The Festival of King Island will return next month after a one-year hiatus, with organisers promising a weekend of live music, local produce and island hospitality.
The community-run event kicks off on Friday, February 13 at Currie Harbour’s natural amphitheatre, running through to Saturday evening.
More than 16 musical acts will perform, including Brisbane rock band Reckless Coast, Tasmanian group The Stovies and blues artist Phil Coyne and The Wayward Aces.
Festival spokesperson Wade Roskam said FOKI was unlike typical music festivals.
“The Festival of King Island is a truly authentic and memorable community event,” he said.
Performers are not paid fees but are fully hosted, with organisers covering flights, accommodation, vehicle hire and access to the festival’s famous ‘Green Room’.
The ‘Green Room’ features King Island’s renowned produce, including local cheese, crayfish and beef.
Roskam said performers were “all coming for the love it”.
Beyond the music, attendees can enjoy yoga sessions, surfing, coastal walks and golf at nearby world-class courses.
The festival began in 2013 as a community response to the closure of the King Island abattoir, which cost the island 100 jobs.
It has since grown into what organisers describe as one of Australia’s most distinctive music festivals, attracting around 1,000 people to the last event in 2024.
Roskam noted this year’s festival falls on Valentine’s Day.
“What better way to demonstrate your love for someone than to treat them to a weekend getaway of great food and music at the Festival of King Island,” he said.
The festival runs from 5pm Friday, February 13 to Saturday, February 14.
