Handpicked Festival is to the South Australian spring what Groovin the Moo is to autumn and Spin Off is to winter – the state’s most anticipated music event of the season. The day-long festival returns to the Fleurieu Peninsula this November for its sixth consecutive year.
Taking up residence at Lake Breeze Wines, Handpicked has garnered the affection of South Australians for its unique pairing of sweeping vineyard surrounds, stellar musical acts, local artisans and the best of the region’s produce.
In case you missed it, the boutique festival recently dropped this year’s line-up. The impressive set list of musicians struck a chord with festival-goers across the state and early bird tickets have already sold out.
Nabbing ARIA award winning indie-pop superstar Amy Shark as headliner, Handpicked 2019 sees a wealth of world-class musicians descend on Langhorne Creek.
“Amy Shark brings such a warm, relatable energy to the Handpicked Festival,” says the festival’s creator Kate Cooper.
“She loves what she does and gives her all in a transparent, sincere way.”
The beloved Aussie export will be joined by John Butler and fellow industry legend Missy Higgins.
“Missy Higgins is a confident, exceptionally talented female musician. It is a real honour to have her on the Handpicked stage in our backyard,” says Kate.
Odette, who burst onto the scene with her debut album To A Stranger, will also grace the Handpicked stage, alongside The Teskey Brothers, Sydney’s Winston Surfshirt, soul and folk singer-songwriter Kyle Lionhart and home-grown Jess Day.
It would be remiss to overlook the hospitality offerings at a festival located in one of the state’s leading food and wine regions.
The official Food Garden line-up for 2019 is yet to be announced, but the festival’s coveted gourmet picnic hampers ,laden with seasonal produce, are available for pre-order now.
The Barrel Bar and Cocktail Forest will also return. The former to keeping glasses full of your favourite Lake Breeze tipple and the latter blending unique cocktails using the winery’s moscato, rosé and vermentino.
Kate and co-creator and sister Lauren Maxfield’s family, the Folletts, have grown grapes in Langhorne Creek for more than 130 years.
“People know by now that I call Handpicked my baby,” says Kate.
“I’m addicted, I’m in love, I’m emotional, I’m proud – just like any mother.
“I love the fact that I can share my baby with SA and Australian and that people leave this event feeling like a part of the family.”
WHERE: Lake Breeze Wines, 319 Step Road, Langhorne Creek
WHEN: SAT 9 NOV 2019
TICKETS: from $94.95 + bf here
handpickedfestival.com | @handpickedfestival
FULL LINE UP:
AMY SHARK
JOHN BUTLER
MISSY HIGGINS
ODETTE
THE TESKEY BROTHERS
WINSTON SURFSHIRT
KYLE LIONHART
JESS DAY
Photography: supplied