BUSH MUSIC FESTIVAL
NEW YEARS 23 - 24
December 30th 2023 - Jan 1st 2024
PALS ONLY,
PLS DO NOT SHARE
Bush Music Festival takes place on the border of unceded Gunai Kurnai and Bunnurong Country. We aspire to care for Country and respect Elders past and present. We pledge to continuously engage with allyship and Pay the Rent. We pledge to take feedback on our actions without defensiveness.
We encourage First Nations people to not hesitate in taking Sovereignty tickets.
Photography by Soft Butch Media
Amongst the beautiful hills on the border of Gunai Kurnai and Bunnurong Country in Gippsland we'll see in the new year surrounded by mates and trees, listening to our fave local artists.
Below is some essential info that you might want to know before you make your decisions, but make sure you have a scroll through this website to get some info on the lineup, the camping situation, accessibility, getting there, sustainability, paying the rent, contingency plans etc. We also ask that you reimburse us to cover some of the costs of throwing us a lovely little party.
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Music from Sat 30th December 2023 - Mon 1st January 2024.
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Karaoke and a movie on Mon night
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Camping until Tues 2 January.
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Poowong East, Gippsland - Gunai Kurnai/Bunnurong Country
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Around 2 hours drive from Melbourne CBD
(Let us know if you're in need of carpool) -
Paying The Rent & carbon offset tree planting conducted on site
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28 bands, 7 DJs, workshops, yoga, walks along the creek, etc
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Camping (quiet camping available if necessary)
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BYO only
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Might be eftpos but no guarantees (inc. MERCH)
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Composting toilets
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Dogs and children welcome (please read Hazards section)
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No phone reception unless you climb a hill
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Sliding reimbursement scale a
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we will retain $30 from in the unlikely event of cancellation. This is to cover the cost of any non-refundable hires. If we don't do this we would have to cover those costs using our own personal money
Bush Music Festival is a tiny grassroots, volunteer powered music festival run by Eve and Chloe for our friends. It was established in 2017 to address the lack of diversity on stages in Naarm/Melbourne so that our inclusive community could find a place.
We aim to provide safe spaces for artists and punters to have a fun and relaxed time in a beautiful setting. For us, providing a safe space means listening to our audience and bands in an honest and reflective way and taking feedback without defensiveness.
If you think something needs attention, please tell us!
OUR ETHOS
The property that is hosting us is very hilly and grassy with uneven terrain. In the past we have had success in ferrying punters around the (relatively small) site so that they can enjoy the festival. Accommodation is camping, however if you need to bring a different setup or a larger vehicle then convenient parking for that can be accomodated.
We’d love you to contact us with your specific needs so that we can tailor-make a plan for you. Let us know as early as possible and we’ll do everything we can!
Email bushmusicfest@gmail.com
ACCESSIBILITY
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Unfortunately this event will not be Auslan interpreted
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Support workers enter for free if attending with a client
(please let us know if a support worker is attending with you) -
There is also private access to electricity and limited access to a bathroom (inc. shower); if either of these are required for accessibility reasons we will happily organise.
LINEUP
GETTING THERE
Bush Music Festival takes place on the border of unceded Gunai Kurnai and Bunnurong Country, in Poowong East, Gippsland.
It’s about a 2 hour drive from the Naarm (Melbourne) CBD.
We’ll email you the exact address of the property a few days before the festival begins.
A train runs from Naarm to Drouin and it’s then a further 25 minute drive to the festival site. We cannot vouch for the reliability of trains and their holiday timetables.
Please let us know in the registration if you are looking for a carpool or can provide a spare spot in your car.
FOOD & BEVS
Dinner will be available to purchase from a menu designed by locals legends and prepared by our wonderful volunteers. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available. Please contact us in advance to let us know of any specific dietary requirements and we will try our best to accommodate them.
Fires and gas cookers are unfortunately not safe on this site. This summer is going to be very dry, so for everyone's safety please let us know if your dietary requirements mean you need to cook things. We will help you find a safe solution.
Coffee & more will be available from Pookie May.
Lucky Lips delicious ice cream truck will be on site for your ice cold pleasure.
We might have eftpos this year, but don't count on it!
Please remember to BYO plates, cups, bowls and cutlery.
Please BYO breakfast and lunch
! HAZARDS !
The festival site is located in nature™ so there are many dangerous things. Please take care of yourself and friends and be aware of things like the sharp drop into the creek, steep slopes and the possibility of getting lost if you wander off. This summer will be hot and we suspect snakes will be out in force. If you are injured please contact festival volunteers, HQ or festival directors.
COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Aside from GETTING THE VAX, we recommend bringing some masks and hand sanitiser regardless of vax status/restrictions. Please ask people if they feel comfy with close contact (obviously, consent is the best)
ALCOHOL
Please contact festival volunteers, HQ or festival directors if you or a friend feel unwell or need a quiet but monitored place to rest. We will have Safety Angels to monitor vulnerable folks.
KIDS & DOGS
All kids & dogs must be supervised at all times. Please don't bring dogs (or children) who may be scared off by loud noises, crowds or cows, or who will be aggressive with other dogs and children etc.
PHONE RECEPTION
There is no phone reception at the festival site. If you desperately need reception you can climb up the hill but there’s no guarantee because it literally depends on which way the wind is blowing.
If you or a friend is injured and needs medical attention please go to HQ or seek out one of our volunteers. Site HQ and festival directors have satellite phones capable of contacting the outside world in and emergency.
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FIRE SAFETY
Please do not light a fire. We do not want to start a bushfire (obviously).
Please bring an enclosed container for ciggie butts & never leave them on the ground. There will be a lot of hay and dried grass around the festival site and this can go up in an instant
If you have dietary requirements that mean you have to cook you own food please let us know beforehand and we will find a safe way for you to do so.
PAYING THE RENT
Paying the rent will be included in reimbursement prices and will go to The Dhadjowa Foundation. We are open to suggestions about other appropriate organisations/mutual aid that may currently need funds.
SUSTAINABILITY
We aim to tread lightly on Country, aiming for a low to no-waste festival. We will be including carbon-offset within the ticket price and this planting will be conducted by staff on the festival property. This will contribute to 18 years of regenerative planting that has restored a lot of vegetation that you’ll see on the site. You can go and visit trees that we planted in the past with your festival $. Ask us more about this if you’re curious!
Please bring reusable cups, plates, bowls and cutlery. The coffee cart and food will not be providing food and drink vessels!
SAFETY
Bush will have designated, qualified First Aiders and emergency comms available for the duration of the festival. Between 6PM - 3AM we will have Safety Angels on the dancefloor.
If at any point anyone at the festival makes you feel uncomfortable please seek out one of our volunteers, someone at HQ or come directly to Eve or Chloe. We will not tolerate any bigotry of any kind and reserve the right to ask people to leave if their behaviour does not align with Bush values.
Look out for your friends!
reimbursement prices
(we're here to cover costs not make a buck. your reminbursement funds go to hiring a cool room, toilets and all that jazz
in the unlikely event of cancellation (bushfire danger, etc), we will retain $30 to cover our non-refundable costs and throw a lovely party in Narrm instead.
$250
Generaly Admission
full!
$200
CONCESSION
full!
$150
PoC, Disabled or TRANS/NB ONLY
full!
$120
Hard times
full!
Free
Sovereighty
payment plans available for all prices
if you are interested in volunteering pls email bushmusicfest@gmail.com
we're particularly looking for drs, nurses & people with first aid certs.
We have limited free spots available for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander folks, Refugees & Asylum Seekers, and disability support workers attending w/ clients.
Please REGISTER below & select free option.
Our sliding scale is there for accessibility, and will be an honesty system. Please think carefully about your choice as your money pays our bands and makes the party accessible for others
REGISTRATION
WE'RE FULL! PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE WAITLIST BELOW
You can only register for yourself.
To keep this party small, private and off-the-grid, there is no automated system so nothing will be instant. We will respond as quickly as we can, pls be gentle <3
WE'RE FULL!
