The recently announced Eighty-Six festival in Northcote in Melbourne’s inner north will run in the nine days following SXSW Sydney and will feature UK bands Connie Constance and Los Bitchos alongside Japanese band Otoboke Beaver, who were all part of the first artist release for the SXSW Sydney music festival, announced back in February.
The festival is named after the 86 tram which runs through the festival location, High St in Northcote, and has received support from the state government’s $20 million Live Music Restart package, launched during the pandemic.
“Victoria is Australia’s home of live music and we are bringing the best international and local acts to Northcote for this one-of-a-kind music festival to showcase what we do best,” said Victoria’s minister for tourism, major events and the creative industries, Steve Dimopoulos.
The festival’s founder and artistic director Woody McDonald says there are plenty more local acts to be announced for the event.
“The Eighty-Six is designed to create ideal conditions for music to thrive and be valued – today’s announcement is focused on internationals and is just a taste of what is to come,” said McDonald.
“We are excited to share the full program, including a truly epic celebration of our local music ecosystem.”
The festival will run for nine days, from October 23 to 31. SXSW Sydney will take place between October 15 and 22.
