St Kilda Festival 2020

Overview

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 3, 2020 —  Get ready to belt out 'Great Southern Land' and 'Electric Blue' when Icehouse return to St Kilda Festival. Performing a show entitled 'Icehouse Plays Flowers', the pub-rock legends will nod to their first performance at the free beachside festival back in 1980, when the group was named Flowers.

If you're a fan of tasteful tunes and exuberant summer vibes that don't bruise the budget, the annual St Kilda Festival should be at the top of your summer bucket list. The nation's largest free music festival turns 40 this year, and returns to St Kilda's foreshore for a blowout celebration. You can expect multiple stages of live music, a tonne of food and market stalls, and interactive workshops stretching from Catani Gardens to the south end of Acland Street.

As well as banging tunes, the air will be filled with the scent of delicious eats emanating from more than 100 food vendors. There'll be everything from curry to burgers, ribs and sushi — providing plenty of sustenance for all that dancing. You'll also need energy if you plan on attending one of the festival's free activities, which include bubble soccer, disco yoga and Latin dance workshops.

The free fun begins just after 10am and runs well into the night. The 2020 extravaganza features more than 50 bands and DJs representing the diverse spectrum of Australian talent. On the main stage, you'll be dancing through the decades with Hot Dub Time Machine, bopping to pop duo Busby Marou and swaying to The Kite String Tangle.

You'll also be partying to the seven-piece Horns of Leroy and Thando over at the Alfred Square Stage; singing along with hip hop artist Dallas Woods and Teenage Dads at the Fitzroy Street Stage; dancing with 15-strong girl group The Rebelles and Yergurl at the O'Donnell Gardens Stage; and, yes there's more, soaking up the sounds of First Nations artist Bumpy and singer Pirritu at the Little Catani Stage. You can check out the full lineup over here.

Images: Nathan Doran