Overview
Australia's just scored what looks set to be its most inclusive music festival yet, with sports and radio legend Dylan Alcott announcing a strong lineup for the debut of his event Ability Fest.
Helping to launch the Paralympian's charity, the Dylan Alcott Foundation, next month, the festival's being co-helmed by Untitled (the entertainment group behind Beyond The Valley and Pitch Music & Arts) and it's one that caters to everyone, regardless of gender, disability, age or race.
With Ability Fest, Alcott's set out to both normalise disability and help boost inclusivity across all areas of the music industry. With 20 percent of Aussies living with a physical or intellectual disability, it's high time an event like this was added to the festival calendar.
A massive lineup — including Zimbabwean-born singer-songwriter Tkay Maidza, disco guy Harvey Sutherland and a back-to-back DJ set with Flight Facilities and Client Liaison — has dropped today, with all artists donating their time. Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome is being transformed into a fully accessible live music venue for the event, complete with a bunch of viewing platforms for those in wheelchairs and AUSLAN translators for all acts on the main stage.
Ability Fest is hoping to raise $300,000 through ticket sales and donations, with all of it headed directly to the Dylan Alcott Foundation. This will then be used to offer mentoring, scholarships and grants to marginalised young Australians with disabilities.
Ability Fest will take over Melbourne's Coburg Velodrome at 30 Charles Street, Coburg North, on Saturday, April 7. You can register here for discounted pre-sale tickets before 4pm on March 15 — otherwise general release tickets are on sale from 10am on March 16.
Image: Freedom Time at Coburg Velodrome.