Boutique winter festival Snowtunes is only two weeks away, returning to picturesque Lake Jindabyne on September 3rd 2016.

Promising to “unshackle your imagination and push the boundaries of a modern day music event”, the festival looks to follow up on last year’s inaugural success to offer snow-goers the ultimate music festival experience at the base of the Snowy Mountains.

We’re all about any event that offers a new way to experience live music, and here are a few reasons we’d recommend making the trip this year – whether you’re expertly tackling the black runs or still trying to master the art of the snow plough.

Straight from the slopes to the stage

Ever wanted to combine the adrenaline of a day on the slopes and a night in a moshpit? Of course you have.

The festival is located in the heart of Lake Jindabyne, conveniently between the famous ski slopes of Perisher and Thredbo, and offers a whole bunch of packages (2 day lift passes and various accommodation) to allow you to do just that. The festival boasts a run time of 2:00pm-1:00am, so you can ski or snowboard all day and catch all the awesome acts on offer at night.

Another killer lineup

Following a seriously strong debut lineup last year, Snowtunes has once again delivered an eclectic but well balanced assortment for the snowy one-dayer.

From triple j darlings Ball Park Music and party starter Hot Dub Time Machine, to acclaimed beatmaker What So Not and other favourites like Asta and Kilter, the festival promises to bring audiences plenty of tunes to keep you warm and dancing through the night. The full lineup is right here.

Perfectly tuned for winter

Nailing an obvious hole in the saturated festival market, Snowtunes is one of the only festivals that are capitalising on the crowds that flock to the snow during winter.

Whereas most festivals take advantage of Australia’s seemingly endless Summer and have you baking in 40 degree heat, Snowtunes is designed around the snowfields and all the activities on offer there that no summer festival can offer.

That location

No more Melbourne/Sydney rivalry, as Snowtunes is located smack-bang between the two – and if you’re a Canberrian, you can practically jog there.

The location itself is also expectedly pretty, and last year the stage was a castle with an enormous snowflake, and an equally-huge sun that actually spewed flames overhead. Take that, infinity prism!

It won’t break the bank

You’ve got a few different options for tickets, and none of them will set you back a crazy amount. A general admission ticket is $115 and gets you access to the entire festival, while a bundle that includes a ticket and a 2-day Thredbo lift pass is $240.

Bus tickets from select cities are available from $40 as well, to save you the drive home. If you’re feeling especially fancy, a luxury ticket is available that rolls in transport, meals and accomodation – and even a guided tour of the national park – for $345.

Boutique festivals just keep kicking goals

The age of the boutique festival is well and truly upon us. Laneway is taking charge as one of Australia’s premiere festivals, Paradise and Big Pineapple Fest are making waves, and Snowtunes is continuing that run of small-scale innovators.

Rather than a huge commitment that leaves you cooked for a week afterwards, maybe it’s an awesome time to check out one of the smaller festivals around the country delivering the latest in Aussie artists live to a smaller and more intimate crowd.

Tickets and info

It all kicks off from 2pm-1am on Saturday September 3 at the Jindabyne ski fields – tickets are available now.

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