Overview
Back in 2018, Australia scored the kind of festival we were always bound to, and to love: The Drop, a music fest that sets up its song-filled stages beside the country's iconic surfing spots. And if that still sounds like your idea of quite the big — and sandy — day out, you'd best get ready to surf the festival wave again, with the event returning in 2022 and 2023.
In 2022, The Drop will stage a two-date run in New South Wales, hitting up Bondi Beach and Coffs Harbour in October. This marks the first time that the fest has made its way to Bondi, so expect it to be huge.
On the bill at both 2022 shows: Tones and I, Matt Corby and Dune Rats, as well as Cub Sport, Gretta Ray, Shag Rock, TOWNS and Hallie. They'll head to Sydney's most famous beach on Saturday, October 15, then back it up the following week, on Saturday, October 22, at Park Beach Reserve in Coffs Harbour.
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Fans in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, where The Drop has played before, will need to wait until next year to get their sun, surf, sand and song fix. The 2023 lineup hasn't been revealed, but dates have announced. Whether the event will do what it usually does and follow the Aussie leg of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour hasn't been confirmed yet either, but fingers crossed.
Stops are locked in for Coolangatta, Torquay and Busselton, though, plus a return to NSW thanks to the Newcastle show. And pairing music not only with sandy settings, but with surfing contests, has always been a big part of The Drop.
If you have tickets to previous The Drop fest that didn't go ahead due to the pandemic, you now have a few options — to either roll them over to the new festivals in each location (where they're returning), switch to Bondi or Coffs Harbour instead, or obtain a refund.
Ian Laidlaw
THE DROP FESTIVAL 2022 DATES
Saturday, October 15 — Bondi Beach, Bondi, New South Wales
Saturday, October 22 — Park Beach Reserve, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
THE DROP FESTIVAL 2022 LINEUP
Tones And I
Matt Corby
Dune Rats
Cub Sport
Gretta Ray
Shag Rock
TOWNS
Hallie
THE DROP FESTIVAL 2023 DATES
Saturday, January 21_Sunday, January 22 — Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta, Queensland
Tuesday, March 28 — Empire Park, Newcastle, New South Wales
Saturday, April 8 — Torquay Common, Torquay, Victoria
Saturday, April 15 — TBC, Busselton, Western Australia
Saturday, May 13 — Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta, Queensland
The Drop will return for two 2022 festivals in New South Wales in October. Ticket pre-sales start at 9am on Tuesday, August 9, with general sales from 9am on Wednesday, August 10. For more information, visit the festival's website.
The Drop's 2023 lineup will be announced closer to its 2023 dates — we'll update you when details come to hand.
Images: Ian Laidlaw / Miranda Stokkel.