Australia's newest music festival sets its sights on the mid-north coast to round out its debut year.
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Having already announced a series of massive shows across regional NSW less than two weeks ago, Next Exit Festival has added Port Macquarie due to popular demand.
Next Exit Festival, on Saturday, May 22 at Westport Park, will bring a line-up packed with Aussie talent.
The announcement also includes a pledge from the promoters to shine a light on Australian music and regional towns across New South Wales.
Next Exit Festival will deliver live music from psych-rock outfit Ocean Alley; Spacey Jane, who recently became the highest-ranking Australian artist of the Hottest 100; Northern Beaches four-piece Dear Seattle; NSW local Merci; Mercy and sister duo Clews.
Kicking off in Bicentennial Park in Tamworth on Friday, May 21, the full festival line-up will make its way around regional NSW, with additional shows in Port Macquarie, Gosford and Batemans Bay, before finishing up in the picturesque surrounds of the Mudgee Showgrounds in Mudgee.
"After only a scattering of shows in the last six months, most of them in capital cities, we are super excited to be touring with Next Exit Festival to five awesome spots across country and coastal New South Wales," Ocean Alley's Mitch Galbraith said.
"We spend most of our time working and relaxing near the coast so we love playing in smaller cities anywhere near the water.
"We also get to take our show out west to Mudgee and Tamworth and we're stoked to visit the state's interior and have some good times with the folks there.
"These regional places are so much fun to tour because of the locals that are so welcoming and always up for a good old town blowout.
"Their support means we can keep coming back to play shows and festivals and give these awesome places the live music experience they deserve."
Next Exit Festival will place an emphasis on engaging local businesses with a goal to drive economic activity, encourage regional tourism and highlight local tastemakers and artisans.
"Being from Port Macquarie, I'm so excited to bring Next Exit Festival to the region in such a time of need,'' said MJR Presents' head of touring Australia, Scott Mesiti.
"The original concept for Next Exit Festival was to help bushfire-affected towns, regenerate tourism and hire as many local suppliers as possible.
"So much has happened since then but our aim remains the same. Now we've been hit by floods, with so many people affected, including myself, it's perfect timing to bring such a great line up for people to set their sights on.
"We have designed a safe festival that can be delivered under current COVID restrictions and will employ many people from our industry who have sat on the sidelines for too long."
Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, April 14 at noon via mjrpresents.com.