New year, new beginnings.
This time, however, instead of signing up for the gym (and never going) again, I’ve decided to make a different resolution. In 2025, I’m getting out of my comfort zone by looking for other ways of experiencing music from the Land Dow Under.
If you’re with me, this post is for you.
PART 212 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE
Splendour in the Grass, BIGSOUND, ARIA Awards… Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.
Well, maybe not literally, but you get the point. If you know a little more about the Antipodes than the average person, you’ll instantly associate the three events above with Australia. The first is a major music festival. It’s followed by a large music conference in Brisbane. And a big night celebrating the local music industry trophies closes that shortlist.
Let’s forget about them for a minute and browse the Aussie events catalogue to find the less celebrated gatherings that are equally worth your while.
So here are the six events I’ll pay special attention to this year.
Awards Ceremony: GOLDEN GUITARS
What: Few music genres boast their own award ceremonies. But country does. And so does the Country Music Association of Australia. Celebrated since 1973 (!), the annual Golden Guitar Awards are split into several categories, including Traditional Country Album, Male/Female Artist or Bush Ballad of the Year. Some internationally recognised musos, like Keith Urban or Morgan Evans, have won an award or two over the years.
When: 25 January, 2025
Where: Tamworth, NSW – where else? This town is traditionally considered the country music capital in Oz.
Why: Whether you like it or not, country music is on the rise again. And it’s not only my opinion. Check out the number of country artists occupying the top of the charts globally. Everyone wants to collaborate with them these days as well. So being a part of this ceremony is very much “in” in 2025.
How to participate: Tickets this way.
Festival: BLUESFEST
What: If you haven’t heard of this legendary music event, can you really call yourself an Australian music fan? BLUESFEST has been organised since 1990 (with a 2-year break in 2020 and 2021 due to… yes, you guessed it – COVID). In theory, it’s focused on blues, roots and folk. But in recent years, artists representing very different music genres have formed the line-up, including pop rock band Lime Cordiale in 2014, First Nations rapper JK-47 in 2022, and pop/soul songstress WILSN in 2024. The festival has received numerous awards over the years. Just last year, it won Best Major Festival & Event at the North Coast Tourism Awards for the 8th time. Everybody who is anybody in the widely-considered entertainment business should attend Bluesfest at least once in their lifetime. Ask Byron Bay’s resident, Chris Hemsworth, for example.
When: Easter long weekend: 17-20 April, 2025
Where: The one and only Byron Bay in NSW
Why: The festival’s organisers announced last year that the 2025 edition would be the last event EVER. Peter Noble didn’t mention any specific reasons for the decision. But I would cite at least three that have impacted the whole music business in the last few years: rising production costs, lack of adequate funding from the local and regional governments and unfortunate health/weather events (yeah, the pandemic, but also floods in NSW in 2022). What Bluesfest’s founder didn’t consider is how Aussies love the festival’s vibe, though. Pretty quickly after the announcement, a campaign was launched to save the event. And knowing the Aussie determination when it comes to having a good time, I reckon the event will take place in the future as well. But just in case it is the final edition, wouldn’t it be epic to attend it and then brag about it to your grandkids one day?
How to participate: Tickets are still available here.
Music Conference: REGIONAL & REMOTE MUSIC SUMMIT
What: BIGSOUND might be the Australian music industry’s annual conference and showcase gathering. But it’s the smaller, local events that are closer to the parties involved in the business and have the potential to zoom in on actual issues. This is the idea behind the Regional & Remote Music Summit, organised for the first time in Darwin in 2024. The organisers brought together music experts, artists, policymakers, academics, and community leaders from NT and beyond to present panel sessions, case studies, keynote presentations and roundtable forums. Amongst them were Mark Smith – MusicNT‘s Executive Director, music journalist Sosefina Fuamoli and artist Juran.
When: The date has now been confirmed: 23-25 July, 2025.
Where: See you in Byron Bay, NSW!
Why: The conference’s website references interesting stats. Regional and remote areas are home to 7 million people in Australia, which constitutes 28% of the population. Imagine how many artists, managers, labels, etc. operate in that space with no broader access to where things are “happening” (largely – in Melbourne and Sydney). So if you’re thinking about a career in the Australian music business seriously, it’s imperative to get familiar with the specifics of working in the remote and regional areas. That’s a note-to-self as well 😉
How to participate: Details of the event are yet to be determined. So it’s best to follow their social media updates.
Special-purpose gathering: SOUND COUNTRY ARTIST CLIMATE LEADERSHIP RETREAT
What: In 2023, Green Music Australia – the Australian music industry’s environmental watchdog – invited a few female and gender-diverse artists to reflect on how they can use their voices and platforms to advocate for a greener world, in general, and the music business, in particular. The workshop’s rich content, inspiring speakers and extensive resources were meant to help musicians become leaders for the climate and environment and build a community of like-minded creatives. I’m assuming the first gathering was a success because it was repeated last year, too.
When: No retreat has been announced for 2025 yet. But last year, it happened in September.
Where: No retreat has been announced for 2025 yet. The last event took place in Tasmania.
Why: Let me quote directly from Green Music Australia‘s website: “Our climate is collapsing. Everything we love, including our music scene, is at risk. While we have the scientific know-how to change course, we lack the political will.” It might sound like a grim scenario, but there’s hope on the horizon. A great part of it lies with music and musicians who have historically always been involved in ground-breaking reforms, from hacking up civil rights movements to contributing to ending wars. So why not do something good for the world for a change?
How to participate: No retreat has been announced for 2025 yet. I expect the details to be released later in the year.
National Tour: RÜFÜS DU SOL
Who: RÜFÜS DU SOL are Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George and James Hunt. The three gents from Sydney make music classified as alternative dance. It’s pretty decadent but also very catchy. You might have heard one of their bangers, like “You Were Right”, “Innerbloom” or “Sundream”, on the radio or at a festival. With those pretty decadent but also catchy tunes, they gradually took over the global electronic music world. The culmination was the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording for another hit, “Alive”, in 2022. And if that wasn’t enough, in 2024, they released another awesome album.
When: Various shows throughout November 2025
Where: The usual capital cities (Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) on various dates
Why: Even though the members are all Aussie, the band is currently based outside their home country. And with their busy schedule, they don’t visit Australia very often. The last time they played in the Land Down Under was in 2022. Hence, this is another homecoming tour. And there’s always something special about seeing a local band that blew up overseas on your home turf. So even though I’m not a fan of those massive arena gigs anymore, RÜFÜS DU SOL are totally worth the sacrifice (speaking from experience).
How to participate: Grab your tickets here.
Focus on First Nations: ‘BLAK OUT’ ON TRIPLE J
What: triple j is, by for and large, the most influential youth broadcaster in the Land Down Under. So, theoretically, it should lead by example when showcasing Australian music’s variety. But it’s no secret that First Nations musicians are notoriously underestimated in all aspects of the music business in Oz. So until a petition was launched by Adelaide-based First Nations hip-hop artist Jimblah, there was no show strictly dedicated to Aboriginal music o triple j. Finally, in 2021, the broadcaster announced another Aboriginal rapper, Nooky, as the host of a new segment called Blak Out, “playing nothing but slappers from Indigenous artists” for an hour each time. Over three years later, it’s still part of the triple j’s programming. So here’s your answer to the question of whether it was needed in the first place.
When: Every Sunday at 5 PM (AEST)
Where: It’s a virtual location, for a change. Simply head to triple j radio.
Why: A radio show is not a typical event, strictly speaking. But Nooky’s segment is a goldmine for that insider knowledge about deadly First Nations artists and their endeavours in the music biz Down Under – trust me. So even though it’s aired at an ungodly hour in my part of the world, I’ll definitely set my alarm to listen to it regularly this year.
How to participate: Depending on where you are in the world, you either tune into triple j on your radio or install their app on your phone or other device.
And… have you found above an event that speaks to your values and tastes as well?
I’m sure more awesome gatherings, summits, gigs and festivals will be announced throughout 2025. So I might change my mind later – just saying. And if you have anything interesting to share, give me a yell on my socials. I’m always down for a good music event.
Cover: own image from The Vanns’ showcase gig at the Aussie BBQ in London, 2022
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