Festival Guide: Our Hot Picks For South Australia & The Northern Territory This Summer

SUMMER CAMP

When: Saturday 26 February, 2022
Where: Darwin Showgrounds, Darwin
Who: Years & Years, Big Freedia, The Veronicas, Cub Sport, Ladyhawke, Confidence Man, Sycco, Kinder + more
Website: summercampfestival.com.au

Less than two weeks since the announcement of one of Australia’s newest, most promising and most unique music festivals, Summer Camp, was announced, and it’s already looking like tickets are flying off the shelf. It’s little wonder why; the inaugural event, which is landing in Sydney, Darwin, Melbourne and Perth in 2022, is positioning itself as being the first festival with international headliners to grace the Southern Hemisphere and Australia’s first touring pride festival. With a plan to create a ‘summer camp’ for adults, a playground of music and art culture that “suspends reality and transcends the boundaries of imagination”, Summer Camp is setting a goal of becoming a place where everyone is welcome – no matter who you love, your pronouns or your music taste. 

SUMMERSALT FESTIVAL

When: Sunday 20 March, 2022
Where: Glenelg Beach, Glenelg
Who: Xavier Rudd, Birds Of Tokyo, Missy Higgins, The Waifs, Pete Murray + more
Website: summersaltmusic.com.au

As the radiant heat of summer begins to simmer down in March, one of the most beloved blues, roots and folk events, SummerSalt, will be gearing up to take place in some of the most picturesque and iconic locations around the country. On top of showcasing the best of homegrown and international bands, it will also bring cultural attractions, placing a very heavy emphasis on local community and sustainability in each area. In the words of the organisers themselves, "We aim to provide a truly unique feast for the senses - an eclectic concert series with a focus on the proven and beloved performers, creating the perfect setting to either dance with your friends or sit back and chill to the tunes. SummerSalt will be a day of fun in the sun with the perfect soundtrack to match. We respect the gorgeous summer settings we operate in and include green initiatives to minimise our impact on these locations and beyond." Get ready for some sun, salt and music…

WOMADELAIDE

When: Friday 11 March - Monday 14 March, 2022
Where: Botanic Park, Adelaide
Who: Paul Kelly, Courtney Barnett, Baker Boy + more
Website: womadelaide.com.au

Now entering its 30th year of providing Adelaidians with a literal smorgasbord of music, arts and dance, and celebrating cultural and creative diversity, WOMadelaide returns in 2022 with a fresh program and a return to form, with the classic seven-stage format back in action at the Botanic Park in March. Paul Kelly, Courtney Barnett and Yolngu rapper and 2019 Young Australian of the Year Baker Boy headline the (almost all-Australian) 30th-anniversary program. Also among the first 30 acts: local producer Motez (who will premiere a specially commissioned live project) and renowned folk-rock band Goanna, who will present their critically acclaimed album Spirit Of Place 40 years on with First Nations collaborators, plus heaps, heaps more.

BASS IN THE GRASS

When: Saturday 21 May, 2022
Where: Mindil Beach, Darwin
Who: Boy & Bear, Dune Rats, G Flip, Vera Blue, Peking Duk + more
Website: bassinthegrass.com.au

Since 2003, iconic festival Bass In The Grass has been partying with some of the nation’s biggest acts. As the Territory’s biggest and longest-running music festival, you can expect nothing but good vibes, sweet tunes and amazing memories all in one incredible location at Darwin’s Mindil Beach. Tickets are already flying off the shelf for the event’s 19th birthday. 

HOMEBREWED 2

When: Friday 21 January - Sunday 23 January, 2022
Where: Adelaide Showground, Adelaide
Who: Bad//Dreems, Luke Million, Teenage Joans, Peter Combe, Tilly Tjala Thomas + more
Website: homebrewed.beerbbqfest.com.au

You’d be forgiven for instantly assuming that an event called ‘Homebrewed’ would be all about the beer and wouldn’t be wasting precious time on live music. Thankfully, you’d be wrong. In 2022, HomeBrewed 2 will return to the Adelaide Showgrounds Hamilton Boulevard and surrounds on January 21, 22 and 23 for several nights packed with brewers, beers, and BBQ and heaps of live music. Kicking off far enough from New Year's Eve that you’ll be ready to party again, the open air, sun-drenched party will welcome in live spots from Bad//Dreems, Luke Million, Teenage Joans, Peter Combe, Tilly Tjala Thomas and more. Cheers to that! 

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For more upcoming festivals and other events, head to theGuide.