After the blockbuster success of the inaugural festival in Queensland pre-covid, Empire Touring is elated to announce Spring Loaded is back and larger than ever, declaring a triumphant return to live music with nine festival dates set to rock around Australia in a bid to pay homage to some of the country’s most beloved festivals gone by including Big Day Out and Homebake. With a colossal lineup dripping in 90s Aussie alt rock nostalgia, 2021’s shows boast a haul of the decade’s most celebrated acts, including Grinspoon, You Am I, Regurgitator, Jebediah, Magic Dirt, Frenzal Rhomb, Custard, The Fauves, The Meanies, Tumbleweed, Screamfeeder, Caligula and MC Lindsay ‘The Doctor’ McDougall.

Set to kick off in Sydney On The Lawn at Royal Randwick on May 8, the massive festival will then head up to Cairns, before moving on to Sandstone Point Hotel Bribie Island, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Darwin Amphitheatre, Gosford Entertainment Grounds, Stuart Park Wollongong, Red Hill Auditorium in Perth and will wrap in Victoria on November 27.

Tickets went on sale TODAY Wednesday March 24 at 10am local time.

Thrilled to be on the bill, You Am I’s Tim Roger’s explains, “It’s kinda unavoidable that nostalgia surrounds these shows, but the past year I’ve heard new music from most of our friends here that is as vital and visceral as any they’ve done in the past, which makes these potential shows all the more thrilling.” Not one to mince words, Rogers goes on to offer some solid tips for punters, ordering, “Dress up, turn up, muck up!

Stoked at the opportunity to get the band back together after what was a long 2020 for everyone the world over, Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson says, “I’m terribly excited to be playin’ with Grinspoon at Spring Loaded. Since FireFight we have barely stepped onto stage, let alone seen each other.”

The man who masterminded this bodacious opportunity for us all to relive our youth and celebrate the return of live music, Empire’s Marc Christowski says, “Having been at various Big Day Outs and Homebakes over the years, it is a massive buzz for us to produce Spring Loaded. Bringing together such an amazing lineup that will go to every corner of the country, flying the flag of indie rock is a dream come true.”

Covering all bases, the festival will be bustling with craft beer and an enviable collection of the locale’s cherry-picked food trucks. Spring Loaded is a fully licensed 18+ event, strictly no BYO food or alcohol. The shows are outdoor concerts and will go ahead rain, hail or shine. No tables, tents, sun shelters or umbrellas are permitted, punters are urged to bring ponchos/raincoats and gumboots if rain is forecast. Picnic rugs and low camp chairs are permitted, as are sealed bottles of water, and there will be water refill stations. And this killer event will be taken indoors to Adelaide – expect all the festival vibes with no weather issues.

After an unprecedented write off for live music in 2020, don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the return of the festival and the greatest era of the indie alt rock scene in Australia, and come and relive the soundtrack of your youth live at Spring Loaded in 2021.

Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday March 24 at 10am local time, with a presale offered to Telstra customers from Thursday March 18 at 10am local time to Sunday March 21 at 10pm AEDT. There will be a My Ticketek and Oztix presale from Monday March 22 at 10am local time. VIP tickets will be available for the Just Ace Place VIP Bar offering a premium viewing area, exclusive VIP entry, private bar and food area.

The Spring Loaded festival dates will be held with a commitment to a COVID Safe environment. Festival organisers will work closely with and comply with all requirements of the public health authorities in respect of these shows. If any shows are required to be postponed, a postponement date will be announced and punters will be eligible for a full refund if they are unable to make the new date.