Image Credit: Lucinda Goodwin

Queenscliff Music Festival brought the best to the Bellarine

Another year done and dusted for QMF, and wasn't it a blast!

For those seeking a festival that feels like a holiday, a neighbourhood block party, and a sensory adventure all in one, the Queenscliff Music Festival (QMF) absolutely delivers. Nestled on the Bellarine Peninsula, Queenscliff is that rare coastal town that’s both effortlessly charming and quietly sophisticated. Think terraced houses, mouth-watering cafés, elegant old hotels, the occasional psychic set against sparkling surf and calm bay waters.

Each year, the town transforms: sea salt mingles with the scent of food trucks, music drifts down wide streets, and suddenly you’re swept into a weekend that somehow feels both intimate and expansive. From the moment I arrived, QMF’s energy had me. Coffee in one hand, Ket Baker goods in the other, I watched kids dash past with painted faces, couples sway to far-off melodies, and grandparents bust moves that proved the 1940s never really left. Even the weather joined the fun; flirting with drizzle, bursting into sunshine, and choreographing itself to the festival’s rhythm.

Friday: King Stingray

Friday’s highlight was King Stingray, and from the first moment, you knew this wasn’t your average festival opener. Their “Yolŋu surf rock” English and Yolŋu Matha lyrics carried on hypnotic grooves—sent a wave of joy rolling through the crowd. Arms in the air, feet moving, sea breeze doing its thing.

Saturday: Thelma Plum, The Waifs and Cat Empire

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Queenscliff Music Festival (@queenscliff_music_festival)

One of Saturday’s standout moments was Thelma Plum; an artist I’d been desperate to see live. Her hour-long set wove intimacy, honesty, and power into a performance that hit straight in the chest. It became one of my festival highlights—consciously and, apparently, subconsciously too. Days later, my brain finally went still (a rare event), and Better in Blak was still looping in there like an emotional ringtone I didn’t ask for but fully welcomed.

Later, The Waifs, Australian folk-rock icons, lit up the stage. Sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson, with Josh Cunningham, had the crowd laughing and singing, highlighting that they had performed earlier along the Mornington Peninsula but playfully told the crowd, “But this is so much better!” fueling the sibling-like rivalry between Mornington and our very own Bellarine Peninsula. They played hits which turned into crowd-wide sing-alongs to “London Still” and “Lighthouse”

The evening hit its high note with The Cat Empire, led by the unstoppable vocal duo of Felix Riebl and Grace Barbé. Their eight-person ensemble unleashed a mix of jazz, funk, and rock, spiked with just the right amount of Latin flair, reinvigorating classic favourites and leaving the crowd no choice but to dance like nobody (and everyone) was watching.

Saturday Night: The Preatures Return

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Queenscliff Music Festival (@queenscliff_music_festival)

Saturday night brought one of the most anticipated moments: The Preatures reunited. Izzi Manfredi lit up the stage; powerful, magnetic, and seamlessly blending nostalgia with something beautifully grounded. Their First Nations co-created song in Darug-language Yanada, co-created with Jacinta Tobin, was a reminder of music’s cultural resonance. Then came the bangers; “Is This How You Feel?” instantly flung me back to my early twenties in the best possible way.

Donavon Frankenreiter and his son closed the weekend with sun-kissed calm; effortless, warm, and the perfect unwind after three days of high-octane joy.

Sunday: 

Sunday woke up grey and grumpy, but festival-goers did not. And by mid-morning, blue skies cracked open just in time for what became my personal highlight: the Boat Stage, aka the Peninsula Princess Ferry; QMF’s brand-new floating venue with Searoad Ferries.

Quite literally, sailing across Port Phillip Bay with a drink in hand, watching Minor Gold and Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats perform… unreal. Minor Gold’s ’70s-tinged harmonies and heartbreak anthems had everyone swaying from die-hard fans, young families, and even local MP Libby Coker, who was spotted soaking up the magic like the rest of us. From the deck, it was the perfect Sunday: sun, music, and a taste of the kind of inventive magic QMF seems destined to carry forward for years; a festival experience unlike anything else. And as we cruised back to shore, I could’ve sworn a dolphin waved us goodbye. Pure QMF magic.

Back on land, creativity and inclusivity bloomed. Ella Hooper owned her set, while the kids’ zone buzzed with circus workshops, art, mini-golf, face painting, silent discos, ukulele lessons and more. It was so nice to see how much thought went into this section to make it a family friendly event. Parents looked on like they’d stumbled into some perfect alternate universe where their kids were joyfully entertained for hours. As Mastercard would say… priceless.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Queenscliff Music Festival (@queenscliff_music_festival)

Non music highlights: Food, beverages and a bit of sustainability

Wandering back to the main stage, I stumbled upon the ‘Sustainable Social Hub’; a delightful surprise tucked between the main stage and kids section. Interactive displays from Queenscliffe Climate Action Now, Swan Bay Environment Association, and Farm My School reminded me that QMF loves the Bellarine’s natural beauty just as much as its music.

And then there was the food. The Bellarine Peninsula is basically Victoria’s playground for food and wine lovers, and QMF makes sure every sense gets a turn. The festival unfolded like a moving feast. Food trucks and stalls spilled colour, aroma, and flavour in every direction: the punchy spices of Banh Mi Brother, the comforting steam of dumplings, the cheesy allure of Fugazi Pizza, the sizzling pan of Vamonos Paella, sweet scoops of Timboon Ice Cream, golden Dutch doughnuts (10/10), and the ever-reliable community sausage sizzle. Every craving was met, every taste bud delighted, and I wandered from bite to bite in a blissful, flavour-filled daze. Drinks were just as inventive (and impressive!) Flowstate Cocktail Bar served cheeky creations like the Salty Dog and Pink Flamingo, while the Bellarine Wine Bar poured local gems from Scotchman’s Hill, BAIE, Leura Park, and Bellarine Estate. Festival bars kept everyone hydrated and in the groove, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, so no dance move was missed.

From floating stages to the dancing, from thought-provoking hubs to joyful kid-sized chaos, QMF has something for everyone. And when it’s over, you leave with a little piece of Queenscliff to add to your memory box, and, if you’re anything like me, Thelma Plum; is still looping in your head for days afterwards.

Words by Sarah Gross