27 June 2019

Meet the two locals behind new music festival to light up Canberra's truffle farm

| Lachlan Roberts
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Rohan Thomas and Marty Khoundavong are the two locals making the festival a reality. Photo: Supplied.

A brand new music festival is set to turn Canberra’s truffle farm into a neon paradise for a day to celebrate everything that the nation’s capital has to offer.

The Sweet Dreams Festival, which is the brainchild of locals Rohan Thomas and Marty Khoundavong, will transport attendees to a colourful dreamland complete with a glow-in-the-dark ball pit and giant neon animals.

Boasting a strong lineup of international and local talent, including well-known Canberra artists Citizen Kay, Kirklandd and Kirrah Amosa, the boutique day-night festival will take place 21 September at the Truffle Farm in Majura.

The two men behind the festival said the idea was born from a desire to provide something unique to Canberra that is more than the typical music festival.

“This idea started toward the end of last year,” Rohan Thomas shared. “We thought it was something that Canberra needed and we wanted to organise something that celebrated Canberra. The idea came to fruition at the start of this year.

“We are both born and bred Canberrans and we love this city and are passionate about this city. It is really a festival for locals, including artists, businesses and fans. Let’s celebrate what Canberra has to offer.”

Marty Khoundavong said the festival will be the ultimate day of live music and visual experiences.

“The idea for Sweet Dreams is based on the contrast of day and night, so musically, you’ll get a completely different experience during the day to what you will at night,” Khoundavong said. “The day starts with RnB and hip-hop and then as it gets darker, the electric EDM vibes will pick up as the DJs take us into the night and the neon lights really start to pop.

“The Truffle Farm is a great location and showcases another product Canberra has to offer. It is so beautiful out there! Standing out there, you would have no idea that you are in the middle of Canberra.”

The festival line up is littered with international and Australian talent, from Singaporean EDM producer MYRNE, Melbourne hip-hop artist Maribelle, Sydney pop artist Thandi Phoenix to electronic funk wizard and Arnold Schwarzenegger fanatic Luke Million.

“We wanted to provide something unique. We had always pictured the overall theme of the festival as a dreamland,” Thomas said.

“That builds in on the emotion that we want to have at the festival,” Khoundavong added. “We want it to be more than a stage and bar.

“We want to provide a whole dreamland feel, with lots of decorations to make you feel you are out of the city. The music is great, the food is great and you don’t feel like it is an everyday, standard festival.”

Sweet Dreams Music Festival
Line-up featuring: Citizen Kay, Hi Life, Kirrah Amosa, Kirklandd, Luke Million, Maribelle, MYRNE, Thandi Phoenix, Throttle and Truples
Truffle Farm Canberra
Midday till late, 21 September 2019
Early bird tickets from $79. Buy tickets here.

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