying problems, creating their own solutions and building businesses around the gaps they find.

It is a useful snapshot of where the modern music industry is heading: artists are no longer simply navigating an existing system. Increasingly, they’re building parts of the system themselves.

BIGSOUND will also look backwards, with a celebration of 50 years of Central Station Records

The label has been an important part of Australian electronic and dance music history, and BIGSOUND’s anniversary session brings together founder Jo Palumbo, Managing Director Jamie Raeburn, COO Matt Nugent and former A&R executive Ashley Gay, now Managing Director of Xelon Digital.

Hosted by Jennifer Sullivan, CMO of KiTbetter, the conversation will trace Central Station Records’ history while looking at what its story can tell us about the future of the Australian music business.

The anniversary will continue at Content House with a birthday party mixer presented by KiTbetter.

But perhaps the most interesting part of BIGSOUND’s expanded program is what happens away from the main conference stages.

The festival’s dedicated hubs return in 2026, creating spaces where artists and delegates can step away from the constant movement of showcases and meetings and actually spend time talking, learning and making connections.

The BIGSOUND Ideas & Innovation Hub, presented through streams from Amplify Music Education and the Centre for Arts, Sport and Technology, will explore the increasingly blurred relationship between music, education and technology.

Among the guests are Powderfinger and The Church’s Ian Haug, Professor Glenn Savage of the University of Melbourne, Dr James Humberstone of the Sydney Conservatorium, Ball Park Music’s Sam Cromack, SYCCO’s Sasha McLeod, Pete Murray and British India’s Matt O’Gorman.

The idea is less about predicting exactly what the future of music will look like and more about bringing together the people already building it.

The BIGSOUND Artist Hub, presented by Spotify, returns for a second year with a more practical focus

Alongside the daily Turn It Up Aus breakfast, artists can access sessions including a Spotify for Artists Masterclass, a US Visa Workshop and an opportunity to meet Live Nation’s Next On booking team.

APRA100 Trivia with Not on Your Rider also returns, while Marshall will host a Thursday afternoon Happy Hour.

Spotify’s Artist and Label Partnerships Lead Leah Harris says the company is returning to support artists and the infrastructure surrounding them.

The Delegate Hub, presented by Oztix, takes a different approach, concentrating on the business of making connections.

The space will host Connect With BIGSOUND networking sessions presented by Luma and QSIC, bringing together delegates with international buyers, media and brands. Roundtables return with Xelon Digital, while an encore mixer following the BIGSOUND Decides debate will bring together figures including Annabelle Herd, Jamison Kehl, Jaddan Comerford, Viv Mellish and artist Harper Kodicek.

And then there’s Content House. Now in its second year, the space is designed specifically around the increasingly important relationship between music, media, content and audience development.

Across Tuesday to Thursday, Content House will host panels, workshops, broadcasts, mixers and live sessions examining everything from artist identity and visual culture to social media and release strategy.

GYRO.Group takes over Wednesday with programming across its brands, including a morning reset from Soothe Sounds, a release-strategy workshop from G.Y.R.O., The New Music Playbook from GROUP SPEED and an Independent Labels Happy Hour presented by DistroDirect and AIR.

Thursday continues with sessions including Artist & The Art of Being Chronically Online, featuring Poppy Reid and Birdland, and Image & Identity: Your Vision Is Your Value, featuring Creative Director and Artist Manager Summer King.

Content House will also host the Life Without Andy x American Apparel Portrait Studio, with selected BIGSOUND 100 artists appearing across the channels in the festival’s new 2026 merchandise.

The live side of BIGSOUND remains, of course, the other half of the equation.

Across three nights, the BIGSOUND 100 will perform throughout Fortitude Valley, continuing the festival’s long-running role as a launchpad for artists who may be unfamiliar today but impossible to ignore tomorrow. BIGSOUND’s conference program describes the 2026 edition as operating under the theme Creativity in Conversation, with the event once again combining industry discussions and networking with live performances across the city’s venues.

The official Oztix party returns, while Live Nation’s Ones To Watch discovery series is also back, with its lineup still being kept under wraps.

That combination is ultimately what has kept BIGSOUND relevant for a quarter of a century.

The event has helped introduce artists including Flume, Tash Sultana, Tones And I and Courtney Barnett to wider audiences, while creating a meeting point between Australian artists and the international industry capable of helping take their careers further.

And that remains the appeal.

BIGSOUND isn’t simply a conference about the music industry. For four days, it turns Fortitude Valley into the music industry’s temporary headquarters — somewhere artists can meet the people behind the business, executives can discover what’s coming next, and ideas that might otherwise remain conversations can turn into careers, tours, partnerships and records.

With Paul Kelly reflecting on a century of Australian songwriting, Central Station Records looking back across five decades, and a new generation of artists and industry figures trying to work out what comes next, BIGSOUND’s 25th anniversary arrives with a suitably broad question at its centre:

BIGSOUND 2026

1–4 September 2026
Fortitude Valley, Brisbane

Delegate Pass: $899
QMusic Subscriber & Reciprocal Members: $849
Student and concession pricing available.

Festival Pass:
3-Night Festival — $100 Early Bird / $119 Full Price
1-Night Festival — $69
Youth (25 and under) & Concession — $30

Prices exclude platform fees. Terms and conditions apply. Afterpay is available.

BIGSOUND 2026 — Full Program & Tickets

*BIGSOUND 2026 runs from 1–4 September in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. The conference schedule and Paul Kelly session are currently listed on the official BIGSOUND program. *

BIGSOUND: Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin | YouTube | X

This September, Maitland is set to become the meeting point for some of the biggest names in electronic music as Frequency Forest takes over Maitland Showgrounds from 25–27 September.

Spanning three days and two stages, the festival brings together more than 60 international and Australian artists across melodic techno, progressive electronic music, psy-tech and progressive psytrance — creating a weekend built around music, art, camping and connection.

THE LINEUP

The main stage brings together some of the most respected names in melodic techno and progressive electronic music, with Stephan Bodzin (Live), Innellea, Agents of Time, Eelke Kleijn, Serafina, Monkey Safari, Henri Bergmann, 8Kays, Øostil, Silver Panda and Ammara among the artists appearing across the weekend.

Over at the Mandala Stage, the sound shifts towards psy-tech and progressive psytrance, featuring international heavyweights including Astrix, Liquid Soul, Ranji, Ghost Rider, Berg, Morten Granau, Ritmo and Shanti People.

With more than 60 artists across the two stages, Frequency Forest offers plenty of room for discovery alongside its headline performances.

Rather than packing everything into a single day, Frequency Forest is designed as a complete weekend escape.

Festival-goers can camp onsite while exploring large-scale art installations, wellness experiences and a carnival packed with rides including the Dominator, Sizzler and dodgem cars.

The result is a festival experience that sits somewhere between electronic music gathering, creative playground and weekend getaway — with the music at its centre.

“Frequency Forest is about creating an escape. It’s a place where people can leave everyday life behind and spend an entire weekend immersed in incredible music, creativity and community.”

Located around two hours from Sydney and 30 minutes from Newcastle, Maitland offers an accessible setting for a festival designed to draw audiences from across Australia.

With melodic techno, progressive house and psytrance continuing to attract audiences around the world, Frequency Forest is positioning itself as a destination for fans who want more than a few hours on a dancefloor.

Three days. Two stages. More than 60 artists. Camping, carnival rides, art and music beneath the Hunter Valley sky.

Frequency Forest runs from 25–27 September 2026 at Maitland Showgrounds, NSW.

Event Details

Frequency Forest 2026
Dates: 25–27 September 2026
Venue: Maitland Showgrounds, NSW
Tickets: On sale now

For tickets and the full lineup, visit Frequency Forest

On Saturday, 8 August 2026, Gang of Youths returned home for their first Australian performances in four years, taking over the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for a sold out homecoming. Their debut at the iconic venue delivered a powerful mix of intimacy, emotion and euphoric rock anthems, with David Le’aupepe and the band turning the long awaited return into a memorable night for their hometown crowd.

Photography: Josh Ma

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Community radio will once again take centre stage in Meanjin (Brisbane) with the return of Sounds Like Community Radio, a free afternoon of live music, national broadcasting and community connection at iconic station 4ZZZ, followed by the much-loved AMRAP BIGSOUND Listening Sessions as part of the 2026 BIGSOUND program.

Presented by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia’s Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP), Sounds Like Community Radio celebrates the stations, presenters, programmers and volunteers who continue to discover, support and amplify Australian music every day.

Taking place on Wednesday 2 September from 1pm–6pm at 4ZZZ, Fortitude Valley, the event will feature live performances from some of Australia’s most exciting emerging artists, alongside a live broadcast showcasing the personalities and passion that make community radio such an important part of the country’s music landscape.

The free event will feature performances from Milly Strange, Djarraway, Public Figures, Say True God?, Superhotel and Joey Leigh Wagtail, with guest presenters from community radio stations across Australia joining the broadcast.

Participating stations include 4ZZZFM, Triple R, PBS 106.7FM, Three D Radio, Edge Radio, SYN 90.7FM and fbi.radio, with the event also broadcast nationally via the Community Radio Network, connecting listeners across the country.

The lineup highlights the incredible diversity of Australian music today. Djarraway brings a powerful blend of roots, reggae and First Nations storytelling, while Naarm songwriter Milly Strange combines intimate folk influences with alt-rock energy. Dunghutti artist Joey Leigh Wagtail draws from folk, blues and country traditions, exploring themes of identity and belonging, while Brisbane favourites Superhotel deliver their warm alternative country-rock sound. Punk outfit Public Figures bring their raw, high-energy approach and social commentary, with Say True God? rounding out the lineup with his award-winning hip-hop and soulful production.

Community radio remains one of Australia’s most important platforms for music discovery. Each week, the sector reaches more than 5.4 million listeners through more than 450 licensed stations, providing vital support for local artists, diverse voices and emerging talent.

Following Sounds Like Community Radio, the AMRAP BIGSOUND Listening Sessions return on Thursday 3 September, giving artists and industry professionals the opportunity to receive direct feedback from some of Australia’s leading community radio programmers.

Held from 10am–2pm at The Warrar Room, The Precinct, Fortitude Valley, the sessions offer artists valuable insight into preparing releases, building relationships with radio and increasing opportunities for community radio airplay.

Representatives from 4ZZZFM, Triple R, PBS 106.7FM, Three D Radio, Edge Radio, SYN 90.7FM and fbi.radio will be available throughout the sessions to hear new music, share feedback and discuss how artists can connect with community broadcasters around Australia.

Spaces for the AMRAP BIGSOUND Listening Sessions are limited, with bookings essential.

Across two days, Sounds Like Community Radio and the AMRAP BIGSOUND Listening Sessions celebrate the people behind Australian music discovery — connecting artists, broadcasters and audiences through the power of community radio.

Sounds Like Community Radio
Wednesday 2 September 2026
1pm–6pm
4ZZZ, 264 Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley
Free Entry

Featuring: Milly Strange, Djarraway, Public Figures, Say True God?, Superhotel and Joey Leigh Wagtail

AMRAP BIGSOUND Listening Sessions
Thursday 3 September 2026
10am–2pm
The Warrar Room, The Precinct
Level 2, 315 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley
Bookings essential for Listening Sessions.

Queenscliff Music Festival is shaping up for a huge return in 2026, with the Victorian coastal festival revealing another 19 artists joining an already impressive lineup. From sun-soaked psychedelia and garage rock to soul, folk and genre-bending live chaos, the latest announcement once again highlights the festival’s ability to bring together some of Australia’s most exciting voices.

Returning to Wadawurrung Country in Queenscliff from 27–29 November 2026, the festival’s third artist announcement welcomes Babe Rainbow, The Pretty Littles, Merpire, Velvet Bloom, Ukelele Death Squad and Candice Lorrae, adding even more colour to a lineup already featuring Matt Corby, Baker Boy, Kate Miller-Heidke, Peter Garrett & the Alter Egos, Meg Mac, Lime Cordiale, Magic Dirt, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Tim Rogers and The Bamboos.

Queenscliff Music Festival has always been about discovery — those moments where you stumble across a new favourite artist while surrounded by the energy of the coast — and the latest additions capture that spirit perfectly.

Byron Bay’s Babe Rainbow will bring their unmistakable psychedelic pop sound to the Bellarine Peninsula, delivering the kind of laid-back, sun-drenched grooves that have seen them build a dedicated following around the world. Across seven albums, the band has created a unique blend of vintage psychedelia, surf culture and effortless melody.

Melbourne garage rock favourites The Pretty Littles return with their raw storytelling, sharp humour and explosive live energy. Known for their honest songwriting and ability to turn everyday observations into unforgettable songs, the band has become one of Australia’s most loved independent acts.

Naarm/Melbourne songwriter Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt’s project Merpire joins the lineup following the release of her ARIA-charting album MILK POOL. Blending dark-pop atmospheres with deeply personal songwriting, Merpire has earned international recognition from outlets including triple j, BBC Radio 1 and NPR.

Candice Lorrae enters a new chapter as a solo artist, bringing songs from Paperbark & Lilies to Queenscliff. The Jawoyn and Torres Strait Islander songwriter, producer and member of The Merindas combines country, soul and dream-pop influences while exploring stories of family, culture and connection to Country.

Melbourne neo-soul outfit Velvet Bloom add another layer of warmth and groove to the festival, while Ukelele Death Squad promise one of the most unpredictable performances of the weekend. The genre-defying collective have built a reputation for shows that feel less like a performance and more like a celebration where everyone becomes part of the experience.

The latest announcement also continues Queenscliff Music Festival’s support of emerging Australian talent. Through the festival’s partnership with Port Fairy Folk Festival, Bonnie Jackson and Harriet Wraith join the lineup as graduates of the Future Folk initiative, while 2025 Queenscliff Music Festival Busking Competition winner Alaska earns her place after captivating audiences with her reflective lyrics and heartfelt vocals.

Also joining the 2026 lineup are Torquay psychedelic punk-funk outfit De Porsal, Bellarine blues and folk songwriter Jack Meredith, Melbourne alt-country artist Kyle Brew, Mika James stepping forward from The Vovos with her own cinematic country and blues sound, Surf Coast indie-rockers Savage Honey, folk-country harmonisers Small Town Romance, Geelong soul and funk powerhouse Sweethearts, indie-folk songwriter Tom Harrington and blues artist Wayne Jury.

For younger festivalgoers, Australian comedy duo The Listies will also bring their award-winning show to Queenscliff.

With more than 70 artists set to perform alongside local food and drink, immersive arts experiences, family-friendly programming and the festival’s iconic coastal setting, Queenscliff Music Festival 2026 is shaping up as one of the standout weekends on the Australian music calendar.

Queenscliff Music Festival runs from 27–29 November 2026 at Queenscliff VIC.

The current 2026 Queenscliff Music Festival lineup includes:

(Alphabetical Order)

A.C Saunders | Alaska | Azure Ryder | Babe Rainbow | Baker Boy | The Bamboos | Bonnie Jackson | Cam Walter Blues | Candice Lorrae | Charley Castle & the Boys in the Well | Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird | De Porsal | Docker River Band | FARAH | The Gnomes | Harriet Wrath | Hussy Hicks | Immy Owusu | Jack Meredith | Jesse Valach & The Testaments | Jordie Lane |Kaiit |Kate Miller-Heidke | Kerryn Fields | Kitty, Daisy & Lewis | Kyle Brew | Lime Cordiale | Liv Cartledge | Magic Dirt | The Maes | Matt Corby | Meg Mac | Merpire | Mia Dyson | Midnight Chicken | Mika James | Oscar LaDell | Owelu Dreamhouse | Peter Garrett & the Alter Egos | The Pretty Littles | Rupert Bullard | Savage Honey | Small Town Romance | Steph Strings | Sunday Lemonade | Sweethearts | Tim Rogers | Tom Harrington | Ukelele Death Squad | Velvet Bloom | Wayne Jury | Willie J’s 6V6s

Plus, for Kids: The Listies | Zindzi & the Zillionaires

2026 1^st RELEASE TICKETS ON SALE NOW – Single-day tickets now on sale.

3 Day Adult – $305

3 Day Accompanied Youth 14-17 – $149

Single Days – $109 – $145

Children 1-13 – $35 (sold in conjunction with an adult ticket)

QMF Camping – $35 for 3 nights (per person), children camp free

Rent A Tent – from $460 for 3 nights

CLICK HERE FOR FESTIVAL TICKETS + CAMPING INFO