Augie March, Magic Dirt, Kate Miller-Heidke and more to descend on Daylesford for Winter Sounds

Some of Australia's best talent will head to Spa Country this season.

Frosty mornings, crackling fire pits and live music in some of regional Victoria’s most atmospheric spaces await as Winter Sounds returns to Daylesford and surrounds this August.

Now in its fourth year, the boutique festival from the team behind the acclaimed Riverboats Music Festival transforms Spa Country into a roaming musical trail, weaving together historic churches, country halls and restored schoolhouses across the region. From 27–30 August, audiences are invited to rug up, hit the road and follow the music through the villages and landscapes that make this pocket of Victoria so distinctive.

WINTER SOUNDS

When: 27 – 30 AUGUST 2026

Program

THURSDAY 27 AUGUST

Lior with String Quartet | St Peter’s Church, 13 Duke Street, Daylesford. Doors at 7:00pm

FRIDAY 28 AUGUST

Augie March | St Peter’s Church, 13 Duke Street, Daylesford. Doors at 7:00pm

Henry Wagons supported by Queenie | Bullarto Hall via the Spa Country Rail, Train departs Daylesford Station, 16 Raglan Street, Daylesford. 6:00pm sharp (evening show)

SATURDAY 29 AUGUST

Kate Miller-Heidke | St Peter’s Church, 13 Duke Street, Daylesford. Doors at 7:00pm

Romy Vager supported by Public Figures | Bullarto Hall via the Spa Country Rail, Train departs Daylesford Station, 16 Raglan Street, Daylesford. 12:00pm sharp (afternoon show)

Magic Dirt supported by Beans | Bullarto Hall via the Spa Country Rail, Train departs Daylesford Station, 16 Raglan Street, Daylesford. 6:00pm sharp (evening show)

Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits | The Old Schoolhouse, Kooroocheang, 1140 Werona-Kingston Road, Kooroocheang. Doors at 12:30pm

SUNDAY 30 AUGUST

Leah Senior | Glenlyon Community Hall, Daylesford-Malmsbury Road, Glenlyon. Doors at 10:30am

Pony Face presents Nebraska supported by Milly Strange | Bullarto Hall via the Spa Country Rail, Train departs Daylesford Station, 16 Raglan Street, Daylesford. 12:00pm sharp (afternoon show)

William Crighton | The Old Schoolhouse, Kooroocheang, 1140 Werona-Kingston Road, Kooroocheang. Doors at 12:30pm

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The festival opens on Thursday evening with acclaimed singer-songwriter Lior, who will perform alongside a string quartet within the soaring surrounds of Daylesford’s St Peter’s Church, setting the tone for a weekend where music and place are deeply intertwined.

Friday offers two very different journeys. Indie favourites Augie March take over St Peter’s Church for what promises to be a captivating performance, while adventurous festivalgoers can board the historic Spa Country Railway for a memorable trip to Bullarto Hall, where country outlaws Henry Wagons and Queenie will deliver a night of rich storytelling and Americana-infused sounds.

Saturday’s program is packed with standout performances. Kate Miller-Heidke brings her unmistakable voice and genre-defying artistry to St Peter’s Church, while Bullarto Hall hosts a powerful double bill featuring post-punk force Romy Vager and Melbourne rock outfit Public Figures during the day, before Australian rock royalty Magic Dirt and cult favourites Beans take over the stage after dark.

For those seeking a more intimate experience, Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits will bring their cosmic country sound to the Old Schoolhouse in Kooroocheang. Nestled beneath one of the region’s largest extinct volcanoes, the lovingly restored former primary school has become one of the festival’s most cherished venues, where guests can gather around the fire with a snag and a tinnie while soaking up the atmosphere.

Winter Sounds draws to a close on Sunday with a series of performances that showcase the festival’s eclectic spirit. Leah Senior will host a charming morning tea concert at Glenlyon Community Hall, while Pony Face presents a hypnotic reinterpretation of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska at Bullarto Hall, joined by the gritty sounds of Milly Strange. Over in Kooroocheang, acclaimed songwriter William Crighton delivers a fitting finale to the weekend.

Combining exceptional live music with the character and charm of Spa Country, Winter Sounds has cemented itself as one of regional Victoria’s most distinctive winter events. It is a festival where heritage venues, country hospitality and outstanding artists come together, creating the perfect excuse to swap city lights for wood smoke, mulled wine and a weekend immersed in music.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.