Party in the paddock 2025 is proof that festivals are still alive.

Party in the Paddock, Tasmania's premier independent music and arts festival, running February 6–9, 2025, at Quercus Park in Carrick. with Six distinctive stages, each offering unique festival experiences- that run all things from Art installations, live podcasts, drag performances, cabaret, mechanical bull riding competitions, to meditation and yoga sessions.

“it’s a tough time for music festivals”, states Jesse Higgs, creative director of Party In The Paddock, 2025. “We are currently in a festival recession” continues Higgs.

The demise of so many cultural events has been devasting on the local music scene, including up to 40 festivals have been cancelled in the last year – Splendour, Groovin In The Moo, Spilt Milk, Souled Out- to name a few. It has become so much more expensive to run festivals and insurance costs, low ticket sales and lack of government funding has not helped it’s survival.

So why did Party In The Paddock do so well despite all of this? With over 13,000 punters, and an 11 percent increase in sales- Party in the paddock is proof that festivals can be brought back to life.

It may be because PITP is not just a music festival celebrating local and international artists. It is a celebration of different kinds of art too – with poetry readings, drag shows, circus acts and even finger painting. There is something for everyone, its for people who are all ages, for mothers bringing their kids or for retired people in their 70s and 80s wanting to discover new music.

“In 2025, we thrive”, Higgs continues. Its party in the paddock’s best year yet, with an absolute stellar line-up including Amyl & The Sniffers, King Stingray, Angie McMahon, Slowly Slowly, The Rubens, and Allday. With 50 percent consisting of local Tasmanian artists, it is obvious that Higgs had the intention of creating a “pathway for emerging artists”, and that he did.

THURSDAY PRE-PARTY:

Starting off strong on one of the main stages, The Vibestown Stage, I caught a glimpse of The Dreggs, whom I have seen several times before. This Australian indie-folk duo from the Sunshine Coast, have garnered acclaim for their heartfelt song writing and harmonious melodies. They describe their music as "acoustic folk with a little 'singer-song writer'". The duo released their debut album Caught in a Reverie in 2024. My personal favourite is their song is “take a little time”- the song exemplifies the duo's signature blend of a sound that is both heartfelt and uplifting.

The last act of the night was Slowly Slowly, Australian alternative rock band known for their emotive lyrics and dynamic sound. They mix pop-punk, 80's rock inspired energy. Frontman Ben Stewart’s storytelling and vocal prowess captivate audiences, fostering a strong connection between the band and fans. The band is renowned for their energetic shows, with constant spinning and thrashing, creating an electrifying atmosphere. It was a perfect warm up to the festival, I went to bed in excitement of the days ahead.

FRIDAY:

After a sluggish morning, we headed to the main stage to catch Radio Free Alice. This contemporary Post Punk band from Naarm is perfect for someone who grew up listening to The Cure, The Smiths or Talking Heads-they really fill the void of punk music that has that “existential dread” kick to it. Noah, the lead singer, literally looks and sounds like Morrisey, but without the dickheadery. Their stage presence is almost broodish , with this “dorky anxiousness” combined with this unrelenting passion and longing. In full black button ups, they look upon the audience with a melancholic disdain whilst they open with their song “a waste of space”. as their set became more upbeat and energy filled, they played bangers like “Johnny” and “Look What You’ve Done” which were 100 percent mosh worthy.
There’s truly nothing like moshing to Radio Free Alice on a Friday afternoon.

A few drinks later, we went back to the Vibestown stage to catch Dice, an indie rock band from Perth. They have been making waves in the Australian music scene as of late, with their sun-soaked melodies and introspective lyrics, this effortlessly cool 4 piece definitely know how to bring the good vibes. Blending elements of surf rock with indie pop, their songs “Stop Sign” and “Double Espresso” capture perfectly the coastal, easy listening of their sound that has touches of groovy alt-rock. They remind me of driving down to the beach in the summer, the brightness of the sun kissing my skin, the blissfulness of looking out the car window, the breeze flowing through your hair. Sunset was the perfect time to watch Dice, you could feel the crowd really connecting to each other and the band.

After mini break and some food, my friends and I thought it would be funny to go to the Silver Tongue stage since “creatures of the night cabaret” was on. It was the perfect thing to watch when you are slightly tipsy with your mates – to watch these talented artists do the splits in the air one moment and then serenade an audience member the text. It plays on the kind of unrelenting horniness you only feel when its 10pm on a Saturday. That’s one thing that sets PITP apart from other festivals – it really plays to all of your senses.

Oliver Tree was next up, which in my in my opinion was a lowlight of the night. His negative attitude on stage kind of ruined the feel-good spirit of PITP. In his set, he consistently threatened the audience that he would leave the stage and not finish his set unless the crowd amped up their energy. I feel that his dickhead persona and his over-the-top antics detract from the performance itself. With an emphasis on crowd engagement- he tries to balance a kind of humorous theatrical act with the performance of his music, which I don’t think was executed very well. His set left a bad taste in my mouth, music is supposed to make you feel good.

The Kooks, however, were spectacular. I have been a massive fan of them since I was 15, so I was so excited to see them live. Their music is primarily influenced by the 1960s British Invasion movement and post-punk revival of the modern era. Luke Pitscher, the lead singer, has such a commanding stage presence, he’s like a modern Mick Jagger. He has that vintage indie sleaze swagger to him.

The band opened with the acoustic ‘Seaside’, setting a tranquil tone before transitioning to their signature upbeat tracks. My favourites included their hits “Naive” “sofa song” and “Junk of The Heart”.

SATURDAY:

Starting off our Saturday with a good old fashion Rodeo at the Bullpen, we watched festival attendes try and stay on Bessy the mechanical bull for more than 60 seconds. It certainly was not the first rodeo for many. The adrenaline certainly got pumping for the day – I headed to the main stage on a high.

And the high continued as I approached the performance ‘Mildlife’. the Melbourne-based quartet, has garnered acclaim for their dynamic live performances that seamlessly blend jazz, funk, and psychedelic elements. Their shows are celebrated for their immersive soundscapes and engaging stage presence. Between electrifying drum solo and the

unexpected addition of a flute, the band’s rich sound allows the audience to feel deeply connected to the music. Their seamless fusion of genres, use of distorted vocals and harmonious interplay between the bassist and drummer make you feel like you are on a different planet. When I watched them, I completely went into my own world, I felt so in tune with my body and the ground beneath me. It felt like I was on some kind of drug. Their music is for the soul- its groovy, its jazzy, its euphoric. Holiday Mystics, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing, were up next at the Vibestown stage. Describing themselves as “a chaotic Fleetwood Mac and a mystic Red-Hot Chili Peppers”, Holiday Mystics combine gritty alt-rock with a kind of cryptic pop. Meg and Sav bring the feminine “witchy” Florence and The Machine vibe, whilst Jesse and T bring the testosterone associated with more traditional rock and roll. After touring the nation as well as the UK, Holiday Mystics tore down the Vibestown stage with their new EP “Deliverence” as well as their cover of “Say it Right” by Nelly Furtado mashed with Biceps “Glue”.

They finished their set with handing out red roses to the audience, to balance the hardcore with the heartfelt, solidifying that the band are really “lovers” at heart.

Heading into the new year, Holiday Mystics hope to release new music to really define their sound as a band. definitely worth checking out if you are into a mix of the old and new. Amyl And The Sniffers were next at the Paddock stage, and they turned out to be one of my highlights. The band’s name is a nod to amyl nitrite, colloquially known as ‘poppers’; reflects their raw and unfiltered musical style. With tracks like "Jerkin'" and "Chewing Gum,” Amyl and The Sniffers blend hardcore melodies and outright aggression to create a bloody riot live.

I managed to get right in the mosh for her set, of which was one of the most intense moshes I’ve been in. I lost an earring, ripped my skirt, fell in the tassie dirt, fell on top of some people, got back up again. Exactly what you’d expect at an Amyl and The Sniffers concert.

Raw emotion and energy were driving the mosh pit, you could feel it. Amyl and the Sniffers provided a quintessential punk experience-they certainly have punk rock prowess. Their set was marked by relentless energy and a commanding stage presence, leaving the audience exhilarated.

Empire of The Sun was a spiritual experience to say the least. I was sat at the grass, overlooking the crowd riddled with vibrant doofsticks. A huge head emerged from the floor of the stage as a backdrop, and Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore seeped from the darkness in an alien-like outfit- it was like being catapulted into another universe. They certainly don’t shy away from glitz and glamour; the dazzling array of outfits and elaborate dance moves really engulfs you into the Empire Of The Sun cosmos. it really stipulates all of your senses, I was on cloud nine for the whole show, particularly when they performed their hits “We Are The People” , “Alive” and “Walking On A Dream”, where I found myself spinning in circles, taking my friends by the hand and dancing like there was no one watching. It was one of the most entertaining, special shows I’ve ever seen, they are really a once in a lifetime band. I certainly felt like I was “Walking On a Dream” for the rest of the night.

SUNDAY:

On Sunday, we started off with a gold old fashion Doof Stick pageant, where punters showcased their creative array of Doof Sticks in the Bull Pen. A shrek doofstick, a cocopop stick, a vagina doofstick – who knew that Tasmanians were crafty too. Sunday was notably the funk/groove filled day – with artists like Kah-lo, Still Woozy and Play Lunch.

Kah-lo was up first, and she did not disappoint. Known for her songs “Rinse and Repeat” and “Fake ID”, Kah-lo is a Nigerian based singer songwriter, blends house music, R and B and pop to create the grooviest, dance worthy beats ever. I was right in the crowd for this one, her energy is so infectious, people were thumping with the funkiest dance moves, the dirty bass reverberated off of our bodies. Mixing feel good bangers with bass fuelled beats really creates this vibrant atmosphere – the crowd was dancing from start to finish. Up next was headliner Still Woozy, an American artist who makes psychedelic music with acoustic and electronic driven sounds that makes your soul dance. “Shotput” has been my song of the summer, my go to song for a long scenic road trip, so I was so excited to see it live.

The whole performance was riddled with such whimsy, with this playfulness that feels so pure – His stage presence is so wholesome, it feels so blissful listening to him. The set design was literally Woozy’s playground – inflatable flowers decorated the stage as he danced with a quirky energy around the stage. I did manage to get on someone’s shoulders to get the full experience of “Shotput” while singing “feels right, baby it feels right”- I’ve never felt so free- spirited. Other highlights included his performance of his hit songs “Goodie Bag” and “Habit”, still Woozy really is the king of groove.

As the sunset, I got ready to see the icon, the legend, the moment- Role Model. He is an up- and-coming American singer-songwriter known for blending indie pop with introspective lyrics and a relaxed, laid-back sound. His sound is primarily rooted in indie pop, but with a strong influence from R&B, alternative, and electronic elements I have been obsessed with him for the last two years after his tik-tok call to fame.I managed to get in the pit for this one, dancing with strangers and other artists from the festival. He is known for his tik-tok blended humour, as he jokes about losing People Magazine’s sexiest man alive, introduces himself as Chapell Roan, and twerks for the audience. He definitely is the next teen heartthrob of the pop zeitgeist, people in the audience were swooning over him. He has this non-chalant charm to him that makes him so endearing.

He mostly performed songs from his new album “This Isn’t Kansas anymore”, which is known to be about his breakup with youtuber Emma Chamberlain. Through this, he articulates this raw and heart-felt melancholy with elements that are strangely uplifting. He is able to be so tender and raw with his music but in like a humorous way- particularly shown by his song “Deeply Still in Love”, where he literally says “I’m trying to play it casually but it still bleeds”. He also has some dance worthy tunes, his performance of “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” made me boogy like no tomorrow.

The clock struck 10:30 and I was hyped to see Norwegian artist, Aurora, the last headliner of the night. Aurora's music is often described as ethereal, with a unique ability to blend haunting melodies, lush synths, and minimalistic instrumentation. Her music blends folk- inspired melodies with modern electronic pop, as well as classical elements. This quality creates a dream-like atmosphere in her work, making her sound almost otherworldly. She emerges on stage like a dream like creature – alluring the audience with her angelic presence. She floats around stage in a white frilly dress, and I questioned whether there was a real-life fairy in our midst. What was most noticeable about her sense is how unapologetically herself she was; literally the first thing she said to the audience was “it’s so cold that my nipples are poking out to say hello”.

She also has this ability to represent ache and grief in the most ethereal way, prefacing her song All Soft Is Inside with: “I am a very emotional human and I know you are emotional too, so if you know the pain of being an emotional human this is for you.” She balances vulnerability with such power, using her platform to champion her activism. For example, She prefaced her song runaway with how lucky we are in Australia to call it our home; and that “Runaway” is about all those people in the world who were forced to run away from their homes due to the devastation of war, like those in Gaza and Ukraine. It made the performance of that song that much more emotionally resonant – she unravels the heavy reality of the world in the most beautiful way. Her performance is not just music, it’s a sharing of grief, making the weight of the world less heavy.

Final thoughts:
Party in the Paddock is the best festival in Australia, hands down. I can’t wait to come back again and again, Tasmania in February is the place to be. I was so sad to leave this festival and return to reality again, it was like a musical safe haven that I was in for 4 days- surrounded by the best people, the best music, and the most beautiful place.
Let’s bring on PITP 2026!