Punters go wild over ‘insane’ headliners for Aussie music festival

Punters are excited about the “actually insane” headliners this Aussie music festival has managed to snag for its December dates.

Finally an Australian music festival story that isn’t bad news.

Amid what feels like a never-ending slew of Aussie music festival cancellations, Spilt Milk festival this morning announced their 2025 line-up – and organisers have pulled off quite the coup, with two of the biggest rappers in the world as headliners.

This year’s Super Bowl halftime performer Kendrick Lamar and Doechii, who scored a recent Aussie number one with her hit Anxiety, will headline Spilt Milk across four festival dates in December.

Both rappers have had huge years: Lamar swept the Grammys with his brutal Drake diss track Not Like Us, while Doechii’s debut mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal has turned her from critical darling to top-charting rap star.

Kendrick’s headlining … Picture: AP

… and so is Doechii. Picture: Getty

Also on the line-up are Dominic Fike and ScHoolboy Q, d4vd, Nessa Barrett, Sofia Isella, Skin On Skin, sombr, Club Angel, The Rions, South Summit and more.

The initial reaction from Aussie punters – starved of a good line-up announcement amid all those cancellations – has been overwhelmingly positive.

“spilt milk line-up is actually insane,” one fan raved on X. Another agreed: “spilt milk getting kendrick, doechii & dominic fike is kinda insane.”

“SPILT MILK LINE UP ATE OMFG,” was another all-caps rave.

“how tf did spilt milk afford kendrick lamar?” another asked.

Another wondered how the Grammy winner would enjoy the festival’s most rural date: “No way Kendrick is gonna be strolling around Ballarat …”

Watch out Ballarat, Kendrick’s coming.

It’s quite the comeback after Spilt Milk organisers announced in July last year that the 2024 edition of the festival would not go ahead. “We couldn’t get you the Spilt Milk you deserve this year,” they explained, amid reports that it had been difficult to attract international headliners.

They joined the ranks of Aussie festivals who’d announced cancellations, among them Splendour in the Grass, Groovin the Moo, You & Me and Harvest Rock. Even Byron Bay’s iconic Bluesfest will soon be no more, with organisers announcing that this year’s festival would be the last.

Spilt Milk festival dates

Saturday 6 December 2025 – Victoria Park, Ballarat | Wadawurrung

Sunday 7 December 2025 – Claremont Showground, Perth | Whadjuk

Saturday 13 December 2025 – Exhibition Park, Canberra | Ngunnawal

Sunday 14 December 2025 – Gold Coast Sports Precinct, Gold Coast | Kombumerri

All ticketing info at spilt-milk.com.au

Originally published as Punters go wild over ‘insane’ headliners for Aussie music festival