Looking for the best Adelaide music festivals in 2024!? Well, you’ve come to the right place, mate…
The ‘City of Churches’ isn’t just that anymore. Along with its Eastern state neighbors, Adelaide has really developed into a destination in its own right.
As I type this, Adelaide is ranked 5th on the list of the world’s most livable cities, and 1st on Australia’s National list of most livable cities! It’s made the “Most Friendly Cities” list AND Lonely Planet has deemed it one of the coolest cities in the world for street art.
“Rad-elaide” is really certainly earning that title.
In addition to beautiful beaches, great local produce, and its location on the precipice of some of Australia’s most majestic peninsulas, the Adelaide music festivals scene is another amazing reason to visit the South Australia state capital!
No longer is the Adelaide Fringe the only iconic live event in this city, because there really is no shortage of amazing events, concerts, and parties to choose from.
So without further ado…
1) Adelaide Fringe
Photo via Adelaide Fringe Festival Facebook | Seb Riebolge
When: February 16 – March 17, 2024
Where: Various locations across Adelaide
Genre: Music, dance, performance
“We were born 58 years ago (although we don’t look a day over 25) and we’ve grown up to become the Southern Hemisphere’s largest, and Australia’s biggest ticket selling open access arts festival! We completely take over Adelaide, her surrounding suburbs and even some regional areas of South Australia for 31 magical days and nights each year. The city practically pulses with creativity.”
2) Sounds by the River
When: January 20, 2024
Where: Mannum, South Australia
Genre: Rock
https://www.soundsbytheriver.com.au
“SOUNDS BY THE RIVER is gearing up for a massive 2024, headlined by Jimmy Barnes, with The Living End, Birds of Tokyo, Pete Murray, Kasey Chambers & Mahalia Barnes and the Soulmates.”
3) WOMADelaide
When: March 8-11, 2024
Where: Botanic Park, Adelaide
Genre: Global music
https://www.womadelaide.com.au
The iconic open-air festival set in Adelaide’s stunning Botanic Park is an award-winning celebration of the very best of the World of Music, Arts & Dance.
“WOMADelaide is a four-day festival of Music, Arts and Dance celebrating cultural and creative diversity held since 1992 in Adelaide’s beautiful Botanic Park. The festival has become a truly unique part of the Australian festival landscape, showcasing the best, the essential – and the surprising – in global music, dance, art and ideas. WOMADelaide attracts around 18,000 – 20,000 people per day, (not including children 12 and under who are admitted free) with over a third of attendees generally coming from interstate and overseas.”
4) St Jerome’s Laneway Festival Adelaide
Photo via St Jerome’s Laneway Festival Facebook
When: February 9, 2024
Where: Bonython Park, Adelaide
Genre: Alternative
https://www.lanewayfestival.com/adelaide/home
“St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival is about leading new and revered seminal music. The festival has always been interested in finding what’s fresh and bringing it to unique settings and surrounds to be appreciated by music lovers. The size of the festivals, the locations and the way we encourage community all form part of the way in which the Laneway team strive to present a live music experience like no other.”
5) Groovin the Moo Adelaide
When: April, 2024
Where: Adelaide Showground, Wayville
Genre: Various
“It’s time to pack your bags and get excited! We’ll once again be cruisin’ down the great open road, making pit stops in six regions around Australia, over three consecutive weekends – all while enjoying incredible tunes, seriously good times, and taking those unbeatable Australiana views along the way.”
6) Fleurieu Folk Festival
Photo via Facebook
When: October, 2024
Where: Willunga, South Australia
Genre: Folk
http://www.fleurieufolkfestival.com.au
“Fleurieu Folk Festival is South Australia’s largest folk music festival. It’s an annual three-day family-friendly folk music festival, held in the picturesque township of Willunga, in South Australia’s premier wine region, where the Festival has been held since 2007. Each year, we present over 50 of the best local, interstate and international folk musicians covering a broad range of genres including traditional and contemporary folk, acoustic, Celtic, blues, musical theatre, Americana, roots and bluegrass.”
7) Handpicked Festival
When: November, 2024
Where: Lake Breeze Wines, Longhorne Creek, South Australia
Genre: Folk / Alternative
“Hidden amongst vineyards and gum trees, unplug and reconnect with barefoot dancing, picnics on the lawn, amazing wine, world class music, laidback vibes and a dash of surprise…a carefully curated journey of the senses, handpicked just for you. Spend your day stretched out on a picnic blanket over lush lawns, sip on local, family produced Lake Breeze Wines, meander through the lane of lights for handmade goods by a myriad of local artisans and enjoy delicious, regional produced filled dishes from an array of local food trucks. All this while enjoying the excitement that comes from hearing the familiar tunes from Australia’s top musicians just meters away…that’s Handpicked.”
8) Port Noarlunga Blues Festival
When: November, 2024
Where: Port Noarlunga, South Australia
Genre: Blues / Roots
http://www.portnoarlungabluefestival.com.au
“The whole township of Port Noalunga will be transformed into a “boutique style” festival showcasing the very best of local and national artists in the Blues and Roots on offer and presented as a smorgasbord of themed venues and varied performances types. will be experienced by all.”
9) The Wirrina Bluegrass & Acoustic Roots Festival
When: November, 2024
Where: Wirrina Cove Holiday Park, Normanville / Yankalilla
Genre: Bluegrass
“The Wirrina Bluegrass and Acoustic Roots Festival is an annual gathering for people to hear, play and share acoustic music from the Bluegrass, ‘Old Timey’ and other related traditions. Bluegrass is great music. That’s why it heads up our festival. Our stage attracts world-class musicians; many come back each year to perform, to run workshops, and to join in the fun and inspiration of all that a Wirrina festival is.”
10) Good Music Month
When: November, 2024
Where: Various venues across Adelaide and South Australia
Genre: Various
LIVE MUSIC. ALL ACROSS SA. ALL YOURS
“Good Music Month is a new annual, state-wide, open access live music festival held each November, to elevate the profile of live music in South Australia by providing a platform for artists, venues, and industry professionals to showcase their talents to local and interstate audiences. The festival encompasses a diverse range of original live music experiences, ranging from intimate blues bands in local pubs to grand-scale ticketed music festivals, opera, and orchestral concerts.
Good Music Month generates an unprecedented collective of live music performances in South Australia and MusicSA collaborates with pre-existing major festivals, events, and industry initiatives scheduled for November, to deliver a wealth of live music experience like never before seen in South Australia.”
11) uneARTh Festival
When: March, 2024
Where: Whyalla, South Australia
Genre: Various
https://www.whyalla.com/unearth2019
“The City of Whyalla is once again teaming up with the Adelaide Fringe and local performers, artists and stall-holders to present the uneARTh Festival. Held over Easter at Ada Ryan Gardens, the event continues to grow with more than 15,000 people attending the two-day festival last year. The uneARTh Festival is an eclectic mix of performers, artists, events, stalls, food and refreshment. Last year’s event boasted something for everyone from international entertaining artist Hans to local lads Alterdrive who rocked the gardens and a host of pop-up artists. More than 3000 turned out for the colour run and the events spread throughout Whyalla during the festival.
12) Summer Sounds Festival
When: January 8 – 31, 2024
Where: Bonython Park, Adelaide
Genre: Various
https://www.summersoundsfestival.com/adelaide
“Live music events are back in South Australia! Summer Sounds Festival is a concert series at a specially designed, SA Health-approved outdoor venue. More than 20 epic shows will be staged during the summer festive season in Bonython Park/Tulya Wodli, in Adelaide’s beautiful Park Lands.
Summer Sounds Festival brings you a new way to enjoy live entertainment with your friends. When you book your ticket, you book for your entire party pod – a group of 4-6 people in your social group. Pods are spaced to allow for social distancing, keeping everyone safe. In your party pod, you can dance, drink, stand or sit as you enjoy the show on stage! We think you’ll love some of the features on offer in this new era of live events.”
13) Adelaide Guitar Festival
When: September 12-15, 2024
Where: Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide
Genre: Guitar
https://www.adelaideguitarfestival.com.au
“The Guitar Festival is an immersive winter festival celebrating the world’s most popular instrument. While the full Guitar Festival is held biennially, with the next in 2020, Adelaide Guitar Festival continues to expand its supplementary annual events to connect and strengthen relationships with students, artists and audiences throughout South Australia.”
14) Harvest Rock
When: October, 2024 (TBC)
Where: Rymill Park / King Rodney Park, Adelaide
Genre: Rock
“Harvest Rock is one of the most popular music festivals in Adelaide, known to have a stellar lineup of renowned artists. Apart from music, this event also caters to the diverse tastebuds of attendees by providing the options of scrumptious food items. This two-day annual musical and culinary fest is open to people above the age of 18.”
15) Heaps Good Festival
When: January, 6 2024
Where: Adelaide Showground, Adelaide
Genre: Electronic / Rock / Pop
Get ready to have a heaps good time …
“Heaps Good is back, heaps bigger, and living up to its name with a lineup that’s set to bring the party to South Australia, over the 2023/2024 New Year period. After a stellar Adelaide debut earlier this year, the one-day festival is heading home to Adelaide Showground on Saturday 6 January.”
16) Spin Off Festival
When: July, 2024
Where: Adelaide Showground, Adelaide
Genre: Indie / Rap / Pop
https://spinoffadelaide.com.au
“Spin off Festival is a single-day event held in Adelaide, catering to people who love vibrant beats and exhilarating experience. The eclectic line-up of artists that performs at this festival provides an unparallel experience to attendees. For someone looking for a one-day getaway, this festival is worth attending.”
17) Vintage Vibes
When: January 27-28, 2024
Where: Adelaide Hills
Genre: Indie / Pop / Rap / Various
https://www.vintagevibesfestival.com
“Vintage Vibes, SA’s most exciting two-day music festival is set for the Adelaide Hills on January 27th & 28th. Bringing a stellar line-up to Australia headlined by International artists Rudimental [UK] (LIVE) and Groove Armada (UK) [DJ SET]
Boasting a line-up that also includes Milky Chance (GER), Ball Park Music, The Teskey Brothers, DMA’S, Lord Huron (USA), Meg Mac, Cub Sport, Drapht, Marlon, Sea Girls, Stellie, Surahn, Winston Surfshirt, along with some great local bands, Vintage Vibes is set to be two glorious days of music, food and wine.”
18) Wildlands Adelaide
When: December, 2024 (TBC)
Where: Ellis Park, Adelaide
Genre: Dance / Electronic
https://www.wildlandsfestival.com.au/sa/home
“With an emphasis on dance music, electronic beats, and hip hop, Wildlands Music Festival boasts a great lineup that fills the inner-city venue with its sounds. This one-day event assembles talent, from local up-and-comers to global superstars, to create a thrilling experience for attendees. Allow the relentless mashes of house, techno, and hip-hop to transport you to other worlds musically while lasers illuminate the night with flashes of color.”
Am I missing any epic music festivals in Adelaide…?
When I was doing my research for all the different Adelaide Music Festivals, I really did discover that it’s quite a happening city with lots going on! I’m sure I could have missed one or two that could have been on this list, so please do let me know! Drop me a comment, or send an email and I’d love to get this article updated!
Looking for more Australian & international music festivals….?
My website is filled with articles just like this one, so take a quick browse through some of my favorites below and start planning your next epic music festival!
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