Overview
Last year's edition might have been axed due to the pandemic, but one of the country's longest-running music festivals is back, bigger than ever, and set on kicking off 2022 with a bang. The iconic St Kilda Festival will return next month in an expanded multi-day format, with a stacked program of performances featuring stars like Daryl Brathwaite, Emma Donovan, Archie Roach and more.
From Saturday, February 5–Sunday, February 13, the bayside suburb's foreshore will come alive with multiple stages playing host to a diverse lineup of live tunes and dance performances, all backed by a jam-packed offering of tasty fare, market stalls, workshops and carnival rides.
Firing up Melbourne's gig calendar for the new year, the Foreshore Stage at South Beach Reserve is set to serve up sounds from big-name acts like Braithwaite, Donovan with The Putbacks, Gordi, Baker Boy, Soju Gang and The Bamboos.
Then, on February 12, catch the likes of Archie Roach, Chasing Ghosts, Kee'ahn and The Merindas as part of the Yaluk-ut Weelam Ngargee First Peoples arts and cultural showcase. Elsewhere, you'll find a sprinkling of pop courtesy of acts like Ashwarya and Devy, R&B tunes delivered by Vetta Borne and Squid the Kid, a touch of psychedelic rock via The Lazy Eyes, and a dose of signature sparkle from performance artists The Huxleys.
Hitting the DJ decks are favourites like Big Rig, DJ pgz, Shaad and PET$, plus there's a whole roster of family-friendly entertainment peppered throughout the nine-day festival. Many local businesses will extend their trading hours for the occasion, amplifying the precinct's summertime buzz, and there'll be an array of food and market stalls to shop in between your musical adventures.
St Kilda Festival is set to operate under a comprehensive COVID-safe plan, in accordance with any current restrictions and capacity limits. You'll also be able to catch any COVID-related updates over on the website or via the social channels.
Catch St Kilda Festival 2022 from Saturday, February 5–Sunday, February 13, at St Kilda Foreshore, St Kilda. See the full program at the event's website.
Images: Nathan Doran