The inaugural Panama Festival 2014 lineup has added more bands to the bill of Tasmania’s newest music event.
First introducing itself to the Tasmanian music calendar with headliners Charles Bradley, Husky, and The Frowning Clouds, then expanding with the addition of Saskwatch, Super Wild Horses, Holy Holy, and more, now Panama Festival 2014 has added another batch of seven talented artists to its first-ever launch lineup.
Leading the third Panama Festival 2014 lineup announcement is Melbourne’s Big Scary. The indie twosome of Tom Iansek and Jo Syme have enjoyed a big year since the release of their second album Not Art, voted among the Top 5 Aussie Albums of 2013 in the Tone Deaf Readers Poll, and earning Big Scary nominations from ARIA, AIR, The Age Music Victoria Awards, Triple J’s Album of the Year, as well as the $30,000 Australian Music Prize (and here’s why they’re the most deserving artist for the coveted award).
Having completed a summer run with Falls and Southbound festivals, Big Scary’s live show – a thrilling mix of atmospheric, emotive songwriting that blends ornate piano and vocals with inventive production – is not to be missed.
Also joining the Panama Festival 2014 lineup are the locally loved, internationally renowned Twerps. The charming Melbourne quartet have been working on the follow-up to their 2011 self-titled debut and sure to be airing a touch of their new material to the Tassie festival audience.
Also headed to the Panama forest is Melbourne melodist Ainslie Wills, who released her (You Go Your Way, I’ll Go Mine in 2013 (proudly named among Tone Deaf’s Top 15 list of the year’s most critically underrated releases). Wills is bound to capture new fans with her expressive voice, talented band, and arresting brand of music-making.
New Panama addition (and Ainslie Wills chum) Spender will already be familiar to Tone Deaf readers – voted by you as one of the Top 10 Most Promising Acts of 2013 – off the back of his stellar Modern Pest EP. As our reviewer remarked of Spender’s live set: “Imagine Damon Albarn raised on a diet of Prince and Spoon and you’ll begin to understand what elevates Spender’s songs to the next level is not just the writing, but the execution.”
Rounding out the new Panama Festival 2014 lineup additions is Brisbane’s intimate singer-songwriter Tom Cooney, Hobart’s own Timothy & Wilderness.
Taking place on the weekend of Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th March, Panama Festival 2014 takes its namesake from the forest its located in, nestled in the picturesque Lone Star Valley, situated in Tasmania’s North-East.
Set on a small batch Cider mill, Panama Festival 2014 organisers promise some of the best bands in the world as well as pop up cabarets, storytelling, late night vinyl soul clubs and tiny candlelit bars serving Tasmanian beers on tap, local wines and fresh cocktails. There are just 1,000 tickets available to the event, with weekend adult passes going for $160 (Children 4 and under are free to attend) and are on sale now.
Panama Festival 2014 is one of a number of new boutique music events that’s sprung up in recent months.
There was the December debut of Groovin’ The Moo spinoff festival, The Plot in Sydney and Melbourne, while Victoria also got the Paradise Music Festival late last year. Cronulla’s inaugural Endless Summer Festival enjoyed a huge launch, to the tune of 50,000 attendees, while the Central Coast is being gifted with the first-ever Mountain Sounds Festival this March, as well as Lost Picnic, a Sydney event which features an awesome all-Aussie lineup and gourmet picnic hampers.
Along with the growing wave of new faces, some of Australia’s established boutique music festivals are already achieving successful sustainability – including Boogie, Festival Of The Sun, The Gum Ball, River Boats, The Hills Are Alive, and Secret Garden (just to name a few).
Panama Festival 2014 Lineup
Big Scary
Twerps
Ainslie Wills
Karl S. Williams
Spender
Tom Cooney
Timothy And Wilderness
joining the already announced lineup of:
Charles Bradley
Husky
The Frowning Clouds
Saskwatch
Super Wild Horses
The Babe Rainbow
Holy Holy
McKisco
Tiger Choir
DJ Soul Train
DJ Black Amex
Panama Festival 2014 Dates, Tickets
8th & 9th March, 2014
Lone Star Valley Golconda, Tasmania
Limited Tickets for the foundation event will go on sale on December 1st.
Adults: Full weekend pass $160
Humans 12-17: $100
Kids 5 – 11: $50
Children 4 and under: Free
For all ticketing information and further details go to www.panamafestival.com.au
