Massive Line-Up For Northern Territory’s Biggest Music Festival

The line-up for the Northern Territory’s biggest music festival, BASSINTHEGRASS, is here and bigger than ever. Including American rapper and singer Macklemore,

BASSINTHEGRASS will welcome 22 Australian and international artists to Darwin in 2024. Head north this winter and dance under palm trees and clear blue skies at Darwin’s iconic Mindil Beach on 18 May 2024. Enjoy hours of live music with a diverse range of music on offer, including pop, hip-hop and electronic dance music (EDM), with EDM artists to take over a new 360-style stage, BASSment.

The majority of the BASSINTHEGRASS line-up have never performed at the festival before.

Electronic dance duo Bag Raiders are behind world-wide hit and cult-festival track ‘Shooting Stars’.

Stalwarts in the electronic music community for more than a decade, Jack Glass and Chris Stracey are no strangers to the stage, performing across the world at festivals including Ultra Music, Splendour in the Grass, CRSSD, Bestival, Lovebox, TomorrowWorld, EDC Mexico, Parklife, Melt and Beyond the Valley. They’ve played stadiums with icons Duran Duran and Chic / Nile Rodgers.

BASSINTHEGRASS goers can expect a high-energy live show and lighting spectacle, which has been a hit across North America during their 2023 tour. Get ready to groove to other dance floor hits when they take to the new 360 stage, BASSment, in May, including ‘Way Back Home’, ‘Sunlight’, ‘Snake Charmer’ and 2023 release ‘Love Me Back’.

Two-time winners and nine-time ARIA-nominated hip-hop giants Bliss n Eso are returning to BASSINTHEGRASS for the first time in eight years, and are keen to get the crowd jumping and dancing at Mindil Beach.

Selling close to half a million records in Australia alone, with various prestigious awards and accolades to their name, an unprecedented live presence and the most loyal fanbase in the country, Bliss n Eso will delight fans, both new and old, at BASS with their hip-hop beats.

Their latest album The Sun features tracks with Australian music stars Chillinit, Dizzee Rascal and Kasey Chambers, and is the follow up to 2017’s critically-acclaimed ARIA #1 album Off The Grid, which featured their triple-platinum smash hit single ‘Moments (feat. Gavin James)’. This has amassed more than 60 million streams across platforms and received the ARIA Award for Best Music Video.

Coterie – four brothers from Perth making massive waves across Australian and New Zealand coastlines! The band encompass an authenticity often lost in modern music, their records telling lyrical stories drawn from real-life experience and using melodically rich vocals to bring a raw narrative heat to the songs.

Immersed in a world of surf and art, the band has developed a unique blend of high-energy reggae-rock music that has audiences demanding more. After touring with Six60 in 2022, this year they headlined their own Australia tour, selling out five of the seven shows. They’ve performed one-off shows alongside music heavyweights including Lime Cordiale, Illy and Missy Higgins, and played festivals on both sides of the Tasman.

J-MILLA is a proud member of the Marranungu people, the traditional landowners of Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory. He has carved out his space on the hip-hop landscape as a powerful lyricist with a bangin’ flow.

A Darwin local, J-MILLA’s life was hard from the get-go. Losing himself in music and storytelling got him through, and it was this part of his culture he clung to. When he noticed the power of narrative and its influence on those around him, mainly his brothers and sister, J-MILLA’s passion for writing lyrics and telling his own stories began.

J-MILLA used this passion like a weapon to maintain a healthy mental state for himself and his siblings. His lyrical content swings between deep societal commentary and bangin’ club vibes. J-MILLA made history when his performance at the remote community of Wadeye was live streamed on TikTok in 2023.

Originally hailing from Dingley in Melbourne, Jet quickly conquered the world after forming in 2001, selling more than 6.5 million albums globally and securing almost 10 x Platinum certification in Australia, and Platinum in the USA and UK for their 2003 debut album Get Born.

The album produced a string of classic singles ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’, ‘Rollover DJ’, and ‘Look What You’ve Done’ and netted the band six 2004 ARIA awards. Both ‘Are You Gonna Be My Girl’ and ‘Cold Hard Bitch’ peaked at number 1 on the US Modern Rock singles charts, and propelled the band to the top of festival bills and charts around the world.

Jet’s follow-up album, Shine On, followed in 2006 and was rammed full of another collection of melodic rockers including, ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is’, ‘Bring It On Back’ and ‘Rip It Up’. It achieved Platinum status in Australia on the back of stand-out headline shows around the world, and an unforgettable Big Day Out run in 2007.

Jet played their last show in 2010 and reformed in the Summer of 2017 for a series of shows with Bruce Springsteen and their own special headline dates in Sydney and Melbourne.

Ghanaian-Australian sibling duo Kinder (Savannah and Briony Osei) are festival-touring DJs and vocalists who perform a high-energy house set, drawing on their diverse roots. Kinder’s music embraces euphoric club foundations with intertwined pop vocal hooks. Onstage, their show is an inclusive journey with only one rule: as their track ‘Keep Up’ says, “Don’t come on by if you’re not here with a good vibe.”

Growing up in regional Australia with musician parents, Briony and Savannah were immersed in music from a young age. They were drawn to the rhythm and craft, rich beat work and electrifying charisma of dance music, and the body-moving potential of house music beats. Driven by a love of club culture, the sisters quickly found their way to DJing at Sydney’s underground clubs.

Those hole-in-the-wall slots soon became headline slots, which led to festival and stadium slots, opening for the likes of Marshmello, Martin Garrix, NGHTMRE, RL Grime, and performing on national festival circuits. They’re now making their way to Darwin for BASSINTHEGRASS.

Performing at their first BASSINTHEGRASS, King Stingray is a story of lifelong friendship and two cultures coming together. Growing up in Yirrkala in North-East Arnhem Land, founding members Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu (frontman) and Roy Kellaway (guitar) have been making music together for as long as they can remember.

Yirrŋa and Roy formed King Stingray with mates Dimathaya Burarrwanga (rhythm guitar, backing vocals and yidaki), Campbell Messer (bass) and Lewis Stiles (drums) in 2019, before welcoming yidaki-master Yimila Gurruwiwi in 2022. The band blends ancient Indigenous melodies with surf, indie and funk influences to create their unique “Yolŋu surf-rock” sound, which has captivated the nation.

King Stingray’s reputation has quickly skyrocketed, from taking out triple j’s ‘Unearthed Artist of the Year’ J Award in 2021 to dominating the 2023 AIR Awards by converting three of four nominations into wins. They have shared stages with Ball Park Music and Midnight Oil and performed before more than 70,000 AFL fans during the ‘Dreamtime at The G’ match.

Lotte Gallagher is a singer, songwriter and guitarist from Northside Melbourne. The Northcote High student was a finalist in triple j Unearthed High 2023. Lotte released her first track to the platform in 2023 receiving rave reviews. ‘Adam’ has since gone onto be one of the youth broadcaster’s most spun tracks in 2023, reaching the #1 most played position.

Music has been a big part of Lotte’s life. Learning to sing at the age of two – her mum taught her vibrato, and she began writing songs from the age of 14. She credited Mr Latomanski for the majority of her guitar skills. The first song she wrote was about her mum loving the cat more than her and said she was still writing about things that hurt. There are big things on the horizon in 2023 for the 16-year-old having joined the Mushroom Management roster, Liberation Records and Lonely Lands Agency.

Multi-diamond certified and GRAMMY® award-winning artist Macklemore will make BASSINTHEGRASS 2024 one to remember when he takes to the stage at Mindil Beach.

One of the world’s most famous artists, Macklemore has a whopping total of 13.2 billion combined streams to date, and more than five billion views on his music videos. He is one of the most successful independent artists of the 21st century and is one of only two rappers to have a diamond-certified single (‘Thrift Shop’).

With other chart-topping tunes to his name, including ‘Same Love’, ‘Can’t Hold Us’ and ‘Downtown’, BASS goers can expect a set to remember from Macklemore, who released his third studio album BEN, featuring Aussie music icon Tones and I, in 2023.

Mashd N Kutcher, who brought us the COVID-19 hit ‘Get on the Beers’, delivers a unique live electronic music style performed as a collective of DJs and multi-instrumentalists. Their music, which is guaranteed to get you up and moving, has seen them receive multiple Platinum records and a triple j Hottest 100 placement at #12.

In 2022 the band developed a unique creation of content with the successful ‘Will It Mash?’ series. They mixed different songs and genres played live, alongside the reaction of a special guest. Guests have included the likes of Murray Cook of global phenomenon The Wiggles, Australian and New Zealand breakfast radio hosts, and UFC’s Alexander Volkanovski.

Check out Mashd N Kutcher’s new track ‘It’s Alright’, one of the featured songs for BASS 2024.

Expect to be swept up in new tunes from Middle Kids, Sydney’s emotive indie trio, who will release their third album Faith Crisis Pt 1 in February 2024. The album continues their signature style, brimming with yearning, angst, pop brightness, a belief in love and reassurance that even from the bottom, it’s possible to believe in beautiful things.

Middle Kids first gained attention with their debut single, ARIA Gold-certified track ‘Edge Of Town’, released in 2016. Their debut album Lost Friends, released in 2017, won triple j’s Best Australian Album Award in 2018 and their last album Today We’re The Greatest won Best Rock Album at the 2021 ARIAs.

Mood Swing & Chevy Bass have made a name for themselves as one of Australia’s most entertaining and energetic festival acts. Conducting their shows like ring masters of a circus, they’ve encouraged crowds across the globe to surrender their inhibitions and let loose their inner party animals at such festivals as Boomtown (UK), Burning Man (USA), Rainbow Serpent, Earth Frequency and Splendour in the Grass, just to name a few.

The Mood Swing & Chevy Bass Band transforms the duo into a band consisting of some of Australia’s finest musicians. Their trademark sets described as ‘funky in the front, filthy in the back’ take you on a genre crossing journey. Starting with funk infused bass music, through to Middle Eastern-inspired deep house and climaxing with frothing and filthy bass house. Expect the band to bring sultry string arrangements, funk-filled horn sections, world and afro percussion and of course….shredding keytars.

Northlane is a chart-topping, award-winning band from Sydney, Australia. BASS fans should get ready to brace themselves for heart-pulsing music when Northlane rocks the stage. Through fearless evolution and unmatched innovation, Northlane has become a vanguard of heavy music across the globe, entirely on its own terms.

Over 12 years the band has released six acclaimed albums, including ARIA Chart #1 records Obsidian (2022) and Node (2015); alongside Singularity (2013), Mesmer (2017) and Alien (2019), which all debuted at #3. Northlane has also won three consecutive ARIA Awards for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album, as well as two AIR Awards for Best Independent Heavy Album.

DJ, producer, radio host and label owner – Sam Divine does it all. The first lady of Defected Records, Sam has become an intrinsic part of the UK house scene. A chance encounter with then Defected radio host Aaron Ross in Notting Hill led Sam to Ibiza. Fast forward to 2015 and Sam launched her own “DVINE Sounds” imprint.

Having amassed more than 75 releases, from a mixture of established household names to new up-and-coming artists, the label has gone from strength to strength, with sold-out showcases at ADE and Miami Music Week.

Jump forward another seven years and Sam is now considered a true tastemaker, hosting her own weekly show on Kiss FM in the UK (available online globally) and a bi-weekly radio show for Defected, with a combined reach of more than 10 million listeners. In addition to her studio prowess, Sam is relentlessly travelling the globe as one of the most in-demand artists in the house-music space.

Sunshine and Disco Faith Choir produce infectious house and techno, club tunes that have seen them sell out shows across the country, and they’re returning to Darwin to bring you their signature music. DJ Sunshine first teamed up with the 12-piece Disco Faith Choir in 2016, producing an eclectic mix of disco tunes that unite iconic club tracks with uplifting gospel and soul vocals.

A must-see set, the group deliver a stage presence and energy that captivates audiences and gets the crowd dancing. They have truly welcomed their faith – the disco. A true ode to dancefloor salvation, Sunshine and Disco Faith Choir serve to share the gospel of Disco Faith with those whose enthusiasm lives in the hands of the music.

The 046 Collective started in the southwest of Sydney, from a public housing suburb called Claymore. Brothers Kymza and Ronza, cousin ET and best mate Jizza grew up listening to the likes of Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Tupac and Warren G. This influence shows in their music and is credited for pioneering “Aus Funk”, a sub-genre in the exploding Australian hip-hop scene.

The boys have amassed tens of millions of streams and viral music videos, completely independently. 2023 was an outstanding year for The 046with their first national tour, Rhythm & Gutta Tour. The group has also performed at their first festivals in Australia and internationally. Work rate unmatched, bangers on bangers

The Jungle Giants are undeniably Australian indie-rock royalty, and return to BASS 2024 with their catchy, chart-topping tunes. Known for delivering explosive, high-energy live performances, the band is comprised of Sam Hales (vocalist/guitarist/songwriter/producer), lead guitarist Cesira Aitken, bassist Andrew Dooris and drummer Keelan Bijker.

The last year has seen the band headline festivals and sell-out tour dates around the world. The Jungle Giants last played BASS in 2021, and have set out in pursuit of their fifth studio album with the release of singles ‘Trippin Up’ and ‘Rakata’. Fuelled by buoyant melodies and infectious choruses, these releases show the next evolution of a band that refuses to sit still. Driven by optimism, creative freedom and a desire to “go weird, go funny, and not be scared”, The Jungle Giants are paving the way for their continued metamorphosis.

Fresh off her win of the 2023 Electronic Dance Music Awards (EDMA) Icon Award, Darwin-raised artist VASSY (aka Vassy Karagiorgos), is returning home to the Top End to join the BASSINTHEGRASS 2024 line-up.

Now based in LA, the Multi-Platinum award-winning artist is one of dance music’s most prominent authentic female artists, recognised with eight Number 1 Billboard hits on the U.S Radio Dance Charts. VASSY’s collaboration with David Guetta and Showtek (for global hit ‘Bad’) has topped two billion streams, while her hit ‘Secrets’ with DJ Tiësto and Kshmr reached number one in more than 30 countries.

VASSY has performed at some of the biggest music festivals in the world, including Tomorrowland in Belgium, Miami’s Ultra Music Festival and Australia’s Stereosonic. Her music has been featured in hit television shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, and in global TV campaigns for Hilton, Victoria’s Secret, Nike and Pepsi. Her single ‘We Are Young’ has been featured in film trailers for Frozen, Cabin in the Woods and Admission.

This international star, voted Number 1 Best Female EDM Vocalist by Billboard, will fill the BASS ‘dancefloor’ with her classic anthems and latest chart topper hit ‘Pieces’ (with Bingo Players & Disco Fries). VASSY’s new release ‘Krazy’ is out now across all platforms.

For Sam Walker and Gavin Royce, their innate dancefloor intuition, combined with years of experience behind the decks, drives them to create music that isn’t just playable – it’s irresistible. Walker & Royce first teamed up for a remix in 2011. The duo found early success on tastemaker labels like Crosstown Rebels, OFF Recordings and Moda Black, scoring an Essential New Tune nod from Pete Tong with 2014’s ‘Sister’.

The indie dance and deep house sounds that informed Walker & Royce’s earliest work soon gave way to something different. Quirky accents and bouncy synths, previously deeper in the mix, leapt to the forefront, backed by a propulsive new energy. Walker & Royce have collaborated with Diplo, Claude Vonstroke, Chris Lake and VNSSA to name a few. They’ve remixed Channel Tres, LP Giobbi, The Knocks, Justin Jay, Gorgon City, Mindchatter; and put out music on Dirtybird, Higher Ground, Relief, Black Book and their own Rules Don’t Apply imprint. 2024 will see the release of their second album No Big Deal.

The duo from the USA has spent years honing their one-of-a-kind style, meticulously crafting the sounds they want their fans to hear in clubs, at festivals and in their headphones. The result is a body-of-work that firmly places the duo at the forefront of dance music’s present and future.

After charting America’s #1 Dance Album for his debut Not All the Beautiful Things in 2018, Chris Emerson, widely recognised as What So Not, stepped away from the spotlight, and reconnected with the dance floor and nature in a quest to re-establish the foundation of his craft. Surfing treacherous waves, living in Nicaragua and regional coastal towns compounding his experiences into sound, this period of self-discovery led to the creation of Anomaly, an album that mirrors his newfound confidence and zest for life.

An eclectic blend of genres, Anomaly showcases Emerson’s artistic evolution, ranging from cinematic builds, baseline-driven anthems and celestial vocals. Collaborating with artists like Oliver Tree, Killer Mike, Louis the Child, and MØ, Emerson crafted a musical masterpiece that defies trends and stands the test of time. In addition to the album, he unveiled a visually stunning immersive live show consisting of 3D animated film, exploring themes of purpose, existence, and impact.

After a ground-breaking Anomaly tour across the United States and Australia, Emerson continues to push boundaries. Captivating audiences with his timeless creativity, innovative vision, and genre-pushing releases with the likes of ‘Slumberjack’, ‘Daktyl’, and many more in 2024.

Ziggy Alberts is an Australian singer-songwriter and author who has established himself as one of Australia’s leading independent artists. His genuine grassroots story has lifted his artistry into universal acclaim, captivating audiences across the globe, a testament to his songwriting ability and powerful live performance.

Founder of his own independent label, Commonfolk Records, and book publishing house, Commonfolk Publishing, Ziggy Alberts has managed to craft what many musicians and authors dream of: the ability to tell a story on their own terms. His sixth-studio album, DANCING IN THE DARK, is no exception, providing yet another example of how he showcases his artistic growth and shares his ever-evolving story with the world.

In 2022, Ziggy was awarded an APRA for his track, ‘Letting Go’. He has also earned ARIA Platinum certifications for ‘Laps Around The Sun’ (Double Platinum), ‘Gone’, ‘Runaway’, ‘Heaven’, ‘Love Me Now’, ‘Stronger’ and Four Feet in the Forest (EP), plus Gold certifications for his Laps Around The Sun album and six tracks in his catalogue.

BASSINTHEGRASS is just the start of a Territory adventure, with unique tourism experiences on offer including swimming in stunning waterfalls, incredible wildlife encounters, the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets and a vibrant CBD filled with amazing street art. Footy fans can add AFL to their trip, with the Gold Coast SUNS playing two games in Darwin just before BASSINTHEGRASS. They will face North Melbourne on Saturday, 11 May followed by the Geelong Cats on Thursday, 16 May.

BASSINTHEGRASS is delivered by Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC). CEO Suzana Bishop said the all-ages music festival continues to evolve, with new experiences to excite new visitors and die-hard fans. “The Territory’s favourite music festival has come a long way in 21 years and is well and truly a must-do on the national festival calendar. It’s also one of the most affordable festivals in Australia,” Mrs Bishop said.

“BASSINTHEGRASS is attracting international artists as well as the best from Australia, delighting music fans who want to see quality artists at a stunning beach-side location. The whole city comes alive in the lead-up to the festival, and next year’s event takes place right after Darwin’s two AFL games. Even more reasons to head to the Top End.” The Jungle Giants, who performed at BASSINTHEGRASS 2021, will return to blast their catchy tunes to the thousands of revellers expected to pack Mindil Beach.

“(I’m) Pumped to be headed back to the NT for BASSINTHEGRASS. It’s one of my fav festivals to play. The line-up is always huge, and Darwin goes its own special kind of wild. Will most likely be staying for a writing trip somewhere in the desert,” The Jungle Giants’ Sam Hales said.

Darwin’s own Vassy, who has collaborated with DJs David Guetta and Showtek, DJ Tiësto and KSHMR, will perform on stage in what is set to be a special performance for the artist.

“As a local girl originally from Darwin born and raised, now based in Los Angeles. It gives me so much joy to come back home to perform for my hometown and to support my local community by showcasing local talent in my show line-up,” Vassy said.

The 2024 festival includes new premium packages to take the BASSINTHEGRASS experience to the next level.

They include The Terrace, an exclusive hosted experience on a raised platform close to the stage; Oasis, with side-of-stage views from under the trees; and ReFresh, a place to take a break and beat the queues.

General Admission tickets ($129) and premium packages (prices vary) are on sale now. Once General Admission tickets are exhausted, Final Release tickets will go on sale for $149.

Head to www.bassinthegrass.com.au.