Your Guide to St Kilda Fest 2017

words by niall roeder

We look at who you should see at St Kilda Festival 2017.

Last year the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) rated Melbourne as the world’s most liveable city for a sixth consecutive year. Sydney’s archrival is chock full of streets lined with amazing restaurants, boutique and cafes. The people are trendy, “culture” is thriving, and there is music to be heard. It’s a fine mix. And St Kilda Festival is part of that mix.

St Kilda Festival is spruiked as Australia’s biggest free music festival. It’s expected to pull in over 400,000 February 12 and you definitely don’t have to pay for a ticket, so I think we can safely say they have that title well and truly secure.

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Each summer the picturesque St Kilda foreshore is overrun by a herd of wild and ruly Sunday warriors pining to dance to the beat of a free concert. Held on the second Sabbath in February every year, St Kilda festival is an Australian artist-only affair, with past line-ups including Hayden James, Thundamentals, Bob Evans and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.

Who to see at St Kilda Festival 2017

Emma Louise
Miss Louise is a past Unearthed and ARIA winner and is behind that catchy-as, “my head is a jungle”, hook. You know the one. Her 2016 release, Supercry, was a cracker album and included the track Talk Baby Talk, which in my humble opinion deserves a place in the Hottest 100. You heard it here first.

Woodlock
To describe something pleasant in a crass way – these guys play some beautiful sh*t. They’re like an Aussie Mumford and Sons, but less agriculural-hipster and more inner-city folk boy. If you’re up for something a bit more relaxed during a primetime slot, this is your best bet.

Daryl Braithwaite
I’m sure upon seeing Dazza is on the bill, a common initial reaction is, are you serious? But worry not. If you can’t picture yourself arm in arm with your slightly intoxicated mate, unharmoniously screaming the words to The Horses, then you don’t know how to have fun and you probably shouldn’t go the St Kilda Festival. #RideWithDaryl

Here's a beautiful sight before you go to sleep tonight ? @clientliaison #stkildafest #lovemusic #sweetdreams

A post shared by St Kilda Festival (@stkildafestival) on Mar 17, 2016 at 5:06am PDT