[MUSIC NEWS] BE SOCIAL FEST Lineup Announced

BE Social Fest, the fast emerging music festival in the Central Queensland region of Mackay, is set to return to Harrup Park Saturday 24th of June with its biggest and most diverse line-up to date. Proudly presented by LiSTNR, BE Social will again deliver an unforgettable day and night of music, community and social freedom. Building on the success of the 2022 event, BE Social will expand its footprint to welcome a licenced all ages offering with the goal of attracting thousands of new punters to experience some of the most influential  artists Australia has to offer.

Since its debut in 2021, BE Social has curated and delivered exceptional lineups that have attracted thousands from the region and have promised 2023 will be no different. Headlining this years proceedings is rock royalty Grinspoon, with a career spanning almost 30 years, Grinspoon has become a national treasure amongst audiences and will return to Mackay for the first time in 10 years.

Joining them is perennial Australian pop-sweetheart Vera Blue whose meteoric rise in 2017 saw her ascend as one of the country’s most influential artists going on to be nominated at the 2020 ARIA Awards for Song of the Year for her collaborative effort alongside Flume and their hit single “Rushing Back”. Her thoughtful, cathartic and sometimes melancholic sound has fuelled her touring calendar in recent years with this being her first time back in Mackay since 2018.

West Australian indie rockers, San Cisco have been a constant delight since their breakout year in 2011 with their cute and quirky single ‘Awkward’. Their newest bop ‘Lost Without You’ has been doing the rounds on national radio and is promised to be part of an upcoming project. A festival staple over the years, we look forward to welcoming the effervescent trios live show this June.

When waxing poetic on the contributors to Australia’s vibrant fast growing hip hop scene, not as many names hold as much meaning as 360. Having been to the top, sat firmly on the throne and lived as the king, it’s no surprise the Victorian rapper was largely part of the eventual crossover of the genre to wider Australian audiences. Through years of personnel struggle and the courage to work through his troubles, the king is back to claim his seat atop the throne. With a wrap sheet that includes a decade of sold out festivals, international collaboration, hottest 100 glory, ARIA wins and thousands of fans…BE Social can’t wait to welcome one of his first festival performances in years.

With plenty of notable acts populating this year’s lineup, Brisbane rapper LISI represents one of the more recent emergent hip hop artists in the country. This became clearly evident when he sold out an impressive album tour in a post pandemic market, shape shifting independent alt-rock outfit RedHook have been pounding stages across the country and will be round out this year’s offering alongside West Australian Coterie and Brisbane up and comer Toby Hobart. An example of BE Socials commitment to supporting emerging and developing Australian artists.

But it’s important that we stress that BE Social is more than just a music festival, it’s a celebration of community and a testament to the resilience of the Mackay community. In 2021, when unprecedented weather threatened the festival, owner and director Michael Delaney worked tirelessly to move the entire event undercover within 24 hours of gates opening, ensuring that the punters could still come together and enjoy an incredible day and night of music and fun. 

This year, BE Social returns in its largest capacity yet, in full formation and in the complete vision of the events founder. With even more music, more fun, and more opportunities to connect with friends and music lovers alike.

“The growth in not only this event, but in the team of believers around the festival has been very significant. Without them, along with the support of major partners and sponsors we would not be able to pull off an outstanding event that is now proving to turn a lot of heads in the industry and regionally. We can’t wait for the 2023 event to see the punters enjoying themselves and coming together as we aim to grow this event to be an iconic event for the NQ region.” – Michael Delaney

BE Social has aspirations of becoming the largest non-touring single day event in Queensland, and with its unbeatable lineup, dedication to community, and commitment to fun, it’s well on its way to achieving that goal. The festival is supported by Mackay City Council, Tourism and Events Queensland, Mackay Isaac Tourism, Ronald McDonald House Charity, Queensland Mental Health, and Ergon Network. This year will see multiple stages, VIP offerings, Thriller amusement rides, incredible activations and a large variety of local food vendors. Keeping in line with the foundations, the spirit of the event is wild and welcoming and now for all ages. So grab your tickets, round up your friends, and get ready to BE Social in Mackay this June.