It’s always bigger in Byron: Falls Festival gets capacity increase, adds six new acts

Those disheartened by the news last month that the 2017/7 Falls Festival Byron Bay had sold out minutes had some good news this morning.

The local council has increased its capacity from 16,000 to 18,500.

The extra 2500 tickets go on sale on Thursday, November 2.

Also this morning, Falls Byron added six new acts to the bill. They are:

* Brisbane R&B singer WAFIA who counts Pharrell Williams and Kylie Jenner among her fans, especially of her ‘Heartburn’ which generated 10 million Spotify streams first week.

WAFIA is just about to tour Europe for six shows with BØRNS November 16 to 24 and then heads off after for headline 10 dates in North America between January 22 to February 3.

* Led by bottle-rocket Marie DeVita, the punk-spirited WAAX are embarking on the “We’re Totally Fucked Tour’ through November/ December

* Adelaide guitar band West Thebarton (the artists previously known as The West Thebarton Brothel Party) brought in new drummer Caitlin Thomas and setting up a shift of gears for their debut album with gaining Australian management and European booking agents.

* Sydney based MC Manu Crooks, who grew up an avid fan of J. Cole, is among those spearheading Australian hip hop’s move into something original with tracks like ‘Everyday, Assumptions’ and ‘Blowin’ Up’. and last month dropping a video for ‘Under Pressure’

In November he tours behind the Mood Forever EP, turning down offers from big names overseas to collaborate, keeping his profile so he can focus on the music, and determined to juice up on his own pace and terms

* Alice Ivy (aka 24-year old Melbourne artist/producer Annika Schmarsel) is currently on the road behind single ’Be Friends’ ft. Cazeaux O.S.L.O & Tim De Cotta (most fourth track played on triple j). This and various other tracks have racked up almost a million spins on Spotify.

The startling sample-heavy ‘Get Me A Drink’ has lyrics from

E^ST and bars from Melbourne rapper Charlie Threads.

* Party Dozen is the latest project of Jonathan Boulet and is a sax/piano collaboration with Kristy Tickle who raised her own profile via her work with Brisbane band Little Scout

These six join the previously announced Flume, Fleet Foxes, Run The Jewels, The Kooks, Glass Animals, Peking Duk, Angus & Julia Stone, Foster The People, Liam Gallagher, Vince Staples, Jungle, Dune Rats. Ecca Vandal and Daryl Braithwaite among others.