Feeling like a festival? Here’s your guide to what’s on in January

Forte's guide to festivals and events on in January '25

I was driving home from the supermarket not so long ago, balancing the seesaw of maintaining road concentration with the ponderation of how my years have disappeared like a dog in a thunderstorm, all the while listening to my ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ mix CD. It’s a pretty sweet compilation I put together with song titles containing a mode of transportation. Yeah, I know, I’m pretty cool. Email me if you want it. Or don’t. I’m not good at responding, and dislike a cluttered email. But it is a sweet mix. You’ve got Scatterbrain, Dinosaur Jr, Jawbreaker, Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth and more.   

As I was approaching home, Soul Asylum’s ‘Runaway Train’ came on and so I found myself happily singing along with, and considerably worse than, Dave Pirner. Perhaps happily is not the best choice of words given it was written as Pirner’s “metaphor for depression” and its accompanying video featured some 36 kids from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. But singing along I was. So, I pull up, eject the CD and you would not believe what song was playing on the radio. That’s right, Mark Ronson’s ‘Uptown Funk’. No, it was ‘Runaway Train’. Word to your mother.   

Now, the joy I found in that moment would not, I imagine, be comparable to say, receiving a phone call telling me I am a Division One winner, but more on the level of when you’re in the shower and you cup your hands high on your chest to let them pool with water before dropping the water to the shower base while making a kaboom noise level of joy. And sometimes that’s all a day needs. 

I hope your 2025 outshines your 2024, and I hope you enjoy these January festivals and events… 

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

January festivals and events:

Summer in the Parks

Bendigo – throughout January  

Summer is ready when you are

Ah, summer. It’s a time for doing the bare feet on hot concrete dance. It’s a time for burning yourself on your seatbelt buckle. But there is plenty of the good stuff as well. Bendigo’s summer party returned last year for its three fun-filled months. January events include an outdoor cinema viewing of Wonka on January 11 at Golden Square’s Cooinda Park, Wild Kids Summer Splendour on January 18 at Crusoe Reservoir and No 7 Park, Australia Day celebrations on January 26 and an outdoor cinema viewing of Migration on January 31 at Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve Park.      

More through https://www.bendigosummerintheparks.com 

Nightjar 

Torquay – January 3 & 10 

Nightjar, I am never too far away 

Delight your night at Nightjar with a couple of enchanting evenings featuring incredible musicians, art installations and celebrations of cultures. January 3 features Milo Eastwood, Kim Churchill, The Belair Lip Bombs, Pollyman and Solar Wax. January 10 features Surf Trash, Bones & Jones, Frenzee, Gimmy and Wild Honey.   

More through https://nightjarfestival.com.au/ 

 

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Red Hot Summer Tour

Mornington Racecourse, Mornington on January 4   

To the top we are red hot

The Red Hot Summer Tour is a festival so true blue it will have you grinning like a possum in a gum tree. Your line-up is Icehouse, Noiseworks, Wolfmother, Eskimo Joe, Baby Animals, Killing Heidi and Bachelor Girl. 

More through https://www.redhotsummertour.com.au/ 

Loch Hart Music Festival

Great Ocean Road, Princetown, Kirrae Whurrong Country – January 10-12

Location, lineup, locals and loyalty. Loch Hart Music Festival has the perfect cocktail of ingredients as an independent music festival.

Regional Victoria is incredibly lucky to be the base for some of the most breathtaking views in Australia and be home to a large portion of Australia’s most beloved cultural events and festivals. Combine the two and you have an undeniable winner.

Here’s looking at you Loch Hart Music Festival.

Rising Sun Festival 

Ballan – January 10-13 

One more rising sun 

You might not find a chocolate factory, but you will find a world of pure imagination at the Rising Sun Festival. With a focus on immersion, wonder and transformative experiences, tickets give you access to camping, swimming, music, art, lifestyle and wellness workshops and experiences. 

More through https://www.risingsunfestival.com/ 

Ballarat Festival of Organ and Fine Music 

Ballarat, Clunes and Snake Valley – January 10-14

Everything’s gonna be fine, fine, fine 

When you know, you know. When organist, composer and teacher Sergio de Pieri was shown some of the pipe organs scattered around Central Highlands Goldfields, he knew there was the makings of a festival. 2025’s program includes Christmas in Paris (the music of Marc-Antoine Charpentier), A Delicate Miscellany and The Music of the Clock.   

More through https://www.ballaratorgans.com.au/ 

Portarlington Mussel Festival

Portarlington – January 11 

Crying cockles and mussels alive, a-live, oh 

It’s time to flex your mussels at the Portarlington Mussel Festival. Since 1982, Portarlington has been serving up some of the tastiest treats in Australia and at this festival they take centre stage. You’ll also find more than 200 stalls with all sorts of goodies and entertainment all day long.   

More through http://www.portmusselfestival.com/ 

A day on the green with The Teskey Brothers 

Mt Duneed Estate, Waurn Ponds – January 11

And I know it’s gonna be a lovely day

You never know who you are going to meet while honky-tonk dancing. While cutting a rug at American Legion [Post 82], The Teskey Brothers met US singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell. She’s one of the hand-selected artists set to join the outfit here. Completing the line-up will be Band of Horses, CMAT (making her Australian debut) and Charlie Needs Braces. 

More through https://www.adayonthegreen.com.au/currenttours/theteskeybrothers/geelong 

Warrnambool Quilt Show 

Brauer College, Warrnambool – January 13-15 

Sleeps on a quilt of stars 

What’s your quilty pleasure in life? Held every two years, the Warrnambool Quilt Show is a colourful and snug display of both contemporary and traditional quilts of all sizes. Proceeds are donated to local charities. 

More through https://whatson.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/warrnambool-quilt-show 

Juicy Fest 

Melbourne Showgrounds – January 17 

Oh, life is juicy 

Juicy by name, juicy by nature, Juicy Fest is the ultimate R&B and hip hop festival with only six calories per serving. Your line-up is Ludacris, Akon, Keyshia Cole, Jeremih, Ray J, Fat Joe, Bizzy Bone & Lazzy Bone, Jacquees, Jay Sean, Montell Jordan, Twista, Baby Bash, Pleasure P, Bobby V and Next.  

More through https://www.juicyfest.co/ 

Peninsula Film Festival

Mornington Peninsula – January 17-19

Let the film just roll 

Packing 500 people into a theatre is a pretty good way to start a festival, but those days are in the rear-view mirror as thousands now make the journey to enjoy up to 20 shortlisted films screened outdoors. And when you’ve got the likes of Russell Crowe, Sam Worthington, Nash Edgerton and Rob Connolly in your corner, you’re doing alright. Categories include ‘Best Animation’, ‘Best Documentary’, ‘Best International’ and the ‘Woodleigh School Emerging Filmmaker Award’.  

More through https://www.peninsulafilmfestival.com.au 

Geelong Beer Festival

Johnstone Park, Geelong – January 18 

We’re all here, drinking beer. Drinking beer without a care 

The ‘beer before bread’ theory is that the Agricultural Revolution was inspired to quench the thirst for beer over supplying grain. What will the Geelong Beer Festival inspire? Who knows, but shenanigans are sure to be plentiful. As well as a huge list of beers and ciders, festival-goers can also enjoy tasty grub from the likes of Amazing Calamari, Chubby Bao, Happy Mexican, Little Dumping Van and Pizza Party Hire. To top it all off you have music from British India, Felipe Baldomir and Jordy Maxwell. 

More through https://geelongbeerfestival.com.au/ 

 

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SummerSlam 

Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong – January 18 

Throw me in the slam, catch me if you can 

Move over Big Show on Undertaker. Move over Lex Luger on Yokozuna. Move over Hulk Hogan on Andre the Giant. There is a new king slam in town. Your SummerSlam line-up is O.R.B., Vintage Crop, Blonde Revolver, Straight Arrows, Billiam & the Split Bills, Kosmetika, Checkpoint, OIL!, It Thing, Kitchen People, Evening News, De Porsal, The Floaties, Dialog, Software Update and Piss Blanket. 

More through https://www.barwonclub.com.au/whats-on/ 

Midsumma Festival

Melbourne – January 19 through February 9 

We belong, we belong, we belong together

Spread across two months, Midsumma Festival is a whopping program of queer events from Australia’s premier queer arts and cultural organisation. It’s like a big bag of mixed lollies where everything is a winner. Categories include cabaret, circus, comedy, dance, interpretive performance, musical, spoken word, theatre, visual arts, film, music, talks, tours, workshops and kids and families.  

More through https://www.midsumma.org.au/ 

Newstead Live

Newstead – January 24-27 

You really gotta see it live to get it

The little town with the big festival sound welcomes its 2025 line-up. You have Ado Barker, Alanna & Alicia, Belly Savalas, Bruce Watson & Caitlin French, Bush Gothic, Coral Reid, Dingo’s Breakfast, Double Dole Stringband, Enda Kenny, Freya & Tom McGowan, Georgia Fields, Girl Friday & the Sepia Tones, Grim Fawkner, Ian Bland, Jane Cameron, Karlo Arc, Keith McKenry, LJ, Les Thomas, Maggie Rigby, Mal Webb & Kyle Morrigan, Marilla Homes, Mast Gully Fellers, Mike Martin, One Part Gin, Sweet Harmonies of the ’70s, Sage Roadknight, Sam Fletcher, Steve Turner, Sweet Mona’s Choir, Teresa Dixon, The Blenders, The Duck Downpickers, The Gordon Gypsies, The Pairs, Tim Scanlan & Mana Okubo, Tuck Shop Ladies, Valley Road, Whiskey Dram, Zampoñistas and Zeitgeist Riders.  

More through https://www.newsteadlive.com/ 

Dangerous Goods Festival

PICA, Port Melbourne – January 25 

Hold on tight, you know she’s a little bit dangerous 

You’re more likely to find the good here than danger but, like a Cub Scout, there is no harm in being prepared. Your line-up is OGUZ, Eli Brown, Clara Cuvé, Holy Priest, CLTX, Aisha, Alisha, elMefti, Nik Kastel and USHA.  

More through https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/dangerous-goods-4xxl-black-friday-sale-tickets-928323930867 

Festival of Sails

Geelong – January 25-27 

Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me 

Be like Styx and come sail away with Geelong’s Festival of Sails, the largest sailing regatta in the Southern Hemisphere. While racing is certainly on the menu, the festival also offers live music, entertainment, pop-up bars, local food vendors, fireworks over the bay and more. Basically, it’s a family-friendly celebration that captures the spirit of Geelong. 

More through https://festivalofsails.com.au/ 

Castlemaine Guitar Weekend

Northern Arts Hotel, Castlemaine – January 31 & February 1

Your guitar, it sounds so sweet and clear 

Come celebrate that thing with strings. I’m talkin’ the guitar. Internationally acclaimed blues-roots musician Geoff Achison will lead the way on Friday, January 31. A master of his craft, Achison played alongside the legendary late bluesman Dutch Tilders before becoming a solo artist. He’ll be joined by Jack Pantazis and Eric McCusker. The following day, Geoff will lead an acoustic guitar workshop.  

More through https://events.humanitix.com/achison-concert 

Words by Chester Ogilvie