Birdsville Big Red Bash

Australia's most unique bucket list music experience – the Birdsville Big Red Bash – is set to return this July 16-18 July, 2019, drawing more than 9,000 festival-goers to the remote red sands of Queensland's Simpson Desert for an epic line-up of Outback entertainment and live Australian music acts, headlined by Oz Rock legends Midnight Oil.

Taking place over three bumper days and nights during the winter school holidays, the all-ages and dog-friendly event will see Midnight Oil perform a one-off and once-in-a-generation performance against the striking backdrop of the legendary 40-metre-high Big Red sand dune – an outback landscape now synonymous with the Oils and their many iconic rock anthems including 'Beds Are Burning' and 'The Dead Heart'.

The Oils' Big Red Bash performance is the first show announced for the band on Australian soil since their hugely successful Great Circle World Tour in November 2017, and the first time they have headlined a multi-day Australian music Festival since Woodford Folk Festival in 1996.

Joining Midnight Oil will be a host of all-time Australian music greats including ARIA award-winners The Living End, Richard Clapton, 1927, Kasey Chambers and Wendy Matthews, as well as Neil Murray, Busby Marou and many more.

Commenting on their upcoming Big Red Bash performance, Midnight Oil said on Facebook:
"We understand that Australians and Kiwis might be wondering if and when we're going to do some more gigs closer to home. At this stage the only one we've confirmed is the Big Red Bash in Birdsville on July 18. When we saw the photos, we just couldn't say no."

More than just the world's most remote music festival, the Big Red Bash offers up a uniquely Australian destination adventure for families, motoring and camping enthusiasts, all-age music-lovers, backpackers, grey-nomads and travellers from near and far alike.

"The journey to the Big Red Bash is in itself an amazing and mind-blowing experience – whether you're an Aussie or an international traveller," said Big Red Bash Founder and Organiser, Greg Donovan.

"Visually and culturally, the Outback is like nothing else in the world – and the Big Red Bash often gives people that extra push to make the trip into a breathtaking part of this country that's right on our doorstep, but that often goes unexplored.

"The fact that you can turn the trek into a fun-filled road trip, take in all of the unique sights along the way, and then experience a world-class music line-up while camping under the Milky Way with your entire family – including the dog – is often the perfect combination of reasons to buy a ticket – and that's why we usually sell-out well in advance," added Donovan.

Despite being a bucket-list adventure for many first-time attendees, the Big Red Bash also often welcomes back many familiar faces, who make the unforgettable journey to Big Red each July to experience a fresh line-up of celebrated Australian bands and artists.

Proudly supported by Tourism and Events Queensland, the Big Red Bash delivers a jam-packed program of outback activities in addition to the stellar music bill – from comedy and outdoor film screenings, to scenic helicopter flights, dune surfing, beach volleyball and camel rides.

The much-loved event also plays host to the Australian Outback Air Guitar Championships, Fashions in the Desert and the RFDS Bashville Drags, which sees festival-goers race a 500-metre dirt course donned in colourful drag outfits. Both the Fashions in the Desert and Bashville Drags events raise much-needed funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The Big Red Bash can be accessed via road vehicles, scheduled and charter flights, and bus tours. The event does not sell alcohol, but ticket-holders are permitted to bring their own food and alcohol on to the event site. In addition, there will be a range of food vendors selling both hot and cold food and beverages at the event.

The Big Red Bash also has dog-friendly camping and concert areas. However, when buying tickets, attendees will need to register their dog to attend. Children aged 11-and-under are also able to attend the event for free.

Birdsville Big Red Bash
Where: Big Red sand dune, 35 km West of Birdsville
When: Tuesday 16 July – Thursday 28 July, 2018