The dust has settled on the official Laneway Festival lineup announcement, but music fans in Western Australia and South Australia are left facing a bittersweet reality. While the festival boasts a massive roster of global talent, Perth and Adelaide have been left off the main itinerary for the upcoming summer run.
Organisers previously confirmed the difficult decision to hit pause in those two cities, citing mounting logistical hurdles. To help bridge the gap, targeted sideshows are stepping in to give regional fans a piece of the action.
What Happened to Perth and Adelaide?
Back in August, festival organisers shared the news via social media that Laneway would skip Perth and Adelaide. Barring pandemic-related disruptions, the festival has been a staple in Perth since 2009 and Adelaide since 2008.
The primary culprit behind the absence is the sheer scale of the operation. Running continuous multi-city dates across vast distances places heavy physical and operational demands on both touring crews and the artists themselves. Organisers noted that taking a temporary break allows them to streamline operations and keep the overall festival sustainable.
The 2027 Lineup and Exclusive Sideshows
Despite the omissions, the festival is moving forward with a powerhouse bill. Irish post-punk outfit Fontaines D.C. and pop powerhouse Hayley Williams will anchor the main festival circuit, which hits Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Auckland. Other notable names on the multi-genre lineup include Kim Petras, Slayyyter, Rico Nasty, and rising star Violet Grohl.
To lessen the disappointment for skipped cities, Fontaines D.C. locked in exclusive headline performances outside of the main festival route. The band will take over Perth's RAC Arena on February 9, backed by support act Gurriers, following their massive European and UK arena run and ahead of their fifth studio album release.
Additional Performances
Perth fans also score standalone headlining dates from other touring artists. Indie artist Jane Remover is scheduled to play The Rechabite on February 10, followed by hyper-pop artist Tiffany Day at the same venue on February 16.
While the future configuration of regional festival stops remains uncertain beyond this cycle, these targeted headline shows ensure local fans won't completely miss out on the touring wave.
