With so many recent announcements for the summer festival season (Big Day Out, Falls Festival, Harvest et al.) getting everyone all excited, there’s one major contender that has kept their hands close to their chest… until now.
Aunty Meredith is making her twenty first appearance this year, for the regular three days this December at the magical Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, and promises to deliver the same memorable moments, along with their beloved BYO, “No Dickhead Policy” and lack of commercial sponsors that makes it such a unique event.
The first round lineup is only two acts at this stage, but they demonstrate the full breadth of variety and surprises that Meredith has become famous for.
First up is “a treat so rare we thought it would never happen” says Aunty Meredith, with THE SUNNYBOYS locked in to play their first show in Victoria for 21 years. With all four original members of the lineup to appear to deliver classics like ‘Alone With You’, ‘Happy Man’, ‘You Need A Friend’ and so many more to the Superdoopernatural Amphitheatre.
The highly influential Sydney-born post-punk act played back in April as part of Dig It Up, the Hoodoo Gurus’ invite-only concert, at the Enmore Theatre in their hometown, playing a 45 minute classic set of material drawn mostly from their eponymous debut. If that’s anything to go by, Meredith attendees are in for a treat.
If THE SUNNYBOYS represent something for the historical appreciators, then GRIMES is likely to get fresh music fans excited.
GRIMES, aka performance artist/DIY muso Claire Boucher, will be making her Australian debut at Meredith 2012. Already one of the year’s most-hotly tipped acts after emerging with her major-label debut, Visions in March, GRIMES has been making her flight across America and winning hearts and conquering minds in the process. Boucher’s mix of bizarre futurism, beatific pop and crystalline vocals that blend the unexplored edges of the atmospheric seems like a snug fit for an evening set.
They’re just two of the teased tally of thirty acts that’ll make up the final Meredith lineup, which will be made public around the time of the Ballot Results. Speaking of which…
Festival organisers have promised that tickets will be “the same price as last year, which was the same price as the year before” with a “one stage fits all” entry. Namely a 3 day, 2 night ticket for $279 +b/f, using the same Subscriber Ticket Ballot system to ensure the majority of the tickets go to Subscribers before the rest go on public.
“There’s two rounds (draws) of The Ballot – on or before August 15th for existing Subscribers and August 23rd for newer Subscribers,” details the press release. “Ballot winners will be emailed a unique Meredith Key to access the secure Online Box Office and purchase tickets.”
MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012 // FIRST LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT
THE SUNNYBOYS
GRIMES
+ more to be announced after ballot results.
Ballot draw for existing Subscribers: August 15th
2nd round Ballot draw for new Subscibers: August 23rd
