Australian Festival Rumours

Australia | | 19 September 2006

With every winter comes the inevitable self wallowing as us Brits bear the thought of our Australian cousins enjoying sun-drenched festivals while we're shovelling coal. But who will the blighters be watching?

Our spies Down Under have been gleaming the rumour mill for the latest names being linked to the major festivals out in Australia and New Zealand.

Muse, The Flaming Lips, The Killers, Jet, Tool and Peaches are being touted as the main acts for The Big Day Out festival tour, which takes in six antibodean dates throughout January and February 2007.

Basement Jaxx are expected to join Wolfmother, The Sleepy Jackson, Modest Mouse, The Bees and more at the Falls Festival, which takes place in Victoria and Tasmania over New Year.

Before that, the Meredith Music Festival takes place from 8-10 December with Rose Tattoo, The Drones, Soundtrack of our Lives, Midlake, Band of Horses, The New Pornographers, Girltalk, Tapes N Tapes and Datarock all featuring.

Rumours are also abound that Byron Bay's East Coast Blues and Roots Festival will be making its way to Melbourne at Easter, with the possibility that The Who could wind up their world tour there.

And there's been much whispering about Australia being among the destinations for the V Festival export project, although it looks as if plans to bring Beck, Pixies and Ben Harper out to the continent could be on hold.

Of course nothing is for definite until confirmed by the festivals themselves. Stay posted to VF for more...