:: 2008 Falls Festival

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

The Falls Music & Arts Festival returns for its sweet 16th birthday in Lorne, Victoria and 6th year in Marion Bay, Tasmania.

Decembers’ delights seem oh so far away as we wander through winter wrapped in wool, wondering if it will ever be summer again. As we yearn for the summer solstice and the warmth and merriment she brings, we can smell the sea salted air over the rolling green hills of Marion Bay in Tasmania, and conjure images of the boutique secret garden party in the rainforests at Lorne in Victoria. In these two favourite places, the village of arts descend, the world class musicians perform and we all congregate to revel in all the goodness that our friend The Falls Festival bestows upon us, come December 29, 2008.

But alas, it is only June! So, in the meantime, to warm your winter fire, the spiffy new Falls Festival website, a whimsical world of adventure, has launched. Have a look around & get to know it. Once you’ve done so, ensure you join up and become a subscriber; that way you’ll be kept in the loop regarding the best way to get your hot little hands on tickets to the festival and be the first in-the-know regarding those that shall be gracing us with their presence on The Falls Festival stages.

Subscribe to The Falls Ticket Ballot

For your best chance to get hold of tickets to The Falls Music & Arts Festival, all that you need to do is be a Falls Festival Subscriber and then enter yourself in the 2008 ballot (being a subscriber does not automatically mean that you are in the ballot – you do need to throw your hat in the ring for this year’s events). The Falls Subscriber Ballot is held to ensure that most of the tickets go straight to the hands of her biggest fans - Falls Subscribers.

The option to subscribe for the ticket ballot is available via the website until midnight on Wednesday, August 27.
Put it on your calendar

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**Update as at August 14**

The Pied Piper of Australian Music Festivals has travelled the many corners of the globe to entice a stupendous ensemble of musicians to The Falls Music and Arts Festival this year in Lorne and Marion Bay. 2008 features a rich and diverse line-up that is already shaping up to be one of the best in the sixteen year history of this iconic festival. Showcasing four first timers to our musically in-tune shores, The Falls stages will be graced by non-other than the super sharp guitar stabs & exhilarating live show from great Glaswegian’s FRANZ FERDINAND (UK); monochromatic, dapper suited gents that swept us off our feet at Falls back in 2001, the anticipated return of THE HIVES (Sweden); Shimmy-tastic, soul soup splendour of ELI ‘PAPERBOY’ REED & THE TRUE LOVES (USA); hip-shakin’, smokin’ sets of THE CAT EMPIRE; burgeoning Brighton brood, THE KOOKS (UK); dance-a-holic, shambolic interludes of THE GRATES; unchartered brilliance of GOMEZ (UK); eclectic, chaotic, reverberations of FAKER; power-pop maestro’s, TEGAN AND SARA (Canada); bewitching voice of SOKO (France); blessed-out, good vibes of DONAVON FRANKENREITER (USA); sonic scientist JAMIE LIDDEL (UK); conscious and festive sonic beats of TZU; odd ball pop machine the MYSTERY JETS (UK); million flavours of fun from ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI; prolific beat-smiths and innovative hip hop maestros ATMOSPHERE featuring BROTHER ALI (USA); fascinating folk-pop duo, THE DODO’S (USA); turntablism prodigy A-TRAK (Canada); psychedelic meanderings of WOLF & CUB; awe inspiring, live phenomenon that is LIAM FINN (NZ) AND the blunt edged rock’n’roll of THE DRONES.
Plus, lots more to be announced.

The Falls Music & Arts Festival: The three day picnic begins on December 29, 2008 along the beautiful coastlines of Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania as it celebrates its sweet sixteenth birthday in Vic and its sixth year running in Tas. Featuring around 60 performers, comedians, The Falls Arts Village, films, spectacular natural amphitheatres and free camping.

Submissions from Tasmanian acts close September 17.