The Hills Are Alive turns 10 with epic lineup

Image: Lauren Murphy

The Hills Are Alive festival in Victoria has garnered a reputation for showcasing acts right before they blow up.

Through the years it has helped forged a path for the likes of Vance Joy, Courtney Barnett, Tash Sultana, SAFIA, Sticky Fingers and Amy Shark.

2018 will see The Hills Are Alive celebrate its 10th anniversary across Friday March 23, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 at its well-loved home The Farm (10 mins from Loch Village, 20 mins from Wonthaggi and 95 mins from Melbourne).

The Farm location belongs to co-producers Aidan and Rhett McLaren’s family.

At the first festival, entry was a case of having to know someone to get your hands a ticket, with just twelve bands playing for $100 each to 330 ‘friends-of-friends.’

From then on the festival has sold out every single year.

In 2018 entry isis capped to 2500punters. Tickets also include three nights of free camping and the option to BYO alcohol.

There are licensed bars onsite too, including the infamousEdge of the World Bar, which is quite literally perched on a cliff at the very edge of the site.

“We’re so excited to be celebrating 10 years!” reckons Rhett.

“The Hills’ community is made up of so many amazing people and we can’t wait to all gather on the Hill once more.

“We’ve got a few exciting things in-store for the anniversary edition so it’s going to be a particularly special Hills this year.”

Aidan says of planning for the tenth anniversary, “We’d spend the whole year going to out to 3-4 gigs a week, arriving early, watching all the supports and then inviting the bands we loved to come and play on the Hill.

“For us it didn’t matter if there were five people or five-hundred people there. If we loved the music and the show and thought the Hills community would love it, we’d invite them to play.”

The first round of acts includes, alphabetically, Alex The Astronaut, Ali Barter, Alice Ivy, Batts, The Bennies, Boat Show, Boo Seeka, Cool Out Sun, Dear Seattle, Dorsal Fins, DJ Safety, Fossil Fuel, Halcyon Drive, Heaps Good Friends, Horns of Leroy, Jackson Firebird (reunion show), Jakubi, Jamatar, Josh Cashman, Kim Churchill, Luca Brasi, Manchpir, Mike Waters, Playwrite (reunion show), Real Slinger, REMI (with full band), Saskwatch, Thandi Phoenix, Theme Team, These New South Whales, Timberwolf, Zoe Fox and The Rocket Clocks and Ziggy Ramo.

To launch the 10th anniversary lineup and celebrate the recent launch of THAA Records, promoters are throwing a party tonight (Wednesday December 6) in Melbourne at The Gasometer.

There’ll be live sets from Lanks and Batts with DJ sets from other Hills’ favourites.

More details and ticket information for the 10th anniversary at thehillsarealive.com.au.