Queensland's Earth Frequency Festival is celebrating 20 years at its brand new home at the iconic Woodfordia.
Earth Frequency Festival has evolved from a small, landcare party to Queensland's longest-running electronic music festival.
For this 20th edition celebration – having never missed a festival, even during the pandemic years – they're bringing 200 artists across a line-up that is "two decades in the making," according to Director Paul Abad over a Zoom call, less than a month out from the festival (24-27 October).
"As much as it's celebrating the two decades we've just achieved, it's also the start of a new chapter. So moving to Woodfordia, for me it's like moving house, I don't like to do it every year. I like to think in five- or ten-year chapters and I know the Woodfordia team they think long-term as well, they have a 500-year plan.
"The aim is to definitely see this as the start of a new chapter, celebrate everything that has been and hopefully plot a course for another good 10 or 20 years more.
"I think in this industry you just have to get used to the fact there will be ups and downs. Every time you think you've met the final boss of festival management, there's a new one.
"Global pandemic, who would have thought? Then cost of living crisis. . . I guess a combination of hard work, the right attitude, consistency and probably a bit of stubbornness on my part as well, we've been able to push through."
This defining year brings a variety of international and Australian talent that celebrates the people and community who have shaped Earth Frequency over the past two decades.
Topping the bill is British bass and IDM innovator Culprate, Antipodean glitch-hop, bass and funk pioneer Opiuo, UK Ninja Tune founder and Coldcut co-creator Matt Black, and the long-awaited return of Aussie progressive icon Sun Control Species.
"Earth Frequency began at a time when a lot of the outdoor doof events [had] a strong focus on psy-trance specifically. In South East Queensland, it seemed there was a definite lack of the more progressive styles of music and also diversity, so I guess that's two of the main tenets of the creative concept of the event," Paul says.
"From very early on we had big line-ups of the Zenon Records: Tetrameth, Shadow FX, Sensient, Sun Control Species. . . We're very much doing a classic line-up of those style of artists.
"There was also a strong connection of Cairns, South East Queensland, northern New South Wales especially just with these, I guess like groups of nomadic people and artists who would move up and down the coast through summer and the festival circuit at that time.
"So definitely giving a nod to those origins as well as a few internationals like Talpa that we've invited back. I think probably in terms of what I'm really looking forward to, a bit of a last-minute addition but we got Matt Black who is actually one of the founders of Ninja Tune and original members of Coldcut. So yeah, just getting him on that's like a quite a heavyweight booking even though he's quite a chill and understated person."
The festival has been able to survive and thrive without any corporate sponsorship and remains family owned over the past 20 iterations. "It is a bit of an anomaly," admits Paul.
"I think it's been part of the values set from the beginning. No alcohol sales. No corporate sponsorship. No government sponsorship. We have had a few very small council grants just around specific arts projects.
"We're talking in the few thousand dollars, which is always very much appreciated. We've used that usually just around some First Nations [artists], ramping up the programme and some cool things we can do that with that.
"I guess it's a double-edged sword relying on funding, so it can definitely help, but then an event can become reliant on it. Then if the funding is not there it can trigger its own issues.
"It hasn't been easy, but I think just building the event around the capacity that becomes apparent from ticket sales, and a few other incomings gives us the real benefit of complete independence. In creative terms as well as stability with just – that is the core funding and we have to manage those things well."
Earth Frequency also gives up a large amount of potential income by not selling alcohol, instead relying on responsible BYO. "I honestly see the crowd behaviour outcomes as positive by having a limited BYO, finite amount of it.
"Just trying to avoid, you know that sort of binge Australian culture that can pop up in the wrong conditions and again it's just a sort of autonomy. And yes, it is a potential revenue source, but then suddenly you're spending a lot more on alcohol and security all those sort of things.
"No judgement on other events, but as far as how we've put the event together and what we've seen work, it really works for our audience and we've been able to maintain good vibes essentially."
Earth Frequency Festival takes place at Woodfordia (Sunshine Coast) 24-27 October, 2025.
Earth Frequency Festival 2025 Line-up
CulprateOpiuo
Metodi Hristov
Sun Control Species
Matt Black
Antix
Carbon
Chamberlain
D-Sens
DURS
Gabriel Moraes
Handsdown & Leigh Boy
Jacob
JPS
Juman
Kingfisha
Krumelur
Miles From Mars
Mood Swing & Chevy Bass
Paige Julia
Sentient
Spoonbill
Symbolico
Terrafractyl
Tijuana Cartel
Twisted Sibling
Unknown Concept
3Form
8OHO
Akuora
Ambler
Apro
Azrin
Boy With Kuch
Bustaflux & Grommie
Chilacayote
Deities
Duos vs Grug
Enlil
Grizzabella
Gruvaze
Kevin Paviani b2b Poli
Kodiak Kid
Mickey Space
Midium
Morgazmk
Nala
Ollie Jackson
OM River
Ophelie Mercury
Orthentix
Paul Abad
Polka
Psymon b2b Player One
Ross Kent
Rute
Sequence b2b Christian Kerr
Shady Lady
Skwid
Smiggle
Sophoexx
Soundfood
Surge
Twitch
Vsoundz
Wilma
Z.I.V
Zigmon
