Brave, bold and brilliant festival returns
THE Long Listen Festival is back over the long weekend from 3–6 October 2025, promising four unforgettable days of music, art, book events, and cultural experiences across the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.
Palmwoods and Mapleton will buzz with bold performances, festival conversations, and small hall and pub concerts designed to surprise, delight, and inspire.
This year’s program features 56 artists across 14 events and 11 genres, from chamber music to world, blues, folk, and experimental sounds.
Headliners include Véronique Serret & Band with didgeridoo master William Barton on Opening Night, Classical Artists Ensemble Q, QSO Principal harp Emily Granger, Courtenay Cleary & Alex Raineri, and a world premiere by Queensland composer Nicole Murphy in the Appalachian Spring Gala for the Festival Chamber Orchestra.
Other highlights include world music with Gosti, Blues on the Range with State of Appalachia and Hat Fitz & Cara, and cultural immersions and sound baths with Didge Didirri.
Festival-goers can expect spellbinding concerts, genre-bending collaborations, and a welcoming community atmosphere—from morning tea in the hall kitchen to connecting with artists in the festival lounge.
Festival Founder and Artistic Director Louise King says, “Long Listen is a space for discovery and community. We’re bringing adventurous music-making into intimate venues and celebrating the spirit of connection through art and storytelling. Brave. Bold. Brilliant.”
Tickets start from $15–$45, with weekend passes available. Book via Humanitix (collections.humanitix.com/long-listen-festival-2025) or see the full program at www://linktr.ee/longlistenfestival.