Sure Christmas is good, but have you ever seen your fave song live from the shoulders of a stranger? This is the exact scenario that is getting us excited for a big year of festivals. And after a wristband-less couple years, you should be too.
To help you map out your year of good times, we've rounded up some of the best music festivals going down in WA in 2023.
Falls Festival
Fremantle | January
Falls is the festival that delivers the lineup of all lineups time after time. Despite the slight dent in the wallet right after Chrissy, it's well worth writing off a weekend for, just make sure you have enough storage space in your phone for the 4GB of footage you're going to film while drunkenly bouncing up and down trying to see past the tall guy in front all arvo. Plus this year, we get to live out our 2011 dreams and see Arctic Monkeys live, backed up by Jamie XX and Peggy Gou. No questions asked.
Fringe Festival
Perth | 20 January to 19 February 2023
Going down from 20 January through to 19 February 2023, there’s always plenty to get your creative juices flowing at Perth’s annual FRINGE WORLD Festival. From larger-than-life fire acts through to belly-aching comedy shows, Fringe will ignite your imagination and dazzle alllll of your senses. Wondering where to even start? With endless shows on offer across pop-up festival hubs and local institutions, there is something for everyone. Cabaret with flaming swords and heavy metal music? Got it. Naked stand-up comedy? Got that too. Drag so good it makes Priscilla want to retire to the desert? Fringe has it covered. Keen beans can scope out the best FRINGE WORLD shows on sale now.
Perth Festival
All Over Perth | February
Just when you think you've finally overdosed on arts and culture at Fringe, the legendary Perth Festival arrives. And this year they've really upped the ante. There's a staggering lineup of music, art, dance and culture on offer, highlighting stories of traditional custodians across Noongar Boodjar with some pretty damn fantastic local and international musical talent too. We'll be catching Bon Iver, Bjork and Angel Olsen, but hey you do you.
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival
Fremantle | 12 February 2023
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. And fonder it has grown for our first true indie fest love, Laneway Festival. After a noticeable hiatus, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival returns in 2023 with a new city-side location and a ridiculously good lineup featuring Pheobe Bridgers, Haim, Joji, Fontaines D.C., Girl In Red and maker of the most iconic post-pandemic soundtrack, Fred Again.
ROAM
Yet-To-Be-Disclosed Location | 3-5 March 2023
A brand new three-day electronic music camping festival has officially entered the chat, popping up in a yet-to-be disclosed outback location in WA this March. While we don't know exactly where you'll be laying your head just yet, we do know the campgrounds are going to be a real vibe. There's a variety of glamping and pre-pitched tent options, plus immersive artistic experiences to load your senses and plenty of food and drink choices to blow your money on when you realise the chips and muesli bars you packed are just not cutting it. Meanwhile, internationally renowned DJs like Overmono, Sub Focus, Netsky, Ren Zukii, Tina Says, Anna Lunoe and Helena Hauff will be providing the live soundtrack to your weekend.
Hyper Festival
Midland | 1 April 2023
This all-ages music festival may not have any of the familiar overpriced booze to tuck into but damn do they always deliver an incredible lineup of Aussie talent, at an oh so affordable price too, might we add. This year marks the return to Hyper's original pre-covid format, and they have not held back. Thelma Plum and King Stingray have just been announced as headliners, alongside a string of local and interstate legends.
Fairbridge Festival
Pinjarra | April
Sweep the idea of festivals as a sweaty, sensory overload teamed with premixed vodka lime sodas to the side for two seconds. Enter the manic pixie dream girl of the WA festival scene. Fairbridge festival. Held in Pinjarra at the Fairbridge Village every April, the festival has been celebrating folk, roots and world music since 1993. Whether you’re in Dad’s old taj-mahal tent he bought in his camping phase, the boot of your mates old Prado or the swag you borrowed from your uncle, Fairbridge guarantees a weekend of good music, great food and enough arts and crafts tents to satisfy any avid macrame enthusiast.
Groovin The Moo
Bunbury | 6 May 2023
Push aside your summer festival ideas, the Autumn road trip down to Bunbury for Groovin The Moo is one that requires a jumper or two (unless you plan on kitting yourself out at the merch tent). At least you know the acts are hot, with an absolutely massive lineup featuring the likes of Skepta, Denzel Curry, Fatboy Slim, Eliza Rose (aka the queen behind BOTA—baddest of them all), Skeggs, Ocean Alley, Amy Shark, Alt J, Ball Park Music and more.
WA Day Festival
Perth | June
We love Western Australia, but nine times out of ten, she’s reduced to nothing but a mining stereotype. Don’t get us wrong, we love Iron Ore, Coal and all those fun minerals as much as the next person, but have you ever listened to Jimmy Recard on full volume? Or literally any Eskimo Joe song with your dad in the car? These are the same reasons we love WA Day Festival. This epic celebration of Western Australian artists showcases all that we have to offer in the name of our music industry, with acts like Birds of Tokyo, Eskimo Joe, Jebidiah and more on past lineups. Plus there’s a carnival zone (hello bumper cars my old, whiplash-y friend), silent discos and a family zone for all the bambinos. Did we mention this is all free?
RTRFM's Fremantle Winter Music Festival
Fremantle | June
If there's one thing that Freo does well, it’s music. That’s why you’ll always catch us at the Fremantle Winter Music Festival. Hosted by gods of community radio, RTRFM, this festival takes place across some of North Freo's fave music venues all within a short walk of each other, with a huge lot of local acts playing all night long.
Listen Out
Perth | September
Like rain after a drought... International artists are officially back on Australian soil and Listen Out made sure that it was worth the long two-year wait when it broke our festival seal last September. The dance music festival is known for its cracking electronic and hip-hop bills, with 2022's line up featuring big dawgs like AJ Treacey, Chris Lake, Disclosure, The Jungle Giants and Trippie Red.
Wave Rock Weekender
Hyden | September
That Fleetwood Mac song, Seven Wonders. We’re surprised Stevie Nicks didn’t drop in a cheeky mention to Wave Rock in there. We still find it hard to believe we're allowed to party with some seriously cracking local and international artists and musicians at this WA wonder for three whole days. Besides the music and all-round chilled vibes, the food trucks here are cheap as chips and the 50m salt pond gives you a nice break from the heat. The salt content also means you float like a cork after eight bao buns and a few single fins, which is a nice touch. Just make sure you leave enough gas in the tank to catch at least one sunrise from the top of the rock.
Grapevine Gathering
Caversham | October
We love festivals. Even when they’re in a random field three hours away from home and you’re wearing approximately 30cm of fabric total while temperatures are in the single digits. No wonder we love Grapevine. The practically balmy October weather, dancing to big names like The Kooks, Peking Duck and The Veronicas in the vineyards at Sandalford Wines. You had me at hello.
Wine Machine
Swan Valley | November
When the word “wine” is in the title, we’ll oblige. This festival tours across three of Australia’s most reputable wine regions, and WA is lucky enough to be included in this trio. The line-up is always packed full of easy going dance bops from favourites like Flight Facilities, Cut Copy, Lime Cordiale and San Cisco. Perfect for when you're double parked with a couple ice cold chardies.
Ice Cream Factory
Northbridge | December
In a world where few things are certain, what you can always be sure of is Ice Cream Factory providing a good time over that treasured summer break. For the last five years, Ice Cream Factory has lined up the biggest, bestest and boogiest artists and DJs to spin tracks that will inevitably end up on your summer playlist on Spotify. You’ll listen to it in June and you’ll remember a simpler time, when you only needed one layer of clothing and your biggest concern was whether or not you could find a spare ticket the afternoon of the event.
If you're sorting out the social calendar, why not take a look at what else is on this week.
Image credit: Supplied (Laneway)