Tonight is the final game of this season’s State of Origin series, and it’s clear that one state definitely has the upper hand as far as league goes, with Queensland wrapping the series up before the final game has even taken place.
But what if the two warring states were instead competing on the battleground of music festivals? Both states have a lot to offer, so we’re taking a look at each team’s starting lineup.
Queensland
The starting lineup for the festival equivalent of the Maroons comes roaring out of the gates with something for all tastes, and QLD is even able to bring the whole industry together each and every year.
Maroochy Music & Visual Arts Festival
Hot Damn. With a local Aussie lineup that would make Mal Meninga blush, this festival is only in its second year and leading the charge for good times on the Sunshine Coast.
This year’s lineup includes Matt Corby, Peking Duk, George Maple, Allday, Client Liaison and more.
Woodford Folk Festival
An institution in South East Queensland, Woodford Folk Festival is a melting pot of fun and frivolity over the Christmas and New Year break, playing host to some pretty great acts like Courtney Barnett, Violent Femmes, The Cat Empire and Gotye in past years. Each year 125,000 people visit the giant amphitheater – plus, former Prime Minister and Victorian Bob Hawke attends every year with his wife, so you know it must be fun.
The Blurst of Times
Just as Queenslanders aren’t afraid to get down and dirty in a scrum, Brisvegans aren’t afraid to put on the dankest festival of them all – The Blurst of Times. This much-loved stoogefest returned in 2016 with a killer lineup featuring Dune Rats, Methyl Ethel and The Murlocs across three iconic Fortitude Valley venues.
FOMO
Kind of like the Maroons’ Corey Oates, this one is the baby of the Queensland festival scene. FOMO festival launched at Brisbane’s Riverstage last year, and was so popular it sold out well ahead of the festival date. RL Grime, Jamie XX and Flight Facilities led the charge for the first ever FOMO, and it returns again this year with organisers saying it’s going to bigger and better than ever.
BIGSOUND
The team captain, it’s pretty much the best place in Australia to discover your new favourite bands – and it’s in Queensland. Some of the best emerging acts have been discovered at BIGSOUND, including Flume, Courtney Barnett, Gang Of Youths and more. It brings the whole of the Australian music industry together each year, and for the sheer volume of great new talent, you really can’t go past it.
New South Wales
A really strong lineup from Queensland, but in the festival stakes NSW certainly has plenty to fire back with, from rugged veterans to talented rookies – they’ve even been able to poach the league MVP in regent years.
Splendour in the Grass
The mac-daddy of Aussie festies, and the captain of the Blues’ festival squad. After a brief stint in QLD a few years ago, Splendour in the Grass is now firmly in NSW Blues territory, and this year marks the third in a row that NSW has had Splendour – a big achievement compared to the number of State of Origin titles they’ve taken home in that time.
Yours & Owls
Expanding last year to a two day weekender, this Woolongong staple is the gem of the Illawara. Even Josh Dugan would be proud of this year’s lineup, which includes Ball Park Music and Ladyhawke, as well as US legends PUP and The Coathangers.
Bluesfest
NSW appropriately score this one. The price might be high, but as anyone who’s ever been to Bluesfest will tell you, it’s more than worth it. World-class legends like Elvis Costello, Kendrick Lamar, Robert Plant, and Bob Dylan have all graced the stages of Bluesfest, and the longstanding festival has the distinction of truly being an event for anyone and everyone, from the young to young at heart.
Secret Garden
This one’s definitely got the vibe going for it. Secret Garden has a solid reputation for being all about the experience and not just the lineup – but that’s not to say the acts that play there aren’t fire. Last year’s charge was led by hot-ticket acts like Bad//Dreems, Dorsal Fins, Montaigne, Sampa The Great and more.
Mountain Sounds
Sustainable, sensational and so much fun, this two day camping festival takes place in the picturesque hills of Mount Penang Parklands in Kariong just north of Sydney each February. The fest hosted Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. as its headliner this year, along with Violent Soho and a bunch of other rad acts. Even better, the festival prides itself on environmental sustainability, and includes a ‘secret’ area.
