A More Perfect Union, festival curated by Gang of Youths, coming to Hobart’s MAC 02

Macquarie Point will be alive with the sound of music this weekend, as a festival curated by one of the country’s most popular bands kicks off on the waterfront. DETAILS >>

Wildly popular band Gang of Youths will take over Macquarie Point this weekend, curating a festival they say will showcase an exciting mix of homegrown and international talent.

The ARIA Award-winning rockers, originally from Sydney but now based in London, have dubbed the event A More Perfect Union, and say it will transform MAC 02 into a unique festival hub on Sunday.

“It’s a passion project for us,” bassist Max Dunn said. “We do a lot of stuff we have to do to feed our families, keep the band going like any musicians. But this is … something that allows us to have people that we respect on our line-up and grow it, really.”

Not only will the band themselves perform, but 22-year-old London singer-songwriter Arlo Parks, who recently won the UK’s prestigious Mercury Prize, will also take the stage.

Rounding out the bumper line-up are Australian acts Cub Sport, Gretta Ray, Adam Newling, and the Lazy Eyes.

The festival will hold a second leg at the Sandstone Point Hotel, located between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, on August 20.

“Hopefully [the festival] grows into something that exists on its own, outside of [Gang of Youths],” Dunn said. “We can curate it – it’s never going to be something that we aren’t super across.”

“We’re all pretty finicky bastards.”

Dunn said Tasmania held a special place in the band’s hearts and that they played in the state whenever they had the opportunity.

Supplied Entertainment British singer songwriter Arlo Parks. Picture: Supplied/Caroline Records.

“We played to, like, 30 people at the Devonport RSL [once],” he said. “We’ve gone to Tassie, bro.”

“We’ve done Launceston, we’ve probably done Hobart five times in our career. So we love Tassie. We think it’s the best.”

Dunn said he would personally “love” for the festival to be held in Hobart again in coming years but couldn’t necessarily promise it would be more than a one-off event.

“Obviously I’m just one guy so I can’t make a sweeping statement but I’d love to do that,” he said.

“There’s always been something about [Hobart]. All [our partners] always want to come when we go to Hobart.

“I’m not going to name any other cities but some cities are given a miss.”

A More Perfect Union is presented by triple j. There will be food trucks on site, as well as boutique beer and wine. Gates open at 1pm on Sunday, August 14.

Tickets start from $121 and can be purchased at amoreperfectunion.com.au.

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