AJ Maddah has this week announced massive changes for his flagship festival Soundwave in 2015, revealing an expansion to a two-day festival, held across the same weekend in Adelaide and Melbourne then the next weekend in Brisbane and Sydney.
“Here’s the deal: SW15 will be held over 2 days in each city – Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane,” he announced via Twitter. “So half the bands play day 1. The other half play day 2. They criss-cross Saturday/Sunday in each city.” Maddah said “putting the line-up across 2 days” will help “minimise clashes; give bands longer sets, better staging, production & infrastructure.
“I am also hoping that this will give fans better value for money and a less stressful day,” he added. “In recent years we have lost great bands over too many bands wanting to play after dark. This new set-up also gives us twice the dark!” The promoter said there would be less stages at the event which will not be a camping festival.
The festival will kick off simultaneously in Adelaide and Melbourne, on the weekend of Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of February. The festival will then move on to Sydney and Brisbane on the second weekend, held over Saturday 28th February and Sunday March 1st.
Maddah also said he’ll be adjusting the Soundwave ticketing system for the 2015 festival, allowing both two day and cheaper one-day festival tickets. “The ticket price for the 2 days will be the same as last year. $185 + booking fees. These will be limited in number. There will also be a number of day tickets available at $120 + booking fees.”
“I am hoping that offering day tickets will make festival experience available to those who may not be able to afford weekend tickets,” he added. The festival lineup is expected to be announced in August and, according to Maddah, it will be announced first in its entirety when weekend tickets are released and then split into individual days when day tickets go on sale.
AJ Maddah confirmed earlier this year that 2014 would be Soundwave’s last stint in Perth, telling fans, “[One] more year like this one in Perth and there would be no [SW] anywhere.” Last week Maddah also revealed Soundwave Festival is currently set to feature four headline acts and that he was optimistic that Fear Factory and King Parrot will play the festival.
The first band confirmed for Soundwave 2015 were Melbourne progressive metal act Ne Obliviscaris. Maddah has also said that Richmond-based group Conditions will likely be booked for the festival.
Soundwave 2015 Festival Dates
Saturday, 21st February & Sunday, 22nd February 2015
Bonython Park, Adelaide, South Australia
Saturday, 21st February & Sunday, 22nd February 2015
Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
Saturday, 28th February & Sunday, 1st March 2015
Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales
Saturday, 28th February & Sunday, 1st March 2015
RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, Queensland
Image Via Music Feeds / Photo: Rebecca Reid
