Subsonic Music Festival enters its 15th year

Subsonic Music Festival, one of Australia’s most celebrated underground music and lifestyle festivals, has announced its 15th-anniversary edition, set to take place just north of Sydney from November 29 to December 1, 2024. Known for its dynamic lineup of music, stunning natural setting, and vibrant community spirit, Subsonic has become a haven for music lovers, creatives, and those seeking an escape from the mainstream.

This year marks a significant milestone for Subsonic as it celebrates 15 years of bringing together diverse communities through music, art, and immersive experiences. Made even more significant given the current events and festival climate in NSW and Australia, against the odds Subsonic is determined to show us why we still need music festivals in our lives.

“We’ve come a long way since our first festival, and it’s been incredible to see the community grow and evolve with us,” says Festival Director Scott Commens. “This year’s lineup is a reflection of our journey – a blend of the sounds that have defined us over the years and fresh, innovative artists who are shaping the future of music.”

This year’s musical lineup features a huge array of international, interstate and local talent spread across an wide variety of DJs and bands from a diverse range of genres and backgrounds.   International headliners from the US and Europe include DJ heavyweights Radio Slave, Toman, Gene on Earth, .Vril, Polygonia and Viken Arman stacked alongside legendary veterans and cult like selectors DJ Zip and Sammy Dee to name only a few. They are joined by an impressive whose who of local and interstate DJs, live acts and bands. Sydney’s “it” artist of the moment Becca Hatch makes her much anticipated Subsonic debut, alongside other live acts like Byron Bay boy wonder Moontide, Melbourne’s The Oddness and others.   

Adding to the already impressive musical offering are some of Australia’s favourite DJs like Anthony Pappa, Simon Caldwell and Barney Kato (doing very special b2b by the river) as well as Cassette, Robbie Lowe, Morgan, Deepa and others. Melbourne favourites flying in include festival circuit regulars Soju Gang, DJ PGZ, Kelly Tee, Dylan Griffin, April Kerry, Danni B and the one and only Monday (yes Monday!) party starters The Breakfast Club DJs and more.   Being a beloved member of the wider Sydney music community the festival has also invited some of the cities most respected club brands and musical outfits too. This includes Return to Rio (whose festival was cancelled this year), SASH, GiRLTHING, Club 77 and after an immensely popular and talked about VIVID performance, the unstoppable party starters Bare Necessities Collective among others.

The notorious Sydney-based, but now global, Sunday institution SASH is bringing an all-star lineup to the Sunday on the festival’s Paradiso Stage, with resident DJs and very special Dutch house music man of the moment, Toman joining them. Legendary and long-standing Club 77 has had a huge revival in recent years and has become a hot spot for Sydney dance music heads, and they are bringing a diverse range of musical talent to this year’s festival including Deepa, DJ PGZ, Barney in the Tunnel (veteran DJ, Barney Kato’s side project) and more.   

A new addition of invited clubbing institutions to the festival’s music program includes two UK/Sydney-based brands, Doozie Records with some signature UK Garage for the Pizza Lab Stage. As well as GiRLTHING taking to The River Stage, which is the brainchild of the much celebrated DJ, Jacqui Cunningham, whose events in Sydney and the UK are a crowd favourite not just in the LGBTQi community but the dance music scene as a whole.

The festival’s live music element is spearheaded by festival regulars the Bare Necessities Collective, a group of likeminded musical aficionados that year on year gathers more and more fans, culminating this year in a crowd-stopping VIVID Sydney performance and the Subsonic Music Launch at the Factory theatre this past winter. They join an already stacked lineup of hybrid bands and singers such as Kaiman Jimenez & Kobra 3000 feat. Queen Nedd, Chris Munky & P.Smurf and the award-winning Becca Hatch whose music this year has been widely played all over Sydney radio.

It is no mistake that while some of these names may be well known, some of them may be flying under the radar (for now). Subsonic Music Festival has a history of introducing some amazing DJs and bands to Australia long before they became household names – artists like Jamie Jones, Honey Dijon, and Boris Brejcha to name some now very notable superstar DJs. This has been by design as the team works tirelessly to discover and bring you the next generation of talent. Years before they were headlining festivals, Subsonic had the foresight and were lucky enough to share their music with you in what has become one of Australia’s favourite music festivals for underground music and culture.

“We have some artists this year that we believe are on that similar trajectory along with some veteran underground, cult-like-status music selectors” said Dylan McDade, Communications Director & Assistant Programmer of the annual NSW festival.

The musical lineup is just one element that makes Subsonic special—the other is the greater festival community. The workshop and lifestyle area of the festival aptly named, The Village is a space for festival goers to play, interact, connect, learn, discover, relax and express themselves through interactive workshops, art, classes, talks and much more. This year, Subsonic has reimagined this beloved space into an expansive new mini precinct, featuring two stages, a shaded massage oasis, captivating art installations, and an array of elixir stalls and shops.

This year’s festival boasts another wide array of workshops, within The Village space, from invigorating ice baths by the river and serene morning yoga sessions to sound immersions, speed dating, breathwork, and thought-provoking talks on crypto, embodiment and much more – The Village invites festival attendees on a journey of discovery and connection, designed for the mildly curious to the adventurous.

“We’ve always believed that Subsonic is more than just a festival – it’s a place where people come together to express themselves, connect with others, discover, and celebrate life,” adds Event Manager, Vanessa Fields. “This year, we’re taking that to the next level with new experiences and surprises that will make this anniversary edition truly unforgettable.”

While the festival industry has seen its share of obstacles, Subsonic Music Festival is moving forward with a renewed sense of purpose and celebration. As many festivals have been impacted by rising costs, as seen repeatedly in the news cycle, Subsonic has doubled down on its commitment to bringing people together.

15 years is a long time for anything, it is particularly long for a music festival and particularly in the current festival and events climate. Continuing more broadly on the current state of the music industry and festivals in particular, Vanessa said, “At a time when the music industry and events space are struggling and with many festival cancellations making the news, we (more than ever) still emphatically believe in providing a platform that brings together a broad like-minded community in a way that’s unique and offers a much-needed space for expression, discovery and connection in these testing times”.

And at its core, Subsonic is about that community. For over a decade, the festival has cultivated a loyal and diverse following of festival-goers who return year after year to reconnect with old friends and make new ones while welcoming in newcomers to discover it all for the first time.

“Our community is what makes Subsonic special,” says Festival Director, Scott Commens. “Whether it’s through a shared love of music, art, or simply the joy of being together in such a beautiful setting, Subsonic is a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone is part of the experience.”

With the first release tickets selling out in record time, 2nd release tickets are now available, but they’re moving fast. Festival goers are encouraged to secure their spot by the river early to avoid missing out. Tickets can be purchased through the festival’s official website with included flexible payment options.

Event dates: Friday 29th November – Sunday 1st December 2024.

Ticket link: https://tinyurl.com/4bm7ypjk