Alt-country festival Out On The Weekend goes on hiatus

The festival has been a favourite on the event calendar for a decade.

Australia’s cherished Alt-Country and Americana festival, Out On The Weekend, will take a pause in 2026. Promoter Love Police confirmed the hiatus, bringing a temporary close to more than a decade of vibrant, genre-defining live music at Melbourne’s iconic Seaworks, Williamstown.

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Since its 2014 inception, the festival has cultivated a devoted community of music lovers spanning generations, drawn not only to the distinctive sounds of Americana but also to the festival’s warm, inclusive spirit. Set amid the remnants of Williamstown’s shipbuilding past, the event became synonymous with discovery, laughter, and the joy of shared experiences curated by festival founder Brian ‘BT’ Taranto.

“Out On The Weekend has always been a true labour of love for us. We’re really proud of the community of music lovers that we’ve built and the experiences we’ve shared over many years of Out On The Weekend. But the reality is sometimes it doesn’t all come together, and you just get sick of reaching into your pockets for funds to make it all happen.”

“With the rising costs and increasing pressures across the live music industry, we’ve just got to hang up our boots for the year and take a breath and see if we can’t bring back the magic in 2027, which will be 30 years of Love Police delivering the good shit,” says BT.

Over the years, Out On The Weekend has hosted an impressive roster of artists, from the Australian stalwarts like The Dusty Millers and Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission to international Americana legends including Sam Outlaw, Justin Townes Earle, and Margo Price. The festival has become a beacon for those seeking authentic, heartfelt music experiences, a place where rising stars and established icons meet under the Melbourne sky.

While 2026 will see the festival take a break, the community it has fostered promises to keep the spirit of Americana alive until its anticipated return in 2027.

Keep up to date with Love Police news and tours here.