Since Tone Deaf launched the inaugural Bowled Over festival at the St Kilda Bowls Club in 2011, it has become a regular staple in the Australian summer festival circuit.

For the newbies out there, here’s a breakdown of what went down in the 2016 instalment.

Barefoot Bowls Bonanza

Who doesn’t love a good barefoot bowls? For the serious bowlers, the Summer Club VIP section ensured dedicated bowling lanes all day. For those more casual, there were plenty of lanes to go around. From 3-5pm however, things got serious with the Bowled Over Cup.

Bringing out the best bowlers this side Fitzroy Street, the greens certainly got a decent workout in perfect, 30-degree weather.

Tunes and Chill in the Secret Garden

The best place to chill out in your own private oasis and listen to the Hottest 100 Countdown. Fake grass, deck chairs, bean bags, umbrellas, good times and great vibes.

With two bars devoted to craft beers, ciders and cocktails, it was the perfect place to soak in the atmosphere with friends and family.

Leonard’s House of Love

Located just out the back of the Secret Garden, this pop-up restaurant was certainly the highlight in terms of the food stakes. Brought to us by ex-Sweetwater Inn creators, Guy Bentley, Mark Catsburg and Jonathon Harper and teaming up with chef, Nick Stanton (of Longhorn Saloon and Nieuw fame), the fare was unassuming but effective.

Wings and burgers with Stanton’s trademark charcoaled chicken, it seemed the festival highlight was actually the modest cheeseburger. Simple food done well.

Bingo

You don’t have to be in an old folks home to enjoy a good, ol’ fashioned game of bingo. Bringing bad jokes, innuendo and a whole raft of giveaways (including the coveted meat tray), you can never be too young (or old) to play Bingo.

Live (‘n Local) Music

Keeping the live acts strictly local, we were treated to four amazing Aussie bands this year. Combining their love of alt-rock and progressive pop, Melbourne 4-piece, IV League, charmed, while Adelaide punk upstarts, Grenadiers, banged out the tunes hard, fast and loud to knock the crowd into submission.

Viral sensations, Bareback Titty Squad were on hand to play their latest Hottest 100 medley in 30 minutes (If you haven’t watched their epic video from last year’s Countdown, do yourselves a favour).

Harts, ‘nuff said…

The headliner this year was none other than guitar warrior and one-man, music making machine, Harts. With his famous, red, green and blue guitar in tow, the self-taught, multi-instrumentalist, totally blew the audience away with his catchy brand of blues rock and funk.

Combining scintillating guitar riffs with an electro-funk/pop sensibility, the man is pure genius. Of the two artists he is most heavily associated with, Prince and Jimi Hendrix, everything about Harts screams Hendrix.

With shredding that is off the charts and guitar tricks that pay homage to the great man, Harts is also capable of lighter moments and knows how to build a show to a stirring climax and fitting conclusion. Watch this space, bright things are in store for this man’s future.

And of course…the hottest 100 countdown

It wouldn’t be an Australia Day without triple j’s hottest 100 blaring over the speakers. There were boos and cheers but mostly a receptive response to this year’s countdown as popular artists, Tame Impala, Kendrick Lamar and Disclosure all made it into the top 10.

As the Rubens were announced this year’s surprise winners with their hit single, ‘Hoops’, it was time for the DJ to come out and the party continued, long into the night.