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Celebrate Island Culture and Music at the Island Vibe Music Festival, Brisbane
Published by Melaina Gasbarrino, Writer
Country: Australia 
The Experience
Tucked away on a little island just off Brisbane, Australia, there is a unique and entertaining festival called the Island Vibe Music Festival, held on North Stradbroke Island.
The whole idea of the Island Vibe Music Festival came to light just a few years back as Morgyn “Rudi” Quinn was laying on the brink of the perfect Australian shores and thought what an amazing idea it would be to bring some reggae music to North Stradbroke Island. After eventually gaining acceptance from the island people, planning and approvals, the music festival started in 2007 and continues to bring locals and people from around the world to the Island Vibe Music Festival on North Stradbroke Island.
The festival holds true to North Stradbroke Island’s culture, and has many local artists come out and play a tune or two for the weekend. Over the years, artists such as New Zealand's Ladi6, The Nomad, and Sydney's The Bird, have performed at the multiple venues found within the Island Vibe Music Festival’s grounds. With four main stages, reggae, roots, dub, soul, world music and dancehall music continually fills your ears, even if you decide to leave the festival grounds and head out for a swim in the ocean... which of course is just steps away from the festival grounds.
The Island Vibe Music Festival has so much going for it, and the food and environmental stalls add a friendly touch to the music. It’s somewhat of an eco-friendly vegan and vegetarian hippie haven. There’s are omnipresent recycling opportunities and composting right on site, recallable food-ware, water refill stations, renewable energy, and much, much more. The list is endless in what the Island Vibe Music Festival does to create that perfect chilled out atmosphere.
The prize possession of the Island Vibe Music Festival is the concept of acknowledgment. There are not many places you can go nowadays that stay true to the grounds you walk on, and educate and showcase what the land and people are all about. Right from the opening ceremonies, the local Indigenous people show their gratitude for the Island Vibe's preservation of the land. An educational tent teaches the culture and community of the people of North Stradbroke Island, and an artistic and cultural exchange is made throughout the weekend.
The whole idea of the Island Vibe Music Festival came to light just a few years back as Morgyn “Rudi” Quinn was laying on the brink of the perfect Australian shores and thought what an amazing idea it would be to bring some reggae music to North Stradbroke Island. After eventually gaining acceptance from the island people, planning and approvals, the music festival started in 2007 and continues to bring locals and people from around the world to the Island Vibe Music Festival on North Stradbroke Island.
The festival holds true to North Stradbroke Island’s culture, and has many local artists come out and play a tune or two for the weekend. Over the years, artists such as New Zealand's Ladi6, The Nomad, and Sydney's The Bird, have performed at the multiple venues found within the Island Vibe Music Festival’s grounds. With four main stages, reggae, roots, dub, soul, world music and dancehall music continually fills your ears, even if you decide to leave the festival grounds and head out for a swim in the ocean... which of course is just steps away from the festival grounds.
The Island Vibe Music Festival has so much going for it, and the food and environmental stalls add a friendly touch to the music. It’s somewhat of an eco-friendly vegan and vegetarian hippie haven. There’s are omnipresent recycling opportunities and composting right on site, recallable food-ware, water refill stations, renewable energy, and much, much more. The list is endless in what the Island Vibe Music Festival does to create that perfect chilled out atmosphere.
The prize possession of the Island Vibe Music Festival is the concept of acknowledgment. There are not many places you can go nowadays that stay true to the grounds you walk on, and educate and showcase what the land and people are all about. Right from the opening ceremonies, the local Indigenous people show their gratitude for the Island Vibe's preservation of the land. An educational tent teaches the culture and community of the people of North Stradbroke Island, and an artistic and cultural exchange is made throughout the weekend.
When to Go to Island Vibe Music Festival
You can purchase your Island Vibe Music Festival tickets online at www.islandvibe.com.au/tickets. The weekend date for the festival changes annually, so ensure you keep all of October open (though it usually occurs on one of the last weekends of October).
If you are going to partake in the Island Vibe Festival, buy the weekend camping pass, as this festival is to be savoured. “No worries” if you are not a camper, there are a handful of hotels too. Just make sure you book early as the hotels fill up fairly quickly. The camp grounds and hotels are located just minutes away from the festival grounds so it’s nice to know you're only steps away from the Island Vibe Music Festival no matter where you choose to lay your head at night.
Getting Stradbroke Island is simple. From Brisbane, take the ferry, which will get you there in about a half an hour. When you touch ground on North Stradbroke Island there are buses to take you directly to the grounds; or if you want to be even more eco-friendly, bring your bike. It is a good twenty-minute drive to the festival from the ferry, so ride a bike only if you are feeling adventurous.
Odds n' Ends
Tickets range from AUD$60 for the day, through to AUD$200+ for the weekend. If you are unable to purchase tickets beforehand, you are able to purchase a ticket for the day or weekend before you enter the festival grounds
If you’re not taking a car on the ferry, you can buy a ticket for just under $6.00 one way. Buying a return ticket is cheaper. The ferry runs frequently throughout the weekend and is always on time. If the bus is running a few minutes late on “North Straddie,” the ferry will wait until the bus arrives before departing for the mainland.
With the Island Vibe Music Festival being so eco-friendly, the best advice one can give is to bring a reusable water bottle with you so you don't have to continually buy water from a vendor. Also, ensure that you use the compost and recycle stands, and remember that it’s a festival on an island, so preservation of the island is key to the overall ethos of the Island Vibe Music Festival.
If you’re not taking a car on the ferry, you can buy a ticket for just under $6.00 one way. Buying a return ticket is cheaper. The ferry runs frequently throughout the weekend and is always on time. If the bus is running a few minutes late on “North Straddie,” the ferry will wait until the bus arrives before departing for the mainland.
With the Island Vibe Music Festival being so eco-friendly, the best advice one can give is to bring a reusable water bottle with you so you don't have to continually buy water from a vendor. Also, ensure that you use the compost and recycle stands, and remember that it’s a festival on an island, so preservation of the island is key to the overall ethos of the Island Vibe Music Festival.
Places to Eat
- La Focaccia
- If you feel like a sit down meal than take a stroll down the beach to La Focaccia restaurant where you become enthralled in Mediterranean cuisine. The food and service is excellent here and be sure to note you will not leave on an empty stomach but will most likely be coming back for more tomorrow nights meal.
Recommended Places to Stay
- Camping
- What better way to partake in an music festival than to camp for the weekend. The camp sites are located just mere minutes away from the festival grounds and are fully equipped. The best part of camping at this festival is that you get to wake up to the sounds of the ocean, go for a surf or take a dip in the ocean than head off to the festival for the day to watch as magic occurs through song on the festival grounds.
- Manta Lodge
- Here stay for cheap right close to camping, so if you meet any friends who want to sit out and watch the stars before you lay your head on your pillow at night than the Manta Lodge is perfect for those who want a bed at night for less. The Manta Lodge is nice and close to the festival grounds and is located also along the beach.
- All Seasons Hotel
- For those of you who aren't too keen on camping and want a nice warm bed to cozy up to after a long day at the Island Vibe Music Festival than the All Seasons Hotel is the perfect spot for you. The hotel is family friendly and offers villas and bungalows and is walking distance to Home Beach.
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