PEATS RIDGE, A GLOBAL LAUNCH PAD FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS

Artists from around Australia are encouraged to apply to perform at the annual Peats Ridge Arts and Music Festival. Musicians, artists and theatre groups will have an opportunity to unlock their door to stardom by appearing in front of more than 10,000 people over New Years from Thursday 29 December to Sunday 01 January 2011.
Performing at Peats Ridge has helped launch the careers of internationally celebrated Australian music talents Angus and Julia Stone, The Jezabels, Kate Miller–Heidke, Cloud Control, Blue King Brown and Temper Trap. Festival organisers are now on the lookout to discover Australia’s next home-grown talent for this year’s line-up.
To apply, all you have to do is jump on the Peats Ridge website and fill out the submission form. Music submissions should include a copy of your most recent CD/demo and Arts & Theatre applications a youtube link or video. Entries close on Tuesday 30 August 2011.
As always, the Peats Ridge stages will be hotly contested with more than 1,000 applications expected from around Australia. The Festival is staged at Glenworth Valley along a rolling green riverbank, just an hour’s drive from Sydney.
Festival Director, Matt Grant says listening to great new Australian bands and giving them a platform, is his favourite part of the Festival. “There’s a sense of joy that comes from being involved in the success of artists who perform at the Festival each year and then go on to do amazing things.”
“We gave Angus & Julia Stone their first gig back in 2005, I’ve still got the original CD they submitted. At last year’s Festival they not only headlined for us, but were the number one act in Australia taking a huge ARIA award sweep,” he says.
The arts and theatre communities are also encouraged to apply to perform at Peats Ridge. Arts and culture is a huge Festival focus, past years have featured massive art installations, kooky themed venues, multimedia, theatre, dance, cabaret, comedy, even a giant trapeze.
Arts & Culture Manager – Vic Johnstone says: “Peats Ridge is a massive celebration of art and culture. We’re looking for bold, interactive and engaging artists to be part of the experience this year. It’s really important there’s a great exposure to new and inspiring works to create the eclectic festival experience our fans come back for,” she says.
Now in its eighth year, the Festival is described by Grant as one of only a few camping festivals in New South Wales and offers a much more immersive experience than the multitude of single day events on the Australian festival calendar. Festival-goers and artist communities are encouraged to stay for the whole five days that are available to be on-site, to enjoy the camping experience, beautiful surrounds, and extremely diverse music, arts and culture programming.
“The spirit of Peats Ridge is to inspire and remind us all to enjoy life. It’s a massive celebration of art, culture, sustainability and holistic living, for all the artists and Festival patrons who come to see them,” says Grant.
Musicians, artists, and theatre professionals can submit their interest online at www.peatsridgefestival.com.au – don’t forget there’s only six weeks to get your entry in!