Australia Day is upon us once more, and with the three-day weekend now just hours away, we’ve put together a small guide for music fans looking to plot how best to celebrate their patriotism.
Big Day Out 2013
For Melbourne festival-goers, tomorrow’s Big Day Out is the obvious point of call, and while police have warned revellers that sniffer dugs will be out in force at the one-day festival, there’s plenty of reason to head along and help celebrate the 21st birthday of one of the nation’s most iconic music events.
Our Tone Deaf reviewers attending the Sydney and Gold Coast legs praised the festival, including headliners Red Hot Chili Peppers, experimental outfit Animal Collective, hardcore supergroup OFF!, as well as the likes of Childish Gambino, Death Grips, Band of Horses, Alabama Shakes, Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Killers’ guitarist Dave Keuning fulfilling the band’s promise of ‘givin’ ’em the hits’.
There’s also a stellar lineup of local acts, including theatrical rock n roll specialists ME, Melbourne emcee 360, rock veterans Grinspoon, hardcore act House Vs Hurricane, and a host of specialised local acts in each capital territory, as well as unique festival features – like the scrumptious Chow Town Menu, a Mexican Wrestling bar, the return of the Lilypad, and even a fully automated robotic band.
Where & When: 11am-11pm, Saturday, Flemington Racecourse. Tickets available from bigdayout.com.
Bowled Over 2013
Australia’s biggest music poll, the Triple J Hottest 100, has become synonymous with Australia Day celebrations with special Hottest 100 parties breaking out the beers, the bets, and the music around the country. But if you haven’t got your invite to one yet, don’t stress, the Bowled Over Crew have you sorted with the first instalment of the Summer Series 2013.
Head on down and be treated to a laid back afternoon taking in Triple J’s countdown as well as live sets from Melbourne’s best up and coming bands. Including Royston Vasie, Crooked Saint, The Smokes, Krista Polvere, and the Honey Badgers; as well as Tone Deaf’s own DJs. There’s a steady supply of cheap beer and cider, tasty BBQ delights, and – of course – bare foot bowling.
If you’re looking to cover those feet however, Coverse will also be on site offering Chuck Taylor shoes as door prizes to lucky entrants. What’s not to like?
Where & When: 12pm- late, Saturday, St Kilda Bowls Club (66 Fitzroy St, St Kilda). Tickets $10 + BF presale & $15 at the door – http://tonedeaf.oztix.com.au/default.aspx?E
Dove and Olive Hottest 100 Party
Sydney-siders looking to get in on the Triple J Hottest 100 action, but haven’t yet got their own snags and salad sorted should head on down to Dove and Olive’s music-centric party.
Held at the former Clarendon Hotel, making it over into the swanky gastro-pub, the courtyard will host cheap drinks, sausages, and kangaroo steaks while you take in Triple J’s annual music poll.
Where & When: 12pm- late, Saturday, Dove and Olive, 156 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills – free entry
details at: doveandolive.com.au
Festival Of The Voice 2013
If you’re looking for some more free Australia Day entertainment, you’d do a lot worse than celebrating at Sydney’s The Rocks with a host of music performances held in and around the Harbourside location.
The festival will see its two headliners, Australia’s finest indigenous artist Gurrumul and surf-folk fiend Ash Grunwald, strumming their wares under the iconic Harbour Bridge, as well as a host of acts including The Preatures, Battleships, Tin Sparrow, Dubmarine, and Sietta playing across two stages. There’s also FBi DJ Shantan Wantan Ichiban, roaming musicians, a karaoke stage, and punters are encouraged to take snaps throughout the day that will be uploaded to a unique flickr account.
Where & When: 12-8pm, Saturday, The Rocks (Dawes Point Park, First Fleet Park), Sydney – free entry
details at therocks.com
Fed Square Live
Back down in Melbourne’s Federation Square, the Push presented Fed Square Live will round out a day of cultural events. Rising Aussie hip-hop stars Diafrix are headlining, and the dynamic duo of Momo and Azmarino come off the back of a successful 2012 pushing their ground-breaking brand of music. They’ll be joined by the equally inventive Chance Waters, who puts an engaging live show.
The hip-hop double act follow a day that features everything from a Buddhist seminar at the Edge, to the Australian Open women’s final being broadcast on the big screen, while ACMI will screen an Aussie film double of the Peter Weir classic Picnic At Hanging Rock, and the hugely successful Aussie indie musical The Sapphires.
Where & When: 1-late, Saturday, Federation Sqaure, Melbourne
details at FedSquare.com
Sidney Myer Music Bowl/Arts Centre
Those with different musical tastes will find their niche filled over at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, with the 17-piece jazz and swing sounds of the B# Big Band filling the Botanic Gardens from 2pm. Later, at 7pm, it’ll be the Trans Turkish Express’ turn, featuring a traditional Ottoman marching band, whirling dervishes, oriental funk, and belly dancers.
Across the way, the Arts Centre’s Hamer Hall will be taken over by hip-hop performers and DJs in a melange of free music, dance, and street art performances as part of BLAZE, a season of live DJS, emcees, and dance crews in the foyer. With Suga Pop, Nomadic Funk, Protarts given the Australia Day duties
Where & When: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Kings Domain Gardens/Linlithgow Avenue, Melbourne. B# Big Band from 2pm-4.30pm, Trans Turkish Express from 7pm-9.30pm – Free. BLAZE details at artscentremelbourne.com.au
The Garden Party
More leafy surrounds with sweet music to boot is available over at the Garden Party, which has been running throughout January at an outdoor site over in Southbank. Though typically the domain of classical music, the Australia Day edition of the Garden Party will provide a one-off, free concert featuring the cosmopolitan pop of up-and-coming chanteuse Fantine, and the Euro-jazz ramshackle delights of the Bearded Gypsy Band.
Sandwiched between the two is the pick of the bunch, Nortchote’s finest purveyors of future-soul, Hiatus Kaiyote, who are set for a break-out year, headed for SXSW 2013 this March, as well as announced as one of the many acts playing St Kilda Festival 2013 and Melbourne’s 24 hour festival, White Night Melbourne.
Where & When: From 5pm-11.30pm, Corner of Southbank Boulevard and Sturt Street. Melbourne
details at thegardenparty.info
Symphony In The Domain: The Sound of Kubrick
Fans of cinema and classical music will go giddy at Sydney’s Botanical Gardens, where Sydney Festival are hosting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will be performing a selection of works featured in the famous films of cinema master Stanley Kurbrick. The programme includes Bach, Elgar, Purcell and more, all featured in the likes of 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, Eyes Wide Shut, and no doubt a bit of Beethoven, or “the ol’ Ludwig Van”, as Alex the protagonist of A Clockwork Orange calls it.
Where & When: From 8pm, The Domain, Art Gallery Road, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney – free entry
details at sydneyfestival.org.au
Celtic Festival 2013
Last but not least, ex-pats looking for some dual patriotism should head to North Sydney’s Bradfield Park where pipe band, highland dancers and Welsh musicians will be gathered for the annual Celtic Festival. There’ll be Irish (and Spanish!) dancers, a grand musical parade just after midday, Celtic arts and crafts on offer at the many stalls throughout the park, and of course more than a few pipes and drums to celebrate your Celtic and/or Australian spirit.
Where & When: 10am – 5.30pm, Bradfield Park, North Sydney – free entry
details at celticcouncil.org
