Yonder Festival is ecstatic to announce its return for 2022, bringing with it an eclectic program of tantalising music, enchanting performances, engaging workshops and incredible artists.

Exploring new ground with the debut event at the new location in the Scenic Rim this November. Yonder Festival provides a platform to both international and homegrown artists in a deep exploration of creative expression. 

Building on the previous renditions, the Yonder 2022 program continues to cultivate a culture of diversity, innovation, inclusion, and positivity. This year, punters are invited to dive into a temporal world of discovery where art forms meld into new ideas and fantastical experiences, past the hills of the Gold Coast Hinterland in the Scenic Rim. 

Festival Director, Lincoln Savage, says he is grateful for the continued community support that has made it possible to present another edition of Yonder, this time in the incredible Lost World Valley in the Scenic Rim.

“Welcoming eclectic and diverse acts for the fourth Yonder after making it through unique challenges in previous years is a valuable celebration from significant artists coming together in an immersive and surreal environment,” Savage says. 

“We are excited to be welcoming loop pedal ninja Kenta Hayashi from Japan, Haiku Hands bringing their all-female high-energy hybrid pop and Miles Brown, whose surreal Theremin performances break well past the norm. Yirinda whose polyrhythmic mastery is guided by generations of story and culture, the ‘Talking High Chief’ (Tulafale alii), Kitch (Taitu’uga), will be sharing his Samoan cultural knowledge and Tjaka showcasing their unique hip-hop informed by their Aboriginal heritage.” 

“Yonder is built on a balance of all art forms and focuses on artists who are starting to break out. We encourage people to attend Yonder, not because of the artists they know, but those they don’t – we hope Yonder provides an eclectic experience for people to discover their new favourite acts.” 

Across four stages, audiences will witness the work of both international and local emerging talent, who, despite the challenges of past years, have all pushed their crafts to new heights. 

The Spiegeltent and Hill Stage will host a variety of bands and musical acts, and Yonder is especially thrilled to welcome the talents of Kitch, Jungaji, Tjaka and Yirinda as they share their culturally rich creative journeys with us. 

As the stages warm up, let your hair down to the raucous riffs of Full Flower Moon Band and punk sensation Girl and Girl, or lose yourself to the bouncing rhythms and lyrical genius of acts like Safety Club, Tjaka, Life on Earth and Accomplice Collective. Fans of the Brisbane live music scene will be excited to catch favourites like Platonic Sex and Echowave, while those after something new will find the euphoric frequencies of the acclaimed theremin maestro Miles Brown or the transcendent guitar layers of Japan's Kenta Hayashi enlightening and intoxicating. 

For non-stop boogies, look no further than the DJ oasis at Yonderland – an immersive dance space that will serve everything from high-energy disco to deep, euphoric tech-house and dives into afro-fused jazz breaks. Punters can dance the day away with sunny selections from the likes of Bad Taste House Collective and David Versace, before revelling in the deep night with pounding bass from Theyphex Twins and expert curations from Echo and Bounce, featuring live electronic dance sets from Fatshaudi and Lithe. Lose yourself in rare cuts of Phil Smart and the likes of veterans Jen-E and Ralphalfa next to fresh faces like Natural Selection and dentallplan as part of Freeform Takeover. 

Back by popular demand, those looking to sink into the subtle tones of down-tempo and experimental music can return to Yonder’s ambient stage The Space Between Notes. Featuring two-hour long sets across the board, this space is reserved for relaxation, meditation and deep listening. Lay back in the subtle glow of artists like Mekema, Imitation Therapy and HHAARRPP, or ride the monumental waves of synth textures that roll out from Spirit Lights, Deceased Estates and Timothy Fairless. Witness the experimental genius of Sonny O’Brien and plunge into the nature-laden tones of The Abstract Human Radio. Whether it’s a quick visit to catch your breath or a multi-hour submersion into sonic depths, the Space Between Notes will be there to reinvigorate you for another day of grooving throughout the festival. 

Across the extensive arts program, Yonder will also feature a plethora of whimsical roving performances and on-stage delights - think the electric energy of The Cassettes Flash Mob, the daring feats of Highline Australia and the enchanting free-flight demonstrations of Manko the Macaw. 

Immerse yourself in the variety of workshops Yonder 2022 has to offer! From allowing your creativity to blossom in the Paper Wildflower Making Workshop inspired by native flora to discovering your sense of harmony through the guided humming and hand movements of Osho Nadabrahma Meditation – explore your creativity and nurture your body throughout the festival. 

Yonder highlights a diverse visual arts program, bringing the festival grounds to life with colourful, immersive and unconventional works. Come witness the incredible talents of Yonder 2021 featured artist Tori-Jay Mordey in action alongside artists Scott Nagy, Krimsone, Aurora Campbell, Gus Eagleton, Trashbinn Art, Artdosis and many more as they bring their murals to life across the festival site. 

An array of boutique food stalls and artisanal market stalls will be enjoyed by all throughout the festival weekend, supplying individuals with a variety of dining options and enabling them to support local businesses whilst warming their souls and bellies. 

Yonder’s licensed bar, the Wunderbar, will feature a range of carefully crafted cocktails with beers supplied by Brisbane-based brewers, Felons Brewing Co. Showing strong support for the live music and arts scene in Brisbane, Felons continues to add to the vibrant tapestry of the local arts community through engagement with the Brisbane Street Art Festival and live music programming in the Felons, Barrel Hall. 

Early bird tickets for this year’s event have now sold out, with a second release now live. For all information on this year’s program, full talent lineup and to purchase tickets, please visit yonderfestival.com. 

Yonder acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work. In particular; within the Scenic Rim, the Mununjali in the Centre where Yonder is held, the Wangerriburra to the East, the Ugurapul to the West, and all those of the Yugambeh and Jagera language groups, whose country is where our festival now stands. We pay respect to their Elders, past, present and Emerging. 

Yonder is grateful for the support received from the Australian Government through the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund and Tourism & Events Queensland through the Queensland Destination Events Program.