By Chloe Schneider

Summer is well and truly on the way and it’s high time to start preparing for the amazing calendar of music festivals this season has to offer. We’ve compiled a list of festivals and what to expect at each.

Big Day Out

Perhaps the most well known and favoured festival in Australia, Big Day Out is in it’s 20^th year and has proved itself time and time again as one of the biggest, most fun and diverse festivals in town.

Line-Up: Kanye West, Soundgarden, Kasabian, Noel Gallagher, Girl Talk, Royksopp, Battles, Foster the People, Cut Off Your Hands, Odd Future, Art vs Science, Parkway Drive and more

Dates and Locations:
Auckland Mt Smart Stadium - 20 Jan 2012
Gold Coast Parklands - 22 Jan 2012
Sydney Showground - 26 Jan 2012
Melbourne Flemington Racecourse - 29 Jan 2012
Adelaide Showground - 3 Feb 2012
Perth Brownes Stadium - 5 Feb 2012

The Crowd: With a diverse line-up including the likes of Hip-Hop kings Kanye West and Odd Future; Indie favourites like Battles and Cut Off Your Hands; Mash-up Man Girl Talk; Dance lovers Royksopp and Art vs Science and Brit Popper Noel Gallagher, this one is going to attract a hugely varied crowd! Expect some youngsters as this one is MA15+

Tickets: www.bigdayout.com ($165.00 + booking fee)

Homebake

Anyone who was on the festival scene in the early 2000’s will remember Homebake. Small, chilled and boasting a line-up of homebaked talent, this classic festival is back.

Line-up: Grinderman, Cut Copy, PNAU, Gotye, Ladyhawke, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Drapht, Killaqueenz, The Vines and loads more Australian acts.

Dates and Locations: Sydney The Domain – 3 December 2011

The Crowd: This one is 18+ and with the mostly Australian and fairly chilled-out line-up you can expect the crowd to be a little more mature than at festivals like Big Day Out. Homebake is famous for it’s relaxed vibe.

Tickets: www.homebake.com.au/tickets ($95.00 + booking fee)

Laneway

An indie favourite, Laneway’s 2012 line-up is an alternative music lover’s dream come true. Boasting some super impressive international acts and smaller, more intimate venue’s, this one is for the serious music lover.

Line-up: Feist, Girls, M83, Laura Marling, SBTRKT, The Drums, The Horrors, Toro Y Moi, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Washed Out, Wu Lyf, Yuck and more

Dates and Locations:
Brisbane Alexandria Street, Fortitude Valley – 28 Jan 2012
Auckland Silo Park Beaumont Street – 30 Jan 2012Melbourne Footscray Community Arts Centre – 4 Feb 2012
Sydney College of the Arts, Rozelle – 5 Feb 2012
Adelaide Fowler’s Live and Unisa West Courtyards – 10 Feb 2012
Perth Cultural Centre – 11 Feb 2012

The Crowd: Indie kids, hipsters and genuine music lovers. Laneway doesn’t have the crazy party vibe of festivals like Big Day Out. If you’re in it for the music and don’t want to fight of sweaty, shirtless guys, this is one for you.

Tickets: www.lanewayfestival.com.au ($140.00 + booking fee)

Soundwave

Soundwave is the festival for heavy metal lovers and this year’s line-up is one of the festival’s best ever. If you’re more of a head banger than a dancer, this is your domain.

Line-up: System of a Down, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Lamb of God, Marilyn Manson, Cobra Starship, The Used, Unwritten Law and more

Dates and Locations:
Brisbane RNA Showgrounds – 25 Feb 2012
Sydney Showground – 26 Feb 2012
Melbourne Showground – 2 Mar 2012
Adelaide Bonython Park – 3 Mar 2012
Perth Claremont Showground – 5 Mar 2012

The Crowd: Hardcore heavy metal fans galore. Expect a lot of black and probably a lot of facial hair too! Not one for the festival faint at heart. This one is an all ages event.

Tickets: www.ticketek.com.au/soundwave ($164.25+ booking fee)

Summadayze

Definitely one for those who love to dance, Summadayze is the home of the more pop and dance based acts. This year’s line-up includes some huge international acts that have seen

Line-up: Pendulum, Snoop Dogg, Calvin Harris, Scissor Sisters, Moby (DJ Set), Tiga, Spank Rock, Flying Lotus, Grandmaster Flash and more

Dates and Locations:
Adelaide Rymill Park – 31 Dec 2011
Melbourne Sidney Myer Music Bowl – 1 Jan 2012
Gold Coast Doug Jennings Park Main Beach – 2 Jan 2012
South Perth Sir James Mitchell Park – 3 Jan 2012

The Crowd: Think neon shirts, short-shorts and a lot of dancing. An over 18s event, you can expect a fair bit of drinking too, especially given it falls over New Years!

Tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/Summadayze-tickets/artist/1075473 ($119.85 + booking fee)  

Peats Ridge Sustainable Arts and Music Festival

Line-up: Gotye, Xavier Rudd, Salmonella Dub, Dum Dum Girls, The Holidays, Canyons, The Paper Scissors, Cameras, Oh Mercy, Jim Ward and a whole heap more

Dates and Locations: Glenworth Valley – 29^th Dec 2011 – 1 Jan 2012

The Crowd: Hippies at heart and those looking to camp out for New Years with chilled-out tunes, a friendly crowd and access to arts and workshops. One of the only festivals suitable for families, this one is friendly and relaxed. Warning: if you don’t like getting dirty, give it a miss.

Tickets: http://peatsridgefestival.oztix.com.au/default.aspx?Event=22750 (Season Pass Three Days including camping $320.00 + booking fee)

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