Festivals like Burning Man are absolutely legendary. With as much music as you can handle in an area where you can let yourself breathe and be free, it’s an amazing thing to witness or experience – but Australian punters aren’t being left behind.
Thanks to newer, wilder local festivals like Wide Open Space, held at the Ross River Resort in Central Australia and featuring the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Mojo Juju and Plutonic Lab on the bill, we’re managing to also hold our own when it comes to remote and fully-immersive music experiences.
With Wide Open Space’s #wishyouWOShere competition, you can score a festival pass, transport and a return ticket, as well as a merch pack and the role of official festival photo blogger for the duration, so be sure to check out their website for more details if you’re craving a wild musical getaway for free.
For some inspiration, here’s our list of the five best places to start your Aussie Burning Man adventures.
Wide Open Space
Wide Open Space has been going on since 2009 and, with a history of amazing bands in a stunning locatio, you know it’s going to be a gig you’ll remember forever. With a smaller crowd than you’ll find at a more urban bash, you can find yourself truly becoming one with the music in the intimate environment.
Held about 85km east of Alice Springs, this gig is certainly a little bit out of the way, but if you’re a music lover, getting along to this one will be more than worth it – especially to see bands such as Hiatus Kaiyote, or UK bass legend Chimpo.
Mountain Sounds Festival
Located in the Central Coast of New South Wales, Mountain Sounds festival is a gig that music fans dream of. With beautiful surrounds, and killer lineups every year, Mountain Sounds continues to impress.
With this year’s gig seeing artists such as Dune Rats, Hermitude, and Tkay Maidza on the bill, they manage to include a breathtaking lineup with an incredible location; what more could you want?
Party In The Paddock
Let’s be fair, for a Tasmanian, Party In The Paddock might not be considered too out of the way, but for anyone else who doesn’t have the luxury of living in the Apple Isle, it’s a little bit of a trek. Located in White Hills, south-east of Launceston, Party In The Paddock manages to deliver some of the best lineups Tassie has ever seen each year.
With killer bands such as Hermitude, The Smith Street Band, and Tash Sultana flying in every year to deliver one of the best rock shows in Australia, Party In The Paddock is certainly one to add to your festival bucket list.
Pitch Music and Arts Festival
Having just wrapped up its inaugural year, Pitch festival (run by the minds behind Let Them Eat Cake and Beyond The Valley) was brilliant not only for its stacked bill of electronic talent, but also for its impressive stages and facilities, bringing some beautiful architecture to the middle of Victoria.
About a three hour drive from Melbourne, the likes of Toro Y Moi, Chrome Sparks, Julio Bashmore, Gold Panda playing among the red gums made it absolutely worthwhile.
Subsonic Music Festival
If you’re ever keen to get your dance music fix in an isolated area, just like Burning Man, well, look no further than Subsonic Music Festival. Located on the Karuah River in New South Wales, Subsonic manages to deliver lineups that are a hip-hop and electronic music lover’s dream.
With artists like Goldie, Horrorshow, and Spit Syndicate populating the 2016 edition of the festival, there’s no better way to ring in the summer months than a festival of this calibre.
WIDE OPEN FESTIVAL LINEUP
April 28-30th, Ross River Resort, NT
Tickets: Wide Open Space
Second Announcement
Hiatus Kaiyote (VIC)
Grim Tilla & the Dead Heart (NT)
Reuben Stone (NZ)
Bass Bug presents: Roll Deep (NT)
Monkey Marc with Vida Sunshyne (VIC)
Edward Francis (NT)
Sietta Soundsystem (NT)
Skank & Shake (NT)
JPS (The Operatives) (VIC)
Common UnderGround (VIC)
Beatrice (VIC)
Stellar Sea (NT)
Altruism/Auramechanic (VIC)
Daddy LongLegs (QLD)
Drazics Girlfriend (VIC)
Take My Song & Run With It (NT)
First Announcement
Chimpo (UK)
Resin Moon (NT)
Mojo Juju (VIC)
Kodiak Kid (VIC)
J:Kenzo (UK)
Kardajala Kirri-Darra (NT)
Plutonic Lab (VIC)
Cuterly (NT)
Average Rap Band (VIC)
King Marong & The Tamala Express (NT)
Wonqi Rose (VIC)
Dinobitch (VIC)
This Way North (VIC)
Edi Donald & The Transients (NT)
Griff (VIC)
Bumble (NSW)
Red Dirt Crew (NT)
Miss Moneytoast (VIC)
Knobs (ITL)
Cooperblack (NT)
