To take place across 3 days at 21 Fortitude Valley venues hosting more than 150 artists and bands, next week's Valley Fiesta (in Brisbane) will be a massive celebration of live music.
With the mantra of 'it's all fiesta, no siesta', the stacked line-up features a host of local and emerging names alongside a boatload of established acts like Beddy Rays, Butterfingers, Carmouflage Rose, DZ Deathrays (DJ set), Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks, Jesswar, King Stingray and Saint Lane."I've been to nearly every Valley Fiesta over the last 24 years," admits Valley Fiesta Ambassador and Powderfinger guitarist Ian Haug, "and every year is wildly different.
"The venues are varied, the bands are diverse and the Brisbane audiences are excitable. What could go wrong? I love the music scene in the Valley."
Here, we sit down with The Mangroves, Hope D, Feels Club, DVNA and VOIID to find out their favourite Fiesta memories, who they're keen to see play, and what it means to have live music return to their lives.
THE MANGROVES
What's the band's elevator pitch re: sound and style?Originally formed in 1982, The Mangroves cryogenically froze themselves under strict instructions only to be revived during Brisbane's renaissance. That time is here.
Now, The Mangroves have thawed out in the scorching summer temperatures of the Streets Beach to produce back-to-back Aussie pub rock albums entirely for, and about, Brisbane. We make music in the vein of everything your Mums and Dads used to listen to, despite only being in our early 20s, and we love Brisbane more than anything.
Any fresh creative news you'd like to share?
Nothing set in stone yet, but we're pulling together a big South East Queensland tour for the summer to coincide with a certain series of five cricket matches – we might not be allowed to play the SCG, but you might be seeing us at a coastal pub near you.
What does Valley Fiesta mean to you?
Valley Fiesta is a party with no limits – it's not an exclusive festival charging you $250 entry to see the latest handpicked 'next big indie thing'. It's not some tiny, crowded gig in a cafe, it's one amazing weekend where Brisbane can come together and see whoever they want, (most of the time) for free.
As a musician, it's a great chance to make some new fans and give people a great time, and as a punter, I can't wait to find my new favourite artist right around the corner.
Favourite Valley Fiesta memory (either as a performer or punter)?
I have some very fond memories of sneaking in underage into some of the Valley Fiesta venues in 2015, buying a single Corona without being IDd, and proceeding to have one of the best nights of my life, witnessing some Brisbane indie royalty in The Jensens, The Missing, and one of my old all-time faves, Baskervillain.
It's always been an amazing occasion to celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of the Brisbane scene. It's also just immense fun.
Given the status of live music in 2021, how important is it to the local scene to have 150 bands performing across 3 nights in Fortitude Valley?
Brisbane has been in a really fortunate position compared to the rest of the world in relation to lockdowns and COVID-related issues, but the live music scene has still copped a hefty blow.
We played our first show in January and ever since have been fortunate with timing to have a number of big, home-town headliners go ahead, but it's been clear that touring and playing to full capacity has been a struggle.
Having such a wide, diverse range of Brisbane artists take to the stage on a cracking long weekend for Valley Fiesta is going to have an immense impact that reverberates across the state, as we're practically announcing with a cannon: music is back, baby! Yeah!
Other Valley Fiesta 2021 acts you'll be checking out?
We can't wait to see Oh Bailey at The Wickham, for those smooth soulful pop stylings, and there's a bit of well-deserved buzz around Pure Milk and Chelsea Drive at Greaser. They'll be ones to watch, for sure.
HOPE D
What's your elevator pitch re: sound and style?I would say pop-rock with an upbeat cynical twist.
Any fresh creative news you'd like to share?
Just released my single 'Happy Hangover' and am using this gig to celebrate.
What does Valley Fiesta mean to you?
Valley Fiesta is such a great way to bring the community together in the heart of where we all meet for music, drinks and food, and where we've made some of our best friends.
Favourite Valley Fiesta memory (either as a performer or punter)?
My cover band and I played at Blutes in 2018 and had The Delta Riggs in the audience, having a beer before their Valley Fiesta set and hearing us play terrible covers. We were all too lit to see them play, so we went home after, but that is one dope memory.
Given the status of live music in 2021, how important is it to the local scene to have 150 bands performing across 3 nights in Fortitude Valley?
It's incredible that we can have the festival this year, and we are so lucky being where we are and to be able to enjoy live music in the company of our friends and family, or just ourselves.
Music is a huge boost of serotonin for me and so many others, it is very important to appreciate this awesome opportunity.
Other Valley Fiesta 2021 acts you'll be checking out?
Such a blessing and a curse to be playing the same night as everyone that I want to see, but I'll do my best.
Really want to check out the 'Riot' gig on Thursday – I really want to see MoZza! And I'll pretty much float on the Thursday night to cram as much as possible :) Super excited for such a sick festival.
FEELS CLUB
What's the band's elevator pitch re: sound and style?We have always called ourselves trashpop. Like all the bits of good pop, we are the other bits; beepboop synth, driving bass, big drums, drive along and groove to some sad lyrics. . . yep just trashy, trashy pop.
The live shows are always our bread and butter though because that's where it all just makes sense. But yeah trashpop.
Any fresh creative news you'd like to share?
Aaaaahhhh! We are working on a new EP. We always said our third release would be country western. . . trying to put our money where our mouth is buuuut who knows at this point. Just trying to survive capitalism atm brb.
What does Valley Fiesta mean to you?
To us Valley Fiesta has always been a treat. Some of our best shows have been at Valley Fiesta. It has changed so much over the years and whichever way you look at this cacophonic hydra it's always been a blast and it refuses to die. That's really neat, you know.
Favourite Valley Fiesta memory (either as a performer or punter)?
This one time I snuck my kid cousin, fresh 18, into the event as a 'photographer' and got him backstage etc.
He went to the artists greenroom thing, met bands he loved, went to a mad afterparty for it, and crossed off a whole lotta firsts. Come to think of it, it might have been his first kick-ons too and we nearly burnt down a house making Cheerios. Great times.
It all started with Valley Fiesta and I think that's just super-rad that there would be so many people making memories like that every time.
Given the status of live music in 2021, how important is it to the local scene to have 150 bands performing across 3 nights in Fortitude Valley?
Heaps important aye. It has been so long since we have seen people standing and dancing to our music. That's all we want. GIVE IT TO US!
For real though, it's pretty cool the format they have chosen. It allows so many amazing artists a chance to do what they love and gives punters a great way to see so many bands in one place since festivals in their standard shakedown have just been so impossible to do during the whole spicy-cough times.
I think we can have a little boogie as a treat yeah? The people need to dust off their blues and power dump their emotional trauma in sweaty smokers areas after a good old knee shake. It's good for the economy or whatever, and people love the economy! :)
Other Valley Fiesta 2021 acts you'll be checking out?
SOVIET X-RAY RECORD CLUB! THEY ARE BACK BABAY! They were my (St. Jonnie) favs Brisbane band for soooo long and then they died. They all died in like a car crash. Be we have them back as holograms or something so that will be amazing!
Also the Keepaways and YellowCatRedCat can be seen in brand new cyborg form which I will die to see. Also. . . DVNA goes alright aye, same with NERVE 'cause he is Brisbane's boy atm, oh King Stingray slaaaap that will be a huge show.
Saint Lane has some rad bops you can't miss, and ummmm Wharves would be great to have a pint to. Can't go wrong anywhere though so relax aye.
DVNA
What's your elevator pitch re: sound and style?Soul indie-pop with jazz infusion.
Any fresh creative news you'd like to share?
New releases coming in the New Year, which I'm currently just wrapping up on. Some exciting collaborations with some of this year's Valley Fiesta performers as well so keep an eye out.
What does Valley Fiesta mean to you?
Valley Fiesta celebrates the locals. I believe Brisbane/ Gold Coast is home to some of the best live acts in the entire country and to be able to experience that in a club-hop type of way in the heart of Brisbane is super cool.
I've also played some of my most treasured performances in the Valley, so I'm very excited to come back and play.
Given the status of live music in 2021, how important is it to the local scene to have 150 bands performing across 3 nights in Fortitude Valley?
I think I can speak on behalf of all the local artists when I say we are so insanely lucky to have this opportunity.
With lockdowns looming every couple of weeks, a big credit and appreciation to the organisers for seeing it through. Now more than ever, it's so important we encourage audience participation to pick back up where we left off and then some.
Other Valley Fiesta 2021 acts you'll be checking out?
I'm very much so looking forward to seeing Jesswar, Carmouflage Rose and Beddy Rays.
VOIID
What's the band's elevator pitch re: sound and style?Like Crazy Frog, but with boobs.
Any fresh creative news you'd like to share?
We've been working on our debut album for a long while now, and we've just recently released our last EP 'Socioanomaly' on vinyl via Damaged.
What does Valley Fiesta mean to you?
Valley Fiesta has been such an integral part of the Brisbane music scene for years, and was my (Antonia) first introduction to local music when I was a teenager. It was also one of the first festivals that we played as a band in 2017, so it will always have a special place in our hearts.
Favourite Valley Fiesta memory (either as a performer or punter)?
Our favourite Valley Fiesta memory (as punters) was probably watching Gooch Palms; need we say more?
Given the status of live music in 2021, how important is it to the local scene to have 150 bands performing across 3 nights in Fortitude Valley?
We think festivals like this are super important to the scene, especially in 2021 where the community has been rocked by the pandemic. To have such a large scale festival going ahead now that restrictions have cooled off, it almost makes things feel normal again.
Other Valley Fiesta 2021 acts you'll be checking out?
We have heaps of friends playing this year like Hope D and Melaleuca, and can't wait to watch them because they're the best and it's always really special being able to see your friends onstage.
We're also super keen to check out Towns because we've been fans of theirs for ages.
Valley Fiesta runs at various Fortitude Valley (Brisbane) venues 28-30 October.
Valley Fiesta 2021 Line-up
A Love SupremeAlivian Blu
Allora
Amarri
Amy L
Annoying Neighbours
Asphyxia
B-boy Cielo
B-girl Tinylocks
Bad Neighbour
Band 42
BBTK
Beddy Rays
Being Jane Lane
Betty Taylor
Big Dinner
Birdman Randy & The Ivory Street Preachers
Blonde on Blonde
Blussh
Bombshell Academy
Breakfast at Nans
BRIA
Brief Habits
Brixton Alley
Buttered
Butterfingers
Callin Malley Big Band
Carmouflage Rose
Charlesworth
Chelsea Drive
Chukale
Clarence Kent
Colourblind
Cooper Riley
Creed Tha Kid
Curtis Sciliba (DJ)
Dahlia Dyer
Dahlia Gunn
David Carberry
Day of Embers
De La Vinx
DJ Bacon
DJ Fukhed
DJ Lil J
Don Rual
Dream Coast
Dumb Things
DVNA
DZ Deathrays (DJ)
Ebony Ruth
Echowave
Ella Fence
Eloelo
Ethan Enoch
Feelsclub
First Beige (DJ)
Flamingo Blonde
FOMI
Foul Face
Frenchie Darling
Friends of Friends
General Press: GP001
Halfway
Haliday
Hive Mind
Hope D
Hot Reno
J-Funk
Jack Davies and The Bush Chooks
Jacob Tompkins
Jesswar
Kessin
King Stingray
Kweir
La bOum
Lacy Pop
Late November
Lazy Leis
Lila Lux
Lilith Revere
LO'99
Local Safari
Loiter
Lotus Ship
Lunchtime
Madeline Glasseater
Malibu Stacey
Margeaux Le Gogo
Melaleuca
Mellow
Miranda vs Arizona
Mou
MoZza
Nerve
Nice Biscuit
Nicole McKinney
Oh Bailey
Parachute Youth
Passionfruit
People Mover
Phatnug
Phil Smart
Pocketlove
Pure Milk
Pvcker Up
Radolescent
Ramjet
Rose Rogers
Ruckus Slam
S*A*S*H Halloween
Sachem
Saint Lane
Sametime
Selfish Sons
Sellma Soul
Set The Record
Shifting Sands
Siala
Sid The Entertainer
SixFtHick
Skanalosos
Skies Collide
Skrub
Sleeping Slowrip
Slurpee Jerks
Smak
Soviet X-Ray Record Club
Start Together
Stone & Wood Garden Sessions
Strictly Classics
Sunsets
syrup, go on
Teen Sensations
The Buzzing Towers
The Double Happiness
The Lonesomes
The Mangroves
The New Black
The Sleepyheads
The Unknowns
The Wolston Butchers
Toby Hobart
TOWNS
Trilla D
VERUM
VOIID
Waxflower
Wet Season
Wetlands
Wharves
White Light Station
Yellowcatredcat
Yr Familiar
Zed Charles
Valley Fiesta 2021 Venues
Backdock ArtsBirdees
Black Bear Lodge
Cloudland
Ec Venue
Greaser
Kings
La La Land
Netherworld
O'Skulligans
Press Club
Queens
Ric's Bar
Suzie Wongs Good Time Bar
The Brightside
The Brightside Outdoors
The Prince Consort
The Tivoli
The Triffid
The Warehouse
The Wickham
The Zoo
Woolly Mammoth
