7 May 2018

Perisher's Peak Music Festival is the coolest way to spend the Queen's Birthday long weekend

| Hayden Fritzlaff
Start the conversation
Photograph of Dan Sultan standing on a ski slope.

Dan Sultan heads up this year’s Peak Music Festival at Perisher. Photos: Supplied.

If, like me, you feel a little miffed by the seemingly slow approach of winter this year, then just chill out for a second, because Perisher’s Peak Music Festival has the antidote for those lingering summer vibes. Set among ski slopes and eucalyptus trees, the festival is bringing a huge lineup of music and art to the unique and uniquely-cool Australian alpine setting.

Taking place across the Queen’s Birthday long weekend (Friday, June 8th – Monday, June 11th), the festival will play host to over 120 unique performances. Dubbing itself ‘Australia’s coolest festival’, night temperatures could well dip below zero, and some early-season snowfall is a very real possibility.

Honestly though, if the idea of rugging up in a ski lodge, and then hitting the slopes in the morning before heading off to catch some sweet, sweet live music doesn’t appeal to you, should you really be calling yourself a Canberran?

Photograph of Haiku Hands with rectangular strips obscuring their faces.

Haiku Hands are the do-not-miss act at Peak this year.

The hugely prolific Dan Sultan leads a stacked lineup announcement, with what looks set to be a highlight performance on the Saturday night. Women lead the charge elsewhere on the program, with the decidedly indie Sahara Beck and guitar band Hussy Hicks heading up Sunday and Monday nights respectively.

Cross-state collective Haiku Hands are the do-not-miss act of the weekend, holding down a Friday night pre-party that also sports guitarist Felicity Lawless and jam band Allensworth.

An enormous contingent of local poets and musicians will be spread across no less than nine stages dotted around Perisher. They’re mostly within walking distance of one another, but a free shuttle bus will escort festival-goers between the further-flung sites. If mother nature turns out to party as well, you might even find yourself skiing between stages.

And if you want your goggle tan and soggy feet to feel like they’re the result of a hard day’s work and not just a side-effect of partying in the snow, the festival is currently taking applications for volunteers.

Felicity Lawless will elevate the Peak Music Festival crowd this Queen’s Birthday weekend.

You can snag a 4-Day Festival Pass for the early bird price of $150. That’ll get you into every set you’d want to catch as well a few sneaky extras like free night skiing and scenic chairlift rides. If you’re planning on bringing the whole crew, check out the Peak 6 Pack deal that’ll score you a free sixth pass when you purchase five all together.

Single-day tickets start from just $49, but if you’re after the full snowed-in festival experience, accommodation options start from $97 per person per night, twin share.

Oh, and children under the age of 15 get in for free with a paying adult.

All ticketing and accommodation info can be found at peakfestival.com.

Perisher Peak Festival Presents:
Dan Sultan
Sahara Beck
Hot Potato Band
Matiu Te Huki
Allensworth
Nomika
Electrik Lemonade
Hussy Hicks
Felicity Lawless
Cigany Weaver
Bortier Okoe
Out Of Abingdon
Barleyshakes Duo
DJ Freddy Flyfingaz
Lizzy Flynn & The Reckoning
And more…

What would be your ideal music festival destination?

Start the conversation

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.