Out On The Weekend, the new alt-Country Americana festival held in Melbourne on Saturday, exceeded expectations and generated great comments from the concert-goers.
Out On The Weekend is a boutique music festival, targeted to generate an audience of between 2000-3000. The first event was held at Seaworks in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Williamstown, with a backdrop of the city of Melbourne over sunset.
The festival should easily find an ongoing following from fans of real, organic music who want a family environment to bring their kids. Out On The Weekend was certainly a hit with young families with its location perfect for young kids to play near the bay in view of parents who could enjoy the sounds.
Out On The Weekend was all about great music from world-class singer songwriters with USA acts Justin Townes Earle, Ryan Bingham, Nikki Lane, The Delines and Robert Ellis alongside Australia’s finest from Henry Wagons, Emma Swift and Chris Altmann.
Two covered stage alternated each act while the audience were treated to fine American food stalls and themed displays including Neil Young’s vintage Chrysler and promoter Brian ‘BT’ Taranto’s collection of Neil Young tour t-shirts.
For anyone who has been to SXSW in the early days when it was about the music, Out On The Weekend felt like a SXSW mini-me.
Out On The Weekend is a Melbourne and Brisbane only event this year.
Brisbane next weekend (October 26) in Fortitude Valley will feature Nikki Lane, Robert Ellis, The Delines, Jonny Fritz, Emma Swift, Halfway, Paddy McHugh, Warren Earl Band.
For other cities, Out On The Weekend sideshows are touring nationally.
Out On The Weekend sideshows
Justin Townes Earle with Linda Ortega and Marlon Williams
October 19, Meeniyan, Meeniyan Town Hall
October 22, Brisbane, The Tivoli
Ryan Bingham with Harry Hookey
October 19, Fremantle, Mojos
October 21, Melbourne, Northcote Social Club
Robert Ellis with Jonny Fritz and James Thomson
October 21, Melbourne, Toff In Town
October 23, Sydney, Newtown Social Club
Nikki Lane with The Delines
October 21, Sydney, Newtown Social Club
October 22, Melbourne, The Toff In Town
October 23, Melbourne, Northcote Social Club
October 24, Meeniyan, Meeniyan Town Hall
Out On The Weekend official website
