Barry Can’t Swim, Interplanetary Criminal and Richie Hawtin (aka Plastikman) are the top billed talent for Bizarro’s 2026 festival run of Australia, which will drop into three east coast cities across one long weekend this October.
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The electric music heavyweights lead the Labour Day weekend action at Overtone, set for Friday, Oct. 2 at Musgrave Park on the Gold Coast/Kombumerri; Freeform, Saturday, Oct. 3 at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne/Naarm (presentedin collaboration with Crown Ruler), and Mode, Sunday, Oct. 4 at Cockatoo Island/Wareamah in Sydney/Eora.
Each respective lineup is unique and “centered on the same DNA celebrating electronic music on day-to-night dancefloors, while also being individually sculpted by the cities and spaces around them,” reads a statement from Bizarro, the Sydney-based promoter.
While Australia’s festivals scene is in a state of flux, with banner events Bluesfest, Splendour in the Grass, and many others either taking a pause or folding altogether, dance music events are playing to a different beat.
Creative Australia’s Soundcheck report from 2024 mapped the nation’s festivals circuit and found that dance music was the top genre, accounting for almost one in every four fests in these parts. Money is tight, but Aussies love a party. Further proof came earlier this week, when homegrown EDM superstar Dom Dolla sold out his homecoming show at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium in record time, an historic moment for electronic music in these parts, say promoters Untitled Group and Frontier Touring.
The general on-sale for Overtone, Freeform and Mode festivals begin on Thursday, June 11, with the portal for early access opening the day before, on Wednesday, June 10.
Overtone Festival (presented by Bizarro)
Oct. 2 — Musgrave Park, Gold Coast/Kombumerri QLD
Barry Can’t Swim (DJ) / Interplanetary Criminal / Mall Grab / Richie Hawtin
(A-Z) 6 Sense / Avalon Emerson / Bella Claxton / Ben Ufo / Eva Charley / Freddy K B2B D.Dan / Liza / Memphis Lk / Mikalah Watego / Ned Bennett / Ngaaru / Shimmy / Swim / Tori Pepper / Two Shell
Freeform Festival (presented by Bizarro, in collaboration with Crown Ruler)
Oct. 3 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne/Naarm VIC
Barry Can’t Swim (DJ) / Interplanetary Criminal / Richie Hawtin
(A-Z) 2lubly / Ash Lauryn / Avalon Emerson / Bella Claxton / Ben Ufo / Call Super / Crÿbaby / D. Dan / Freddy K / Gigi FM / Hasvat Informant / Memphis LK / Mikalah Watego / Ned Bennett / Ogazón / Rakhi / Ron Trent / Storm Mollison / Swim / Twiena / Two Shell
Mode Festival (presented by Bizarro)
Oct. 4 — Cockatoo Island/Wareamah, Sydney/Eora NSW
Barry Can’t Swim (DJ) / Interplanetary Criminal / Richie Hawtin
(A-Z) Alilia B2B Anusha / Ash Lauryn / Avalon Emerson / Bella Claxton / Ben Ufo / Call Super / D. Dan / Freddy K / Fuchsia / Gigi FM / Harry Hayes / Hasvat Informant / Jun Wan / Ksmba / Memphis LK / Mikalah Watego / Ned Bennett / Obeido / Ogazón / Ron Trent / Storm Mollison / Swim / Twiena / Two Shell
