Overview
When Wollongong's Yours and Owls last took place back in April 2021, it ticked a couple of huge pandemic-era boxes. Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, it was the first major music festival that New South Wales had seen in over a year — and it was the first to allow dancing as well.
The following year, however, the fest was forced to cancel when La Niña flooded Stuart Park in 2022. So, you could say it's been a real rollercoaster for the beloved musical gathering. But in 2023, we're set for a classic Yours and Owls good time — and the festival just dropped its lineup.
Golden Features, Aleksandar Jason
Taking place between Saturday, October 14–Sunday, October 15, the two-day shindig affectionately labelled Gong Christmas will be arriving at a new home, the University of Wollongong (UOW) campus, with over 60 local and international acts spanning all range of genres. Topping the bill: Descendents for their first Australian tour since 2017, alongside Oliver Tree, Chet Faker, Hilltop Hoods, Earl Sweatshirt, Golden Features and Ocean Alley. Talk about a mix of sounds.
US drill star Lil Tjay is another notable addition to the lineup, boasting billions of streams and over 18-million monthly listeners on Spotify. Plus, you can also catch Vera Blue, Meg Mac, Peach Pit, Bakar, Safia, Broods, Hobo Johnson, Masego, RVG, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Royal Otis and Sorry among the festival's heavy hitters.
Oliver Tree
A few names from the SXSW Sydney music lineup have made their way over to the Yours and Owls program, with the two events sharing dates. Wallice, Ekkstacy, Dice, Go-Jo, Phoebe Go and Rum Jungle will all be appearing at both events.
The south coast festival's dance music stage Das Shmelthaus is also returning, and is sure to make the most of the new UOW home. On its lineup of electronic tastemakers: Club Angel, DJ PGZ, Sam Alfred, Mike Who and Lauren Hansom.
Ruby Bowland
UOW and the festival have inked a three-year partnership, with the all-weather solutions available at the campus cited as one of the driving factors behind the team-up — plus the university's picturesque green spaces and a mutual commitment towards carbon-emission reduction. You can expect stages to pop up across the expansive space, with Yours and Owls promising to activate grounds, ovals and laneways.
Yep, that's your October plans sorted — and because you're here for the full lineup, you can check out the details below.
University of Wollongong
YOURS AND OWLS 2023 LINEUP:
Bakar
Broods
Chet Faker
Descendents
Earl Sweatshirt
Golden Features
Hilltop Hoods
Hobo Johnson
Lil Tjay
Masego
Meg Mac
Ocean Alley
Oliver Tree
Peach Pit
Safia
Vera Blue
Angel Du$t
Big Wett
Daily J
Dice
Ekkstacy
Fazerdaze
Forest Claudette
James Marriott
King Mala
Old Mervs
Pacific Avenue
Phony Ppl
Redhook
Royal Otis
RVG
Shagrock
Sorry
Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers
Teenage Dads
The Grogans
The Rions
The Terrys
The Vanns
Tia Gostelow
Wallice
Babyface Mal
Billy Otto
Full Flower Moon Band
Girl And Girl
Go-Jo
Lazywax
Phoebe Go
Possehot
Rum Jungle
Stevan
Stumps
These New South Whales
Towns
YB
Wiigz
Das Shmelthaus:
Object Blue b2b TSVI
Cleo
Club Angel
DJ PGZ
Kornél Kovács
Lauren Hansom b2b Mike Who
Luca Lozano
Sam Alfred
Seb Wildblood
Skatebard
Tangela
Yours and Owls 2023 will return from Saturday, October 14–Sunday, October 15 at its new home at the University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong. Ticket pre-sales will kick off at 8am AEDT on Wednesday, June 28, with general tickets on sale at 8am on Thursday, June 29.
Top Image: Jess Gleeson