Long Listen Festival: world-class music in small town settings
Long Listen Festival October 3-6
The hinterland will come alive with music, ideas and cultural exchange when the third Long Listen Festival returns from Friday October 3 to Monday October 6.
Curated by celebrated cellist Louise King, the boutique, artist-led festival is now a highlight of the national music calendar, transforming community halls and intimate venues in Palmwoods, Eudlo and Mapleton into spellbinding performance spaces.
This year’s program features 14 events, 56 artists and 11 genres, with a string of premieres including the festival’s first-ever commissioned work and a rare performance of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring by the Festival Chamber Orchestra.
Headline concerts include the opening night Migrating Bird, featuring didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton, violinist Veronique Serret, and other acclaimed artists; Morning Meditations, a sound immersion with Nienke Berghuis and David Clayton; and Road Movies, a classical recital with Courtenay Cleary and Alex Raineri.
Other highlights are the Ensemble Q Concert, Adrift with Gosti, and Roots on the Range, a powerful closing concert featuring State of Appalachia, Hat Fitz & Cara, and Phoebe McLennan.
Ms King said the festival was created to bring world-class performances to regional audiences.
“Long Listen celebrates connection – between artists, audiences, and our local community,” she said. “It’s intimate, inclusive and completely artist-led.”
The program also includes free Festival Conversations at The Little Book Nook in Palmwoods and cultural immersion experiences such as Didge Didirri, a First Nations sound bath and art workshop. While some events are free, registration is required.
Single-event tickets start at $20 for children and $35 for early bird adult tickets. Festival passes offer the best value for those wanting the full experience, with options ranging from $150 day passes to the $500 Long Listen Gold Pass, which includes premium seating, exclusive artist meet-and-greets and behind-the-scenes access.
“Every ticket purchased directly supports artists and the future of our region’s cultural life,” Ms King said.
The festival runs across Palmwoods Memorial Hall, Little Main Street venues and the Mapleton Public House.
Full program details and bookings are available at www.humanitix.com by searching “Long Listen Festival 2025.”
Take your pick of Long Listen Festival events:
Bookings via humanitix and search “Long Listen Festival”.
• Friday October 3, 5pm: Long Listen Festival Welcome Dinner 2025 at Homegrown Cafe, Palmwoods.
• Friday October 3, 7pm: Wunya Long Listen Festival Traditional Custodian Welcome 2025 at Palmwoods Piccabeen Green.
• Friday October 3, 7.30pm: Migrating Bird Opening Concert Long Listen Festival 2025 at Palmwoods Memorial Hall.
• Saturday October 4, 9am: Festival Conversations Long Listen Festival 2025 at The Little Book Nook.
• Saturday October 4, 10.30am: Morning Meditations Concert Long Listen Festival 2025 at Palmwoods Memorial Hall.
• Saturday October 4, 2.30pm: Road Movies Concert Long Listen Festival 2025 at Palmwoods Memorial Hall.
• Saturday October 4, 7.30pm: Ensemble Q Concert Long Listen Festival 2025 at Palmwoods Memorial Hall.
• Sunday October 5, 10.30am: Horizons Concert Long Listen Festival 2025 at Palmwoods Memorial Hall.
• Sunday October 5, 2.30pm: Appalachian Spring Gala Long Listen Festival 2025 at Palmwoods Memorial Hall.
• Sunday October 5, 7.30pm: Adrift with Gosti Concert Long Listen Festival 2025 at Palmwoods Memorial Hall.
• Monday October 6, 9am: Festival Conversations 2 Long Listen Festival 2025 at The Little Book Nook.
• Monday October 6, 10.30am: Didge Didirri Long Listen Festival 2025 at Palmwoods Memorial Hall.
• Monday October 6, 1pm: Blues On The Range Closing Concert Long Listen Festival 2025 at Mapleton Public House.