After selling out the two previous years, South Coast event Changing Tides Festival is back in 2025.
British indie rock slayer Sam Fender, whose 2025 album 'People Watching' is nominated for a Mercury Prize 2025 Album Of The Year award, will headline this year's instalment, which returns to Kiama Showgrounds on 22 November.
The 'Seventeen Going Under', 'Hypersonic Missiles' and 'Will We Talk?' hitmaker, who has won three Brit Awards, will be joined by co-headliner Noah Cyrus, who has emerged from the shadows of her famous family to cultivate her own collection of ethereal songs.
Noah's recent album, 'I Want My Loved Ones To Go With Me', is rooted in Americana, indie folk, and country music. "For a long time, I couldn't really trust in my own choices," Cyrus says.
"I had to learn how to make decisions for myself and make that transition into adulthood, but I've found who I am, I know who I am, and this record shows what I had inside me all this time. This album is me."
Currently working on her new record, English singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone ('Falling Asleep At The Wheel') will also trek to Changing Tides, with local audiences to possibly witness her collab onstage with Fender.
Three years ago, the pair collaborated on an acoustic rendition of Fender's 'Seventeen Going Under', before reuniting for an epic live moment when Holly supported Sam this year at his three sold-out homecoming shows at St. James' Park (78,000 capacity) in Newcastle (UK).
Rock-country-pop family band and Menangle legends, The Rubens ('Hoops', 'Live In Life') will also find themselves at Changing Tides in 2025. "Kiama, we're coming for ya! Pumped to be playing Changing Tides Festival this year. See you in November 🤝."
Garage rockers Skegss are also amped for the festival: "Something to look forward to in November!" While MAY-A is already planning her wardrobe attire. "A live??? Show?! MAY-A band?? Album debut songs possible???? My god what will I wear!"
High school buds and 2021 Unearthed High winners The Rions will bring such hits like 'Night Light' and 'Scary Movies' to the Changing Tides stage as well as material from their forthcoming album 'Everything Every Single Day' (that lands 3 October) including newest single 'Cry'.
"We wrote 'Cry' about the dangerous and very real cycle of 'attitude' passed from father to son," the band share. "Something as simple as 'casual jokes' being thrown around at the pub, or around the dinner table can be much more harmful than you think.
"Young men need to be taught to take accountability for our actions, now more than ever. There's no more room for excuses. Pull up your friends, do better."
Then there's rising star of soul and R&B BOY SODA, who today released the next single 'Never The Same' from his forthcoming album 'Soulstar'.
"I wrote 'Never The Same' with an empty cup and in a period of isolation where the emotional pain of separating from someone felt so indefinite and permanent that I thought I’d never be the same again.
"For me, the grief and devastation of that event slowly transformed into recognising the beauty of change and accepting that of course, things can never be the same as they were, not even a second ago."
The Inspired Unemployed (two best mates trying to find themselves) and emerging Sydney singer-songwriter Chloe Parché round out the line-up. "So grateful to be a part of such a cool lineup. See you in November 💛," shares Chloe.
Festival goers will be able to soak up the coastal backdrop, enjoy curated food and drink offerings, and dive into a community-led celebration that reflects everything the festival loves about the South Coast.
Tickets are on sale.
Changing Tides Festival takes place at Kiama Showgrounds (Illawarra) on 22 November.
Changing Tides Festival 2025 Line-up
Sam FenderNoah Cyrus
The Rubens
Skegss
Holly Humberstone
The Rions
MAY-A
RGL (The Inspired Unemployed)
BOY SODA
Chloe Parche
triple j Unearthed Winner
