Bassinthegrass (styled as BASSINTHEGRASS) is an Australian music festival. It is the largest music festival in the Northern Territory, and has been held annually since 2003 in the territory capital. The festival is operated by the Northern Territory Government through the Northern Territory Major Events Company, part of a project of the previous Martin government to bring prominent bands to the territory and showcase local talent. BASSINTHEGRASS has grown rapidly since its inception, resulting in the imposition of cap on ticket numbers in 2007. A sister festival, Bassinthedust, had been held in Alice Springs commencing in 2004, but was shelved in 2008.
History
Established in 2003, BASSINTHEGRASS is the Northern Territory's biggest and longest-running music festival.
The festival was first held in 2003 to fulfill a campaign promise by the government to hold a Big Day Out-style youth concert in the territory."It's music to ALP". Northern Territory News, 15 July 2003 It was held in both Darwin and Alice Springs in its inaugural year, with the Alice Springs leg later becoming the Bassinthedust festival.Burton, Alice. "Local acts signed for big day out". Northern Territory News, 4 July 2003. 5000 people attended the Darwin leg, with a further 1500 in Alice Springs, listening to headline acts The Living End, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, and NoKTuRNL."It's music to ALP". Northern Territory News, 15 July 2003."Crowe quietly flies in". Northern Territory News, 11 July 2003. It became an annual event.Carter, Chris. "Darwin ready as Alice swings". Northern Territory News, 12 July 2003.
It became a Darwin-only festival in 2004 with the creation of Bassinthedust, and a crowd of 6000 turned out to a hear a larger lineup.Jackson, Paul. "Get set to rock in grass again". Northern Territory News, 12 July 2004."Locals boost big gig". Northern Territory News, 3 July 2004. Radio personality Jackie O had been meant to MC the event, but arrived nine hours late, and stormed off stage after being booed by the crowd and played over by Frenzal Rhomb in an incident that received national media coverage."NT and beyond". Northern Territory News, 6 August 2004. You Am I, Little Birdy, Evermore, Regurgitator and Anthony Callea headlined the festival in 2005.Cavanagh, Rebekah. "Concert tickets selling fast". Northern Territory News, 2 June 2005."More room for more rocking". Northern Territory News, 5 June 2005.
The festival switched to a two-stage format in 2006.Langford, Ben. "The Living End in our sights". Northern Territory News, 11 April 2006. BASS is a Darwin rite of passage, and in its 18 years has seen some of the country's biggest acts perform to sold-out crowds. In 2019, the festival moved to a bigger, new seaside location at Mindil Beach (famous for its sunsets) and hasn't looked back since. The 2019 event sold out at 10,000 tickets.
Artist lineup by year
2003 Source: Cinco Loco Culture Connect Endorphin Leon Spurling The Living End Llypente Apurte Machine Gun Fellatio NoKTuRNL One Dollar Short Plan B Public Holdup Selwyn Shellie Morris Sophie Monk Three on a Tree 28 Days 30 Odd Foot of Grunts
2004
Grinspoon Frenzal Rhomb The Dissociatives The Superjesus Jebediah Human Nature Shannon Noll Roymackonkey Even Hairy Lemon Sophie Koh World Fly Lifted Mace Elysium Plonker
2005 Source:
Anthony Callea Black Chapel Evermore Little Birdy Regurgitator You Am I The Flairz Nabarlek Pop Fantastic The Spazzys Storm Riders Test Theory Thirsty Merc Vanessa Amorosi Vassy
2006 Source:
Stokes Hill Neo Zenith ASP Flesh Petal 28 Days Gerling Faker Lee Harding Worldfly The Herd Something for Kate Pete Murray Hilltop Hoods The Living End
2007 Source:
Behind Crimson Eyes Enth Degree Eskimo Joe Hilltop Hoods Jet Little Birdy Lowrider Mammal The Moxie Shannon Noll The Strikes TZU The Weathermen Young Divas
2008 Source:
Powderfinger Hilltop Hoods The Potbelleez Wolfmother Gyroscope Mammal The Audreys Hercules of NY Front House Roymackonkey The Moving Targets Terracotta Pigeons
2009
Augie March The Aviators Bliss n Eso The Cat Empire Enth Degree Gabriella Climi The Living End Push Crew Seany B / Matt Roberts Sneaky Sound System Unbroken Expanse
2010
SilverchairThis was Silverchair's final live performance before their disbandment in 2011. Hilltop Hoods Empire of the Sun Jessica Mauboy Children Collide Short Stack Horrorshow Redcoats Sleeveheads (Battle of the School Bands Winner) DJ Fish Sweet Amber Semishigure Leigh Chisholm
2011
The Presets Sneaky Sound System Birds of Tokyo Art Vs Science British India The Potbelleez Dead Letter Circus Hayley Warner Justice Crew DT3 Unbroken Expanse Ned & Friends
2012
The Temper Trap Hilltop Hoods Boy & Bear The Jezabels Reece Mastin Drapht 360 Stonefield Calling All Cars Redcoats Emma Rowe and the Two Other Guys Skarlett N.E.A.L Boys Elcah Rane
2013
360 Matt Corby Flume Grinspoon The Amity Affliction Illy Hermitude Amy Meredith Kingswood Chasin Aces My Team Dilemma Rambutan Jam Band Joshua Goodrem
2014
The Amity Affliction Pendulum DJ Set The Living End Rufus Vance Joy Peking Duk Justice Crew OK Kaleidoscope Michael Lindsey Allday Jackie Onasis Owl Eyes Bear Essence Skank MC
2015
Birds of Tokyo Champagne with Mary Jane Flight Facilities Hilltop Hoods Illy Jarred & Prayer Kid Mac Kingswood The Preatures Roymackonkey Sheppard Tha Trigger Thundamentals
2016
Angus & Julia Stone Bliss N Eso Boy & Bear Drapht Hermitude Rüfüs Safia Tkay Maidza Violent Soho Gaia Tapestry At The Dakota
2017
Amy Shark BOO SEEKA John Butler Trio L D R U Peking Duk The Rubens Tash Sultana Thundamentals The Veronicas Stevie Jean Rachel Rachel Fat Pigeon Resin Moon
2018
Client Liaison Confidence Man Dean Lewis Dune Rats Illy Paul Kelly San Cisco Spit Syndicate Vera Blue
2019
Allday Amy Shark Ball Park Music Broods Caiti Baker DZ Deathrays Hermitude Hilltop Hoods Hot Dub Time Machine Karnivool The Lunar Society Mallrat Meg Mac Chet Faker PNAU Ruel SIX60 Tasman Keith Tapestry Kyle Maher Open Scars
2020 Festival postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19
2021
Boo Seeka Chillinit DMA's G Flip Hayden James Illy Jack River Lime Cordiale Missy Higgins Ocean Alley Peking Duk SAFIA The Jungle Giants The Rubens Thelma Plum Violent Soho Draftday Scrubfowl Big T and S Evans Marlon featuring Rulla Casii Williams
2022 Source:
Boy & Bear Dope Lemon Dune Rats G Flip Hilltop Hoods Hockey Dad Hooligan Hefs Hot Dub Time Machine Jessica Mauboy J-Milla Mako Road MSON (Making Something Outta Nothing) Montaigne Peking Duk Phoebe Olivia The Dreggs The Teskey Brothers Vera Blue Xavier Rudd
2023 Source:
Amy Shark Angus & Julia Stone Babe Rainbow Baker Boy Guy Sebastian Hooligan Hefs Jack Botts Music LDRU MAY-A Ocean Alley Peach PRC The Presets San Cisco Spacey Jane Steph Strings Tones & I
2024 Source:
Bag Raiders Bliss n Eso Elephant Town Mr Chrisy Mertas Coterie Jet The Jungle Giants King Stingray Lotte Gallagher MacklemoreMacklemore is the first-ever Bassinthegrass headline act from overseas. Middle Kids Northlane What So Not Ziggy Alberts
2025
The Amity Affliction Baby J Cyril (DJ) Crystal Robins & The Wildfires The Dreggs Hilltop Hoods Hot Dub Time Machine Jacksen Jaded Jax Jones Jazmine Nikitta The Jungle Giants Kah-Lo Latifa Tee Luude Meg Mac Old Mervs The Rions Yola Dewi 3%
2026
Anna Lunoe AYYBO Ball Park Music Denzel Curry Galantis G Flip In Hearts Wake JessB Kita Alexander Kobie Dee The Living End Mallrat Maple's Pet Dinosaur Morty Ninajirachi Nina Las Vegas Oktae Peking Duk Playlunch Tang Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers The Teskey Brothers Venjent
References
Notes
External links Official BASSINTHEGRASS site