Party In The Paddock is riding a massive hype train following its highly successful 2015 event back in February and organisers are now promising Party In The Paddock 2016 will be even bigger and better.
Maintaining the vibe of its humble beginnings in 2013, Party In The Paddock has tapped an absolutely massive lineup for its 2016 instalment, including Violent Soho, Spiderbait, The Preatures, British India, Tkay Maidza, and more.
Party In The Paddock is held amidst the lush rolling hills of Tasmania’s north-east, making it a unique event in the Australian music scene. We recently caught up with festival director Jesse Higgs to get the skinny on all things Tassie.
The best music venues in Tassie
As a local Launceston lad, my heart does lie in the north of the state. Two Launceston venues that you should definitely visit for a great time and to experience unique atmosphere, Fresh on Charles &The Royal Oak are places to be.
Fresh is a great little Vegetarian Restaurant by day and a live music venue & comedy club by night.
With only a couple of 100 capacity, it’s the perfect venue to catch an intimate, great sounding – world class show with the likes of Megan Washington, Tom Ballard, Holy Holy & The Basics etc. dropping in regularly. With trendy decor and great food (fresh, organic Tasmanian produce) Fresh is a good place to hang anytime of the day.
The notorious Royal Oak, like their logo states “An Hotel of uncommon character” & “Leap In Limp Out” – Is where many good times have been had for many of years. One of the oldest pubs in Tasmania, first licensed in 1851, hasn’t seemed to have changed to much in those 164 years, but that’s why we love it!
As Lonely Planet describes it: “Launceston’s best pub. We really don’t need to expand on this fact, but it’s hard not to – brilliant beers on tap, open-mic nights (last Wednesday of the month), live music Wednesday to Sunday and ballsy 1970s rock on the stereo. If you’re too old to be a hipster, but still feel culturally valid, this is the place for you.”
To elaborate on that, The Oak seems to be a place for any genre of person, everyone fits in and everyone has a great time. A place where the local Boags Red on tap and original live music takes priority.
The best record stores in Tassie
Shots on Wax – Would have to be the funkiest little record store in the state that I am aware of. They do great coffee + toasties, have a Barber out the back to trim the moe or to get that undercut you have been thinking about because everyone else has one. A host to live music in the arvo’s and a great selection of modern and old school vinyl.
Mojo Music – Not as grungy, but also does great coffee and an excellent selection of music. A place I do a lot of my Christmas shopping at.
The best Tassie acts right now
Tassie has many great acts and for a long time most of them seemed to struggle to make it across the water. The state has a very strong and some would say a uniquely isolated music scene. A large agenda of Party in the Paddock over these last few years has been to help share the states talents with the country.
It’s something that we are really passionate about and whether it’s seeing the Electronic/Future Beat’s of Akouo land consecutive slots at Splendour in the Grass, local punk legends Luca Brasi doing national tours with Violent Soho & Smith Street, Hobart’s Folk vagabond Jed Appleton spell binding audiences, touring Europe with Passenger and co.
Or hearing some of my favorite roots bands in the country, The Embers & Guthrie, getting plugged on triple j’s Roots N All regularly, we are very proud to continue to support every single one of them.
The Best Tassie events
Dark Mofo hands down was some of the craziest shit I’ve ever been too. I’m talking ridiculously cool art installations, like a 50m high Flame Organ – a giant metal structure that made scary sounds, The Bass Bath, where you entered a circle of 8 giant 2100 horsepower subwoofers to experience something similar to a man made earthquake, The Nude Solstice Swim, enjoyed by 100’s who courageously dive into Hobart’s freezing mid winter waters, The culinary delights of The Winter Feast and to finish the event in wild extravagance, Mofo’s Blacklist, these parties took place over 5 separate nights and you were truly never quite sure of what you might see next… I’m going back next year.
Other than that, you can’t go past Marion Bay’s Falls Festival, had some of the best times of my life right there! Location location and for this past decade, been a truly great event. But if ya’ll after something a little different again and keen to see the pretties of the northern end of the state, then PITP 2016 is very happy to be your boutique honey badger this summer friends.
Party In The Paddock 2016
Violent Soho
Spiderbait
The Preatures
British India
Tkay Maidza
Vallis Alps
Bad // Dreems
Harts
Roland Tings
Tired Lion
Lurch & Chief
The Belligerents
Akouo
Hockey Dad
Koi Child
Ocean Alley
The Embers
Jed Appleton
+ more TBA
Friday, 19th February – Sunday, 21st February 2016
Burns Creek TAS
Tickets: Party In The Paddock
Photo Credit: Nick Green
