Marlon Motlop, Luude on BASSINTHEGRASS 2025
Marlon Motlop remembers sneaking into BASSINTHEGRASS as a teenager. Now, the Territorian will share the stage with the likes of Hilltop Hoods and the Jungle Giants.
Northern Territory
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When he was a teenager, Marlon Motlop infiltrated BASSINTHEGRASS to get a taste of the Northern Territory’s biggest music festival.
Twenty years later, Motlop will take centre stage alongside iconic hip hop group Hilltop Hoods - a surreal turnaround not lost on the local.
“I remember coming here as a 14-year-old - sneaking in,” he said.
“To be able to to share the stage with Hilltop Hoods and essentially premiere our new song and new release from a couple of months ago is great.”
From Saturday afternoon, thousands of keen of partygoers will trickle through the gates at Mindil Beach to enjoy a star-studded line-up of musicians from across the nation and beyond.
Among the talented lineup is Motlop - the AFL player-turned-musician, who will perform ‘The Gift’ in the city he still calls home.
“The Darwin community really embrace and love this festival, so it’s a great one for the community.”
Returning is electronic artist Luude - a man who holds Darwin in high regard.
“Every time I play here, it’s an absolute ripper,” he said.
“I’m absolutely keen for tomorrow, I got in a day early just to check it out... the weather’s great (and) it’s looking like a great day tomorrow.”
Scheduled to perform late, Luude said he intended to enjoy the day as any other festival goer would.
“I don’t know if I’m allowed to say it,” he said with a smile.
“But I’ll definitely have a few beers by 11am - it should be good.”
Ironically, Luude’s cousin, Tim Benson, moved to Darwin and will also be performing.
Having moved to the Top End in the middle of the wet season, Benson said he was enjoying the comparatively breezy conditions.
“I now know how much I don’t take for granted,” he laughed.
“The weather is beautiful.”
Benson said large events such as BASSINTHEGRASS were becoming increasingly rare.
“The smaller events space is still doing well,” Benson said.
“But the bigger festivals, with inflation and (cost), is tough.
Luude agreed.
“It’s very hard to be a promoter,” he said.
“I mean, this is one of the last festival left in Australia really.”
Motlop said he was confident the event could continue its 20-year legacy.
“There’s amazing acts here, so there’ll be people coming around from every pocket of the country for this festival,” he said.
“It’s consistently great, so we’ll see lots of people.”
NT Major Events chair Penny Priest said there was a vision to build upon the festival’s glowing reputation.
“(We) made a strategic decision to move to (Mindil),” she said.
“It’s allowed us a lot more capacity so we can now invite many more visitors and guests to the Territory and get that visitation as well.”
BASSINTHEGRASS starts at 2pm at Mindil Beach.
For tickets, visit bassinthegrass.com.au
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Originally published as Marlon Motlop, Luude on BASSINTHEGRASS 2025
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