Overview
It has been a turbulent year for major music events, culminating in the last-minute cancellation of Bluesfest just last month. But some good news for music festivals and festival-goers in New South Wales has finally come through, with Wollongong's Yours and Owls set to become the first major music festival the state has seen since March of last year — and, less than three weeks out from the festival, the NSW Government has just granted it approval to allow dancing.
Back in March this year, Yours and Owls was given the green light to hold the festival on Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18. Shortly after that announcement, event organisers laid out their plan for a music festival in the COVID-era. The original idea was to have attendees split into four zones and seated surrounding two rotating stages, with each stage containing its own LED screen, bar, food stalls and amenities as well as a smaller stage for local bands. While the zones are staying, further consultation with the NSW Government after the recent rolling back of restrictions across the state has resulted in Yours and Owls being able to open up the dance floor.
As part of its revised COVID-safe plan, the festival has also been moved from its spiritual home of Stuart Park and moved down the road to a larger site at Dalton Park in Fairy Meadow.
The two-day festival will feature heavy hitters like What So Not, Tones and I, Hayden James and DMA's, as well as beloved Wollongong locals Hockey Dad — and an undercard spanning from Sydney dance-pop trio Haiku Hands to Melbourne punk group Slowly Slowly. DMA's, Hockey Dad and Tones and I's performances will serve as bookends to the state's festival drought in a way, after all three acts performed at one of NSW's last pre-pandemic festivals, Laneway 2020.
If you've forgotten how to dance over the last 12 months, you can refresh your moves with Hayden James' video for 'Something About You' below.
Yours and Owls will take place on Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18 at Dalton Park, Wollongong. Tickets are still available via Moshtix, starting at $129.95 for a one-day pass or $219.95 for the weekend. You can find the full lineup, plus info on the zones and the event's COVID-safe plan, on the festival's website.