Overview
We've made it to the last day of winter (time to burn your beanies and unpack your togs) and to celebrate Falls Festival has just gifted us with one helluva lineup.
Helping to ring in the art and music festival's 26th year is a pretty buzzworthy gang of musical mates headlined by American rapper Anderson .Paak. He'll be taking the stage with his band The Free Nationals, and performing hits off his Grammy Award-nominated album Malibu and maybe a tune or two off his highly anticipated third album, Oxnard Ventura.
He's joined on the bill by big names like UK foursome Catfish and The Bottlemen, who'll be debuting some fresh new material at their only Aussie show; Australia's own Vance Joy; Scottish synth-pop trio Chvrches, who'll also be here for NYD celebration Field Day; Interpol, fresh off the back of their new album release, Marauder; and Toto. Toto. Yes, the American rock band behind the masterpiece that is 'Africa' is heading to Falls. While you're feeling nostalgic, you'll also be able to hit up Hilltop Hoods — call dad.
True to form, the Falls 2018 local lineup is equally exciting, and every bit as broad. Homegrown acts hitting the stage include the dance-ready Flight Facilities, Melbourne's psychedelic King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Sydney producer Touch Sensitive, Gold Coast native Amy Shark and Heaps Gay DJs & Friends back for another year.
This year, too, an impressive 48 percent of acts performing have female artists and, while it's not quite half — and there are still lots of other minority groups that are underrepresented — it's a start.
As always, the tunes are backed by a colourful curation of art events, performances, pop-ups, markets, wellness sessions and gourmet eats.
It's all happening over New Years at the usual spots in Tassie's Marion Bay, Lorne in Victoria, the North Byron Parklands and the Fremantle Oval Precinct, WA. But here's what you're here for — the full lineup.
FALLS FESTIVAL 2018 LINEUP
Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
Catfish and The Bottlemen (no sideshows)
Vance Joy
Chvrches
Hilltop Hoods
Toto
Interpol
88Rising Feat. Rich Brian, Joji, Niki & August 08 (no sideshows)
Flight Facilities
Amy Shark
DMA's
Kind Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Golden Features
First Aid Kit (no sideshows)
Ocean Alley
Hockey Dad
Cashmere Cat (no sideshows)
The Vaccines
Cub Sport
Ruel
Jack River
Bishop Briggs
Mallrat
Briggs
Touch Sensitive
Tkay Maidza
Dermot Kennedy
Tired Lion
Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers
Soccer Mommy
Banks
Triple One
Alice Skye
Heaps Gay DJs & Friends
+ More to be announced
FALLS FESTIVAL 2018 DATES
Lorne, VIC — December 28–31
Marion Bay, TAS — December 29–31
Byron Bay, NSW — December 31–January 2
Fremantle, WA — January 5–6
Falls Festival 2018 will take place over New Years. Friends of Falls members pre-sale tickets are available from midday Friday, August 31, with General Sales kicking off next Thursday, September 6 at 9am. For more info and to buy tickets, visit fallsfestival.com.