Six more major events join 2022 live music schedule
More festivals and concert series are marking their return to active duty in the warm weather.
The latest is Ultra Australia, which announced it was back on March 5 to Myer Music Bowl and Kings Domain in Melbourne.
The site will be divided into three – the mammoth Main Stage, the Resistance Stage for underground sounds and the UMF Radio Stage for local DJs.
Since its arrival in Australia, Ultra has played to 40,000 and showcased the likes of The Chainsmokers, Martin Garrix, Marshmello, Afrojack, DJ Snake, Deborah De Luca, Eric Prydz, Zedd, Tiger Lily and Will Sparks.
Adelaide Festival returns for its 37th year from March 4 to 20 with 71 events including nine world premieres, six Australian premieres and 17 exclusives covering music, theatre, opera, dance and visual arts.
Opening weekend sees Adelaide Oval open up, with Icehouse celebrating the 40th anniversary of the song ‘Great Southern Land’.
Festival club The Summerhouse returns to the Torrens Riverbank with a line-up featuring The Whitlams, Genesis Owusu, Connan Mockasin, Ngaiire, Montaigne, Ladyhawke, Babe Rainbow, Client Liaison and Late Nite Tuff Guy.
WOMADelaide is one of its umbrella events.
This year despite slashed venue capacities, Adelaide Festival sold over 60,000 tickets and drew close to $4 million at the box office. The 2020 version generated an economic impact of $70 million.
Artistic directors Rachel Healy and Neil Armfield called it “a festival that refuses to curl and shrink, to aim low and take it easy”.
Wollongong’s Yours And Owl is returning on April 2 and 3 to its spiritual home by the sea, Stuart Park, after moving this April to Dalton Park before a capped 15,000.
No other details were released but the first round of acts should be unveiled in weeks.
“Ain’t nothin’ like a #GongChristmas two weeks before Easter,” organisers said in a statement.
“Now that we have had time to rest, recover and take stock of what it took to execute a festival in the middle of a pandemic, we are seeing just how freaking crazy it was to think we could pull that off.
“But thanks to you guys, your belief and your unbridled support for us, we did it! We made history dancing through two days and two nights, unpenned, in the middle of a bloody pandemic.”
Beyond The Valley is holding a city edition called Beyond The City on December 30 & 31 at Myer Music Bowl and the Kings Domain parklands.
Plans for the city slicker version were announced in August. Promoters said that the Victorian Government’s 90% vaccination target this week has given the festival the all clear to officially solidify their plans.
“Beyond The City will be a fully standing event, with dancing allowed and no pods.”
The Twilight at Taronga Summer Concert Series in Sydney returns on Friday, January 28 with Josh Pyke.
There’s a limited capacity on the lawns of the natural amphitheatre at Taronga Zoo, with the shows overlooking Sydney Harbour at dusk.
Running until February 19 and presented by Mastercard, acts include Winston Surfshirt, Vika & Linda, James Morrison Big Band, Bjorn Again, Washington & Odette, The Church Comedy Gala, San Cisco and Daryl Braithwaite.
Proceeds go to the Litter Free Oceans campaign to reduce single use plastics.
Woodstock Relived is a new one-day festival in Melbourne in February, where periodic Australian acts will recreate the live performances of the iconic Woodstock festival in 1969.
It will be held at the new Bayside Art Factory on Saturday, February 19 from 2 to 10 pm.
Acts include members of Skyhooks, Kevin Borich Express, Ol’55, Stars, Brian Cadd’s Bootleg Family Band and Ferrets.