Australia, you lucky bastards. Meredith Music Festival just announced its 33rd lineup, and it’s serving art rock, soul, and straight-up weirdness in one eclectic buffet. Headliners? The legendary TV on the Radio (yes, the band you should be ashamed if you’ve never listened to), the always-haunting Perfume Genius, and none other than Colin Hay from Men at Work — because apparently, we all need a reminder that Australians still “come from the land Down Under.”
TV on the Radio hasn’t set foot in Oz in a decade, and this is long overdue. If you’ve slept on them, wake up — they’re one of my all-time favorites. Bonus trivia for the pop culture junkies: lead singer Tunde Adebimpe popped up in the blockbuster Twisters alongside Glen Powell. Yeah, the art rock frontman chasing tornadoes — now that’s cinema. Next time you watch, keep an eye out for him instead of pretending Glen Powell is the second coming of McConaughey.
Perfume Genius? Expect to cry, sway, and maybe question your life choices — all in the best possible way. And Colin Hay? The man’s practically folk royalty at this point, holding the torch for Aussies everywhere. Throw in Thee Sacred Souls, Pa Salieu, Atarashii Gakko! making their debut, and a pile of homegrown names like Folk B—ch Trio, RONA, Mildlife, and Dr. Sure’s Unusual Practice, and you’ve got a festival that’s basically saying: “Oh, you thought you knew eclectic? Cute.”
Of course, Meredith is still flexing its famous “no dkhead policy”** — and honestly, more festivals should tattoo that on their foreheads. Respect, community, and a good dose of freaky fun. That’s the DNA this fest has been preserving since 1991, when it started as a backyard party for 200 people. Fast-forward three decades, and now it’s bringing acts like Kraftwerk, Jamie xx, Liam Gallagher, The Breeders, and Billy Bragg into the fold. Growth without selling out — imagine that, Coachella.
Tickets? Forget refreshing Ticketmaster like a desperate gambler — Meredith keeps it old-school with a ballot system. Translation: if the universe loves you, you’re in. If not, there’s always next year (or therapy).
Bottom line: If you’re in Australia Dec. 5–7, stop making excuses and make it to Meredith. If you’re stuck stateside like us on Florida’s east coast, at least keep the live music dream alive with the Static Live Music Calendar App — your hookup for every dive bar, beach stage, and main street gig in Daytona, New Smyrna, Ormond, Flagler, and beyond. Download it, use it, and keep local music alive while we keep cranking out sarcastic truths.
Rock loud, live harder.