Donavon Frankenreiter, Gareth Liddiard + More

Thirroul Music Festival has announced its return for 2025, taking over the titular Illawarra town this November for a multi-venue, all-day run of music spanning various genres and nationalities. The full first announcement for the festival, as well as ticketing information, can be found below.

Headlining this year’s festivities will be American singer-songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter, who released his ninth studio album Get Outta Your Mind last year. Once a frequent visitor to Australia, often with friend and collaborator Jack Johnson, Frankenreiter’s November return will mark his first time here in seven years. His son Hendrix, a singer-songwriter in his own right, will also perform.

Donavon Frankenreiter – ‘Move By Yourself’

Also performing will be Gareth Liddiard, also of The Drones and Tropical Fuck Storm, who is celebrating the 15-year anniversary of his debut (and, to date, only) solo album Strange Tourist. Floodlights and Grace Cummings, still touring Underneath and Ramona, are also set to return to the Illawarra. Elana Stone, a former Sydney native turned Thirroul local, will perform both a solo set and a tribute set to the Americana movement alongside her partner, local psychologist Joel Hoffman.

The festival last ran in 2023, with a line-up that included M. Ward, Folk Bitch Trio, Robert Ellis, Courtney Marie Andrews and Mary Lattimore. It did not run in 2024, as the year proved to be extremely difficult for Australian music festivals on the whole – most notably exemplified by the cancellations of Splendour In The Grass and Groovin’ The Moo. A ticket to the festival will give you access to all of the participating venues – including Anita’s Theatre, Frank’s Wild Years and the Thirroul Railway Hall next to the train station. More details and venues are to be announced soon.