Massive First Nations Festival To Debut At Hanging Rock

In partnership with the Victorian Government, Bad Apples Music and Mushroom Group have announced a new and exciting First-Nations day-long festival, First & Forever. 

From the genius minds of the late Michael Gudinski (MG) and revered artist Briggs, the new event will celebrate the unstoppable force of First Nations culture and welcome artists from multiple nations to showcase their excellence at The Gathering Place, Hanging Rock on Sunday, 27 November.

The line-up, hand-picked by Bad Apples founder, Briggs, features a mind-bending number of talented artists, including Baker Boy, Jessica Mauboy and King Stingray, all excited to celebrate and showcase the magic and fortitude found in First Nations culture. 

“For years I’d had an idea for a First Nations-led contemporary music festival, something cool and boutique that was really about the music and culture,” Briggs recalls. 

“When Gudinski called me about a similar idea he’d had, we found this really collaborative working relationship. We both had a passionate approach to Melbourne, Victorian music, and amplifying Blakfellas’ stories. MG got the ball rolling. After he passed, the ball was in my court. I had to take it home.” 

Briggs also made mention of the contribution that Australian legend Paul Kelly made to the project by lending a helping hand to pick the artists. 

On the creation of the event, Kelly noted that "My last conversation with Michael just over a week before he died was backstage at Archie [Roach’s] concert. [MG] was bubbling with ideas for a new project, a big concert with headlining First Nations artists … he urged me to get involved. I said no to Michael many times over the years, and I said yes lots. I’m glad I said yes this last time.” 

We’re very excited to announce First & Forever.

The day-long event on Sun 27 Nov will showcase 20+ First Nations artists on one spectacular stage in Victoria, The Gathering Place at Hanging Rock.

Tour and ticketing details → https://t.co/dPkLRnnFiT pic.twitter.com/Nju618aGYu

— Mushroom (@MushroomGroup) October 4, 2022

The festival is set to be a picnic-style event, with artists playing on one main stage, 'The Uncle Archie Stage', which is located at the foot of Hanging Rock - a venue usually reserved for international artists. Naming the stage after Archie Roach, one of the pioneers of bringing First Nations culture and artistry into a contemporary setting, First & Forever have created the perfect place to celebrate the First Nation artists taking to the stage. 

The peoples of the Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung have long gathered on the lands where First & Forever is hosted, working with festival organisers to name the location and properly pay respect to the land before the festival. 

Current Mushroom Group Chief Executive, Matt Gundinski, commented on his dad's passion for championing First Nations talent: “Once Dad had an idea in his head, there was little chance of him letting it go. To see another passion project of his come to fruition makes me very happy. Mushroom has always been a big supporter of First Nations artists for decades, and First & Forever is a celebration of the remarkable talent of this country’s First Nations artists. Presented in an amazing setting of Hanging Rock, it’s bound to be a night to remember.” 

Tickets will be on sale from Friday 14 October at 11am, with a Frontier Members Pre-Sale on Tuesday 11 October (11am AEDT). You can check out more information on the festival here.

FIRST & FOREVER LINE-UP
Presented by Mushroom Group, the Victorian Government and Bad Apples Music
Hosted by the Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung. 

BAKER BOY, BUDJERAH, JESSICA MAUBOY, KING STINGRAY, SYCCO, THELMA PLUM, ALICE SKYE, BUSBY MAROU, CHRISTINE ANU, DAN SULTAN, ELECTRIC FIELDS, EMMA DONOVAN, TASMAN KEITH, ZIGGY RAMO, BARKAA, BIRDZ, DAMEEEELA, JESS HITCHCOCK, JK-47, KARDAJALA KIRRIDARRA, KOBIE DEE + MORE