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QLD Music Trails presents

SWEET RELIEF!
2024 LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT
Saturday 7 September
Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane

Sign up now for presale access

Tickets on sale to the general public from 11am local Friday 7 June

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KELIS

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THE PRESETS

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It’s a good news day for music lovers with confirmation that Brisbane’s Sweet Relief! is back for a second edition, taking over Ballymore Stadium on Saturday 7 September with an oh so sweet lineup that includes international and Aus music pioneers alongside a bunch of our most exciting homegrown acts across two stages.

Get ready to warm it up with…

KELIS (EXCL) – THE PRESETS (LIVE) – ELECTRIC FIELDS
HAIKU HANDS – DAMEEEELA – JUNO
+ more to be announced

Damn right, it’s better than yours

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Set to bring everyone to the yard, QLD Music Trails and BIGSOUND have joined forces to bring multi-platinum, genre-breaking US artist KELIS to Australia this September, where she’ll perform an exclusive headline set at Sweet Relief! after a Keynote address at BIGSOUND on Thursday 5 September.

With millions of albums sold and chart-topping hits like “Milkshake” and “Bossy” in her wake, R&B pioneer Kelis has amassed a huge and global fanbase. She exudes the kind of fierce stage presence that only comes with two decades of performing across the globe and soon Brisbane fans will have their turn to witness the magic firsthand when Kelis brings her big energy and party vibes to Sweet Relief! Alongside her groundbreaking music, Kelis has mastered the game of change, adaptation and relevancy. A long-time fashion icon and designer muse, she more recently added Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef to her resume with cooking specials on Netflix and her own cookbook, My Life on a Plate. She’ll discuss all this more at her BIGSOUND Keynote address.

QMusic and BIGSOUND CEO, Kris Stewart, says of the partnership with QMF, “BIGSOUND lights up the heart of Fortitude Valley each year with a flurry of music lovers, brilliant minds and world class performers. It’s a pleasure to get to partner with QLD Music Trails to bring to the city someone who encompasses all these things and more, Kelis, for what will undoubtedly be an incredible Keynote speech and festival performance.”

For over 20 years, The Presets have been leaders in Australia’s music scene, quickly gaining recognition for their ability to fuse elements of dance music with an energy more akin to rock’n’roll. Their 2008 sophomore album Apocalypso propelled them to international acclaim, featuring four hit singles, including the classic “My People”. This chart-topping album earned them a slew of awards, including five ARIA awards (and two ARIA Artisan Awards), Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards and the coveted Songwriter of The Year Award at the 2009 APRA Awards. “Ghosts” from their third record, Pacifica, was hailed Song of the Year by Rolling Stone, followed by their fourth record, HI VIZ, which saw bangers “Do What You Want” and “Martini” dominate the airwaves. Renowned for their dynamic live performances worldwide, The Presets have played hundreds of shows domestically and internationally, including key slots at Glastonbury, Coachella, SXSW, Exit, Melt, Splendour in the Grass and now it’s Sweet Relief!’s turn.

Eurovision 2024 contestants, Electric Fields will show us why their fusion of living traditional Aboriginal culture with electronic music has earned them 24 awards and has seen them featured in Vogue 3 times, labelling them as ‘movers of the next gen’. The duo’s vibrant presence has been on show across stages at the World Pride Festival, Treaty Day Out, the AFL Grand Final, the Australian Open and more. Electric Fields’ outstanding musical output has led them to create original compositions for ABC KIDS TV, VIVID at the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney City Council’s NYE celebrations. Haiku Hands are the Australian collective of Claire and Mie Nakazawa and Beatrice Lewis. Their latest album Pleasure Beast, serves as a bold electro-pop-rap manifesto, channeling the essences of the Gorillaz, Dr. Dre and The Presets. Following the breakout success of “Not About You” and their self-titled debut record, Pleasure Beast is a more dynamic and assertive artistic statement, filled with sonic textures and lyrical bite. With a sound and live show that British Vogue likened to a fusion of Scissor Sisters, Azealia Banks, Björk, and Warhol, Haiku Hands are set to ignite the stage. Melding music and memory, catch dameeeela as she brings out the nostalgia within each of us. Her eclecticism bends genres to create trademark collages of sound that are shaped by her perspectives as a Queer Blak woman. She creates unforgettable dancefloor moments at parties, festivals and clubs across the continent. Brisbane don’t miss her when she hits the stage this September. JUNO is a pop duo that exploded onto the scene in 2021 with scintillating energy, bright blue boiler suits and crisp pop anthems. Keep a close eye on JUNO as they become one of Australia’s must-hear musical acts when they perform their latest track “i’m the man” and many others at Sweet Relief!

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ELECTRIC FIELDS

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HAIKU HANDS

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Daryl Raven, CEO of QMF, said “QLD Music Trails is dedicated to enriching the cultural identity of Queensland. With the backing of the Queensland Government, we’re proud to champion our diverse music community. Sweet Relief! provides a stage where homegrown talent can stand alongside global icons. We’re turning up the volume and proving that music is unstoppable. This is our moment to unite, celebrate, and let the music do the talking.”

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said events such as Sweet Relief! reinforce Queensland’s reputation as a vibrant contemporary music hub and deliver economic outcomes through cultural tourism and boosting jobs and audiences for local artists.

“In its second year, this exciting event is building on its unique blend of international artists and local talent and provides an important platform to celebrate diverse and engaging live music performances. Queensland Government support of QMF and its Queensland Music Trails, and QMusic’s delivery of BIGSOUND, amplify our commitment to growing a strong, sustainable live and local music sector with the resilience and capacity to fully embrace future opportunities,” Minister Enoch said.

Tourism Minister Michael Healy said Sweet Relief! is the signature event on the Brisbane Trail and will be even bigger in 2024.

“With Kelis in attendance alongside some fantastic local talent at the iconic Ballymore stadium, this will be a concert experience to remember. Through Tourism and Events Queensland, we made a commitment to bringing global singer-songwriter Kelis to Brisbane, which is a major coup for the city’s music scene.

Sweet Relief! will provide music lovers an excuse to extend their stay in this great city following BIG SOUND’s annual takeover of Fortitude Valley. The Miles Government invested $20 million in the Queensland Music Trails to help propel the state’s profile as a music and entertainment destination while boosting visitor numbers and supporting good Queensland jobs” said Mr Healy.

Don’t wait for the FOMO to kick in – grab your tickets now and experience the Sweet Relief! of securing your spot at Brisbane’s hottest music festival when it hits the iconic inner-city Ballymore Stadium for the first time in September! Sign up now for exclusive pre-sale and the best price, kicking off from 11am AEST Tuesday 4 June. The cherry on top? All presale subscribers will go in the draw to win Sweet AF VIP Tickets for themselves +3 mates, which include access to fast lane event entry, the best views in the house, two VIP bars, exclusive amenities, charging stations and more! Now that’s some extra sprinkle!

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DAMEEELA

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JUNO

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SWEET RELIEF!
Saturday 7 September
Ballymore Stadium,
91 Clyde Rd, Herston, Brisbane

Sign up for Presale for
first access at sweetrelief.au

TICKETS

Presale available from 11am local time Tuesday 4 June

Tickets on sale to the general public from 11am local Friday 7 June

QLD Music Trails are proudly supported by the Queensland Government.

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Follow SWEET RELIEF
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Spotify

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About Sweet Relief! Music Festival: Sweet Relief! is an annual celebration of music and culture, presented by Queensland Music Trails and proudly funded by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Department of Tourism and Sport. With a lineup bursting with local Australian and international talent, Sweet Relief! promises an unparalleled journey through the heart and soul of music.

About QLD Music Trails: QLD Music Trails is a dynamic initiative created by Queensland Music Festival (QMF), offering music enthusiasts an extraordinary way to explore the diverse musical landscapes of Queensland. With a commitment to bringing music to unexpected places and connecting communities through shared experiences, QLD Music Trails invites participants to embark on musical journeys that showcase the rich tapestry of Queensland’s musical culture. Each trail is a unique adventure, weaving together performances by talented artists, the natural beauty of the Queensland landscape, First-Nations cultural experiences and the warm hospitality of local communities. It’s a platform where music becomes an integral part of the adventure and where travellers become part of a musical family, celebrating the spirit of Queensland through harmonious exploration. 

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AMNPLIFY – DB