Barossa Contemporary 2021
South Australia has scored a new festival with the debut of Barossa Contemporary: Festival for the Curious this October. The inaugural festival will encompass music, art, food and wine over two days and nights across five locations throughout the Barossa Valley.
A major highlight will be Transcendence, a music event in an abandoned warehouse, with performances by local DJ legend Late Nite Tuff Guy, powerhouse performer Carla Lippis and experimental collective The Bait Fridge and lighting and design by Matthew Adey.
Elsewhere, Lightwaves will feature a set by jazz, funk and electronic trio Eraser Description – amplified by a video work by local creative Dave Court and lighting by ex-resident lighting designer of Sydney Opera House, Peter Rubie.
Hunter Gather is a roving degustation lunch by Barossa-born and-bred chef Owen Andrews with matched wines on the grounds of Seppeltsfield Winery. While Iridescence explores colour through a high-end pairing of food, wine, and design (with limited tickets available).
Founding artistic directors Ruth Blythman and Zac Tyler (of production company Release Creative) both grew up in the region – a place Blythman says nurtured their passion for the arts.
“We believe a creatively rich and diverse society inspires innovation,” she said in a press release. “Barossa Contemporary is our way of playing a part in building a prosperous future for our arts community, the Barossa and South Australia.”
The 2021 festival will act as a preview before a souped-up version in 2022 with more than 200 performances.
“The skills of our South Australian artists are world-class, and we get to unleash them in one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions,” says Tyler. “We’re giving them a chance to express their art in a brand-new setting. Our creative concepts have been developed for people and spaces that intrigue and inspire us and we hope audiences will feel that connection as well.”
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