Queenscliff Music Festival Director Steps Down After 10 Years

Queenscliff Music Festival Director Andrew Orvis is stepping down after ten years running the event and 16 years working for the festival.

Born and bred in the picturesque Victorian town of Queenscliff, Orvis is a longtime music lover who climbed up through various roles in the Queenscliff Music Festival team until becoming Director ten years ago.

Delivering numerous successful, sold-out editions of the event, Orvis and the Queenscliff Music Festival team managed to navigate the tumultuous Covid years, which inspired Orvis to open the venue, The Pelican Bar. With Orvis at the helm, the festival has brought over 1,000 artists to Queenscliff and attracted more than 100,000 festival attendees, many of whom were likely tourists as well as locals.

Stepping down as “it’s time for someone else to take charge”, Orvis experienced many great times at the festival, including having his two young children at the “Daddys Festible” event within the Queenscliff Music Festival. As a family, they enjoyed performances by Bluey, Teeny Tiny Stevies, and Bananas In Pyjamas.

“I've loved my time at the Queenscliff Music Festival, and whilst I'm sad that it's coming to an end, I'm excited about new adventures and opportunities in the future,” Orvis said of his departure in a press release. “It's such a wonderful place, amazing people, a brilliant event, and has been an absolute honour to work on the Festival over so many years. It's now time for someone else to take charge and lead Queenscliff Music Festival for many more years of successful Festivals.”

The Queenscliff Music Festival Inc. Board is currently looking for qualified industry professionals to submit Expressions Of Interest. Submissions are now open via the Queenscliff Music Festival website.

Last year’s edition of the Queenscliff Music Festival featured 70 artists and 150+ performances over four days. The line-up included Something For Kate, Frank Turner, Ian Moss, Illy, Dan Sultan, Jem Cassar-Daley, Full Flower Moon Band, WILSN, and many more.

In a review of the festival for The Music, writer Noah Redfern declared, “Rain or shine - Queenscliff Music Festival brings love and warmth to all in attendance.” You can read the review here.