The first bands of the St Kilda Festival 2014 lineup have been announced

The first bands of the St Kilda Festival 2014 lineup have been announced, revealing a batch of homegrown bands to play Australia’s largest free music festival.

Now entering its 34th year, St Kilda Festival 2014 promises more than 150 artists performing across seven stages with more than 40 venues in the Melbourne suburb taking part in the festivities from Sunday 2nd to Saturday 8th February 2014; culminating in the Festival Sunday on the 9th, the music-lined day that very nearly didn’t go ahead earlier this year after difficulties finding funding for deficits of approx. $1.2 million.

The full music programme of events will land early next year, on Monday 6th January 2014, but for now there’s already a list of Aussie artists to whet the appetite of festival-goers, including the full lineup for the 2014 New Music Stage.

Leading the home-grown pack on the New Music Stage is Melbourne five-piece Tully On Tully, the psych rock outfit House Of Laurence, sweet-sounding seven-piece Velma Grove, the enigmatic alter-ego of Lester The Fierce, and young indie pop due The Dandens.

Also playing the New Music Stage is Melbourne indie group Private Life – providing their slick sounds, refined duo Artist Proof, alt rockers Ten Thousand, Perth popsters Boys Boys Boys, and five-piece brass n’ beats combo, The Brow Horn Orchestra.

One of those bands could also walk away $5,000 richer, with audiences asked to vote on their favourites playing the New Music Stage, with the winning band taking the $5k cash prize and the opportunity to play on the Sunday Main Stage for 2015.

On the opening Saturday, The St Kilda Festival 2014 will kick off with Yalukit Wilum Ngargee: People Place Gathering at the O’Donnell Gardens, featuring a host of artists including Yirrmal and the Yolngu Boys, Crystal Mercy and singer/songwriter Benny Walker.

During the week, music lovers will line St Kilda’s live music hotspots for Live N Local, hearing upcoming artists and emerging bands, with the likes of Baberaham Lincoln, Bella and the Mellows, Riot in Toytown, Sunday Chairs and White Summer already confirmed to appear as part of the St Kilda Music Festival 2014 lineup.

The iconic Festival Sunday is filled with extra-musical activities as well, offering a range of activities for young and old.

St Kilda Football players will host a day of handball workshops and mascot fun while the Elwood Angling Club returns with the annual Children’s Fishing Workshop. A full day of action in the Dancezone will include everything from Bollywood to Reggaeton to Argentine Tango. The family entrainment options include the Aussie favourite Humphrey B Bear, Melbourne Tap Dance, The Kazoos and The Mik Maks, all performing in the Kidzone.

“The St Kilda Festival showcases the diversity of Australian music and culture, and we’re thrilled to offer a nine day program that delivers the biggest stage for both emerging artists and established musicians,” said Festival Producer Adele Denison.

The 2014 return of St Kilda Festival, which is produced and presented by the City of Port Phillip and supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria, follows a triumphant comeback after had been a very tumultuous 12 months for the event. City of Port Phillip council rescued St Kilda Festival from a potential cancellation due to budgetary concerns to offset a funding blackhole of $1.2 million, before Port Phillip council managed to urge the State Government to help shoulder the costs of running the event ahed of next year’s 34th edition.

St Kilda Festival 2014 Lineup

Tully On Tully
House Of Laurence
Lester The Fierce
The Dandens
Artist Proof
Ten Thousand
Private Life
Brow Horn Orchestra
Boys Boys Boys
Yirrmal and the Yolngu Boys
Crystal Mercy
Benny Walker
+ more to be announced Monday 6th January 2014