Australians love long weekends almost as much as they love anything else that results in an excuse to sink a few beers with mates, but it’s not always easy to find something to do on those weekend. You could have a barbecue with friends, put on some good music, and just have a pretty chilled out time, right? Sure you can, but that’s been done to death by now, hasn’t it?

It’s high time that we reclaimed the long weekend and did something fresh and exciting for a change. With music festivals such as Dashville Skyline‘s brilliant third edition, and awesome headline gigs from acts like Dune Rats and Everclear, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best things that a music-lover could take part in on this October long weekend.

Dashville Skyline

Dashville Skyline has been on the scene for a couple of years now, but it’s already managed to establish itself as one of the finest family festivals in Australia. With a penchant for curating some brilliant lineups, mixed with a down-to-earth vibe, Dasville Skyline has quickly become one of the must-see festivals in the country.

This year, the festival has locked in the likes of Oh Mercy, Immigrant Union, Declan O’Rourke, Tim Easton, and Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, in what is definitely promising to be one of the best festival lineups that you’ll see this year. Dashville Skyline 2017 is set to take place at Belford, in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley on September 29th until October 1st.

So if you’re looking for something decent for the upcoming October long weekend, then look no further than Dashville Skyline – it’s bound to be a day to remember, and tickets are on sale now.

YouTube VideoPlay

Dune Rats

Arguably one of the biggest Aussie bands going around right now, Dune Rats are absolutely killing it, both here and overseas. Now, the group are getting set to tour the country with an absolutely insane lineup of rockers, including Hockey Dad, Waax, and a little band from America called Wavves.

This all-star lineup is set to take over the Big Top at Sydney’s Luna Park on Sunday, October 1st, and the best part about it is that it’s on the eve of the October long weekend. So party harder than you usually would on a Sunday night, and spend Monday sleeping it off, because gigs like this are pretty rare.

YouTube VideoPlay

Dan Sultan

At the end of July, we saw Dan Sultan release his brilliant record Killer. In addition to it being, what we reckon, one of the best albums of the year, it’s also resulted in Dan announcing a run of tour dates. Dan Sultan’s ‘Killer Tour’, has seen him hit up a number of venues in Victoria and Tasmania already, with each show seeming better than the last.

When the October long weekend rolls around though, Dan is set to be hitting up Sydney’s Metro Theatre for what is bound to be an amazing way to end a tour for an equally stunning album.

YouTube VideoPlay

Yours & Owls

Music festivals are a pretty swell way to spend your weekend, let alone a long weekend, so why not head along to Wollongong’s Yours & Owls festival? Packed to the brim with international acts such as At The Drive-In, Le Butcherettes, and AJJ, and plenty of brilliant local names such as The Presets, Illy, SAFIA, and Bad//Dreems, this is definitely one of the better ways to spend a few days.

YouTube VideoPlay

Listen Out

If rock music really isn’t your thing, then maybe Listen Out is more your scene. Listen Out collects some of the best local and international artists and producers, and throws them together on a bunch of stages where you then get to watch the magic happen.

Taking place at Sydney’s Centennial Park on September 30th, head along to see international names like Future, Mac Miller, and Duke Dumont share a stage with homegrown talent like Mallrat, Pnau, and Touch Sensitive.

YouTube VideoPlay

Everclear

What were you doing 20 years ago? If you answered “Listening to Everclear’s Grammy-nominated third album, So Much For The Afterglow,” then we think we know what this October long weekend has in store for you. Yes, Everclear are coming back to Australia once more, this time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their third record. With hooky post-grunge hits, and shout-out-loud singalong choruses, you might just want to make your way over to the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle on September 30th.

Everclear are also set to hit up Sydney’s Metro Theatre on October 3rd, but it wouldn’t be much of a long weekend list if we threw a Tuesday night date in there, would it?

YouTube VideoPlay

Manly Jazz Festival

Maybe you might want to spend your long weekend doing something a little bit more refined and cultured? If so, then the Manly Jazz Festival might just be for you. Taking place at Manly beach from September 30th to October 2nd, the festival is now in its 40th year, giving those who prefer some of the finer aspects of music an outlet with which they can sit back, relax, and appreciate some jazzy tunes.

Check out a highlight from last year’s festival, The Specialists, below.

YouTube VideoPlay

Dashville Skyline 2017 Lineup

September 29th, to October 1st
Belford, Hunter Valley, NSW

Tickets on sale now

Oh Mercy
Valerie June (US)
Cash Savage and the Last Drinks
William Crighton
Immigrant Union
The Teskey Brothers
Declan O’Rourke (Ire)
Mark Olson (US) & Ingunn Ringvold (No)
Tim Easton (US)
The Roamin’ Jasmine (US)
Claire Anne Taylor
Pony Face
Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes
Emma Russack
Mel Parsons (NZ)
Roadhouses
Lucie Thorne
Matt Walker
Magpie Diaries
Songs from Dan (NL)
Fallon Cush
Lyle Dennis Express
Nicholas Connors
Demi Mitchell
Paddy McHugh
Georgia State Line
Jen Mize
Ben Leece
Dashville Progress Society

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine