Next Exit Is Regional NSW's New Touring Music Festival Starring Ocean Alley and Spacey Jane
The festival will be taking place across two weekends in May in Tamworth, Gosford, Mudgee and Batemans Bay.
Packing the car and heading out on a road trip to a regional festival is a joy that's been missing from our lives for far too long. Whether it's Groovin the Moo, Bluesfest or Splendour in the Grass, the out-of-town festival is always a stellar excuse for a weekend away and a banging road trip playlist. Luckily, a new festival has appeared on the 2021 events calendar, promising all this and a line-up of buzzed-about local talent across four regional NSW cities.
Next Exit Festival will take place across two weekends in May, popping up in Tamworth, Gosford, Batemans Bay and Mudgee. Heading out on the state-wide tour is Triple J favourites Ocean Alley and Spacey Jane, pop-punk four-piece Dear Seattle, local pop gem Merci, Mercy and indie duo Clews.
The festival was originally conceived to help bushfire-affected towns by bringing a tourism boost to the area and hiring local suppliers. Although these plans were pushed back due to the pandemic, the four-date festival run will no doubt be a boost for the regional towns involved.
The event has been designed around current gathering restrictions on events and will go ahead thanks to a Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) grant. RISE is a Federal Government initiative that has helped fund other COVID-safe music events including Fresh Produce and Summer Sounds.
Tickets for the festival will go on sale at midday on Tuesday, March 9 via touring company MJR Presents' website. You can find the full list of dates below.
NEXT EXIT FESTIVAL 2021 DATES
Friday, May 21 – Bicentennial Park, Tamworth
Sunday, May 23 – Entertainment Grounds, Gosford
Friday, May 28 – Mackay Park, Batemans Bay
Saturday, May 29 – Mudgee Showground, Mudgee
Next Exit Festival will take place across two weekends between Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 29. Tickets for the festival are available from 12pm on Tuesday, March 9 via MJR Presents.
Top image: Ocean Alley by Neegzistuoja via Wikimedia Commons