Overview
For music lovers, there's only one thing better than a festival filled with bands and artists taking to the stage to pump out tunes. That'd be a free music fest, of course. In 2021, SPRINGTIME announced that it'd be giving the Gold Coast exactly that; however, due to the pandemic, the festival's debut event didn't occur till 2022. That big premiere included a skate park, live art and performance installations, too — and, because it was unsurprisingly a hit, it's coming back in 2023.
SPRINGTIME boasts another huge drawcard: those free tunes, skate displays and performances all happen by the beach over three breezy spring days. This time, mark Friday, September 1–Sunday, September 3 in your diary for a trip to Surfers Paradise, where you can enjoy the waves, bars and listening to a live soundtrack on the shore (and hopefully replace your Schoolies memories).
On the just-dropped lineup: BENEE, Matt Corby and Bag Raiders, each headlining a different night, plus more than 25 other acts. While the focus is on Australian talent, New Zealand's BENEE marks the fest's first-ever international name, and will add another big gig to her year after playing Coachella.
As it did in 2022, SPRINGTIME's live music will take over both beachside and streetside spaces around Surfers. There'll be two stages, also hosting Babe Rainbow, Boo Seeka, Eliza & The Delusionals, grentperez, Sunshine & Faith Disco Choir, Sycco and more.
An array of talents will get painting live in front of SPRINGTIME's punters, and the Vans skate team will be back to get rolling. Also, after Shock Therapy Arts brought performance art piece The Cleaners to the fest last year, they'll return in 2023. Exactly what they'll be doing is yet to be revealed, but flinging paint-filled balloons with a giant slingshot will be hard to top.
As for who you'll be seeing when, Bag Raiders will be doing a DJ set to headline the Friday, BENEE has the honours on Saturday, then Matt Corby on Sunday. The Gold Coast Music Awards lead into the fest as well, taking place on Thursday, August 31 — and celebrating spring's arrival just by soaking in the location obviously comes with the territory.
"We are pumped to be bringing SPRINGTIME back in 2023 for more good times and an unmissable lineup of incredible homegrown artists, " said Festival Director Mark Duckworth.
"We created this festival to showcase the very best of Australia's contemporary artists as well as to celebrate and support the musical talent right here in our own backyard on the Gold Coast. I am proud to say we were able to achieve that, and more, in 2022 and saw some impressive crowds come along to enjoy our free festival on the beach. We can't wait to welcome them all back this spring."
SPRINGTIME MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023 LINEUP:
Bag Raiders
BENEE
Matt Corby
Babe Rainbow
Boo Seeka
Eliza & The Delusionals
grentperez
Sunshine & Faith Disco Choir
Sycco
Austin Mackay
Bella Amor
Betty Taylor
Big Fuzz
Bill Durry
Chutney
Dizzy Days
Daste.
Girl & Girl
Greatest Hits
Jason Van Miert
Lemaire
Matonii
Sabio
Mitch Santiago
N'Jaane
Pure Milk
Radolescent
The Vultures
Taleena
Tomorrow's Forecast
YB.
SPRINGTIME Music Festival will take place across the weekend of Friday, September 1–Sunday, September 3. For further information, head to the festival website.
SPRINGTIME images: Bianca Holderness.
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