FINALLY FRIDAY: ‘Top-line bands’ set to headline at Queenscliff

ERIN PEARSON
AUSTRALIAN bands Eskimo Joe, The Triffids and Gypsy and The Cat will headline this year’s Queenscliff Music Festival, organisers have announced.
Festival director Michael Carrucan said more than 100 acts would perform across five stages at this year’s festival back in its initial Princess Park site.
Camping was also on the cards for the first time this year, Carrucan said.
“I am rapt about the depth and breadth of talent and music we have on offer.
“There’s a real commitment here by everyone involved to make the festival the most affordable, best-value-for-money ticket going around.”
Joining the headliners will be The Cruel Sea, The Herd, Kimbra, The Beautiful Girls, Shane Nicholson, Pseudo Echo, Richard Clapton and The Snowdroppers.
Carrucan said The Triffids and indigenous reggae collective No Fixed Address would perform exclusively for the festival in one-off Victorian concerts.
Queenscliff would be The Triffids’ first festival since the death of band leader and singer/songwriter David McComb.
“Special international guests” would join The Triffids for its two-hour set.
The Triffids formed in Perth in 1978 before earning international success and a 2008 induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Band member Graham Lee said Queenscliff would be “bittersweet”.
“The motivation is to celebrate Dave’s life by singing the songs he wrote but we’re doing this because he isn’t with us,” Lee said.
“When we play though is when it comes home to us that we were very, very lucky. We were constantly being presented with songs that were absolutely amazing songs.
“We were spoilt for material because Dave was such a prolific writer, such a great writer.
“We knew what we were doing was good at the time but never though it would stand the test of time the way it has.”
Queenscliff Music Festival will run from November 25 to 27.