What started as a tiny indie music event in the laneways of Melbourne, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, has become one of Australia’s most loved music festivals.
The Laneway Festival started in Melbourne in 2004 and has expanded to include shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Fremantle, Auckland, Singapore and Detroit.
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival Melbourne 2025, Dates & Ticket Prices
This year, the vibe Laneway Festival vibe is very electro-dancey-pop-like, with a dash of indie garage rock. With music discovery at its core, 100 per cent of the Laneway line-up has released new music this year, and a third of the line-up will tour Australia for the very first time.
The woman of the moment and pop songstress behind such anthemic earworms as ‘Apple’ and ‘I think about it all the time’, Charli xcx, will return to Australia and New Zealand to perform exclusively at Laneway Festival this summer in the southern hemisphere. Charli is on top of the world right now, and this is the moment to see this “young girl from Essex” (as Lorde would say) at the top of her game.
Joining the queen of brat summer, Charli xcx; is British bedroom pop rock icon Beabadoobee; fellow Laneway Festival alumni, the eternally charming Clairo (hot tip: stream ‘Sexy to Someone’ right now to have yourself a good bop); one of the biggest names in UK dance, Bicep, who present their new AV DJ show CHROMA; alternative pop queen Remi Wolf; and dance floor euphoria expert Barry Can’t Swim.
Amongst the contingent who are touring to Australia for the very first time is British neo-soul star Olivia Dean; heavy-hitting LA shoe-gazers julie; hip hop’s most energetic new arrival, Joey Valence and Brae; NYC’s most in-demand band, Fcukers; UK dubstep DJ Hamdi; and the enigmatic electro-pop artist 2hollis. The local legends joining Laneway’s international contingent are local garage-surf-rock duo Skegss, who enter a new era with their forthcoming album out this month; Brisbane four-piece rockers Girl and Girl (spoiler alert: they’re not girls); and cutting-edge electronic artists Rona, Stüm and Ninajirachi.
None other than Djo – aka multi-talented musician/actor Joe Keery, aka the guy who plays Steve Harrington in Stranger Things (the one with the dreamy hair who works in the ice cream shop with the cute sailor uniforms) has also been announced as the surprise act.
Please note that the Laneway Festival Melbourne is an over-16 event, and ID must be presented to gain entry.
You are not permitted to bring food or drinks to the event; however, there will be plenty of food and drink stalls where you can purchase lunch, dinner and snacks throughout the day. You can bring unsealed, empty plastic water bottles (no glass) to the event. Chairs are also not permitted.
Please note that the Melbourne leg of the festival moved from its home in Footscray to The Park, Flemington. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities and loads of green space and shade, the newly minted site at Epsom Road, Flemington, is conveniently located just 15 minutes from the CBD, with plenty of parking and a train station onsite.
What food and drinks are available?
Laneway Festival is licensed to sell food & drinks and provides great, well-stocked bars. There are plenty of free drinking water stations throughout the site – you can bring a clear, empty water bottle (that is not metal!) to fill up and stay hydrated throughout the day.
They have plenty of different food options available to cater for Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, and dairy-free.
All bags are searched on arrival.
Can you leave the event?
No – there are no passouts. If you choose to leave the Festival at any point, you will not be admitted back in. There will be more than enough food, drinks, amenities and music to keep going all day.
Can you bring a camera?
No professional cameras (cameras with detachable lenses) are permitted without formal media accreditation. Likewise no audio or film recording equipment can be brought into the Festival.
What happens if it rains on the day?
Laneway Festival will go ahead with rain, hail or snow unless the relevant authorities deem the event site unsafe.
What items are you banned from bringing?
The following items are prohibited
- Glass or breakable containers
- Cans or metal canisters
- Skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, bicycles
- Milk or bread crates or metal cans or containers
- Chairs (folding, portable, camping) or any other furniture
- Anything studded or spiked (belts, wristbands, etc) or large chains
- Club patches and jackets
- Weapons of any kind (including potential missiles)
- Flares, fireworks, smoke bombs, or any other explosive device.
- Alcohol
- Illicit drugs or paraphernalia, including nangs, bongs or pipes.
- Vapes & E-Cigs with more than 110mL liquid (please note the venue may have specific smoking regulations and areas)
- Sound or video recorders or professional cameras (with removable lens)(small still cameras are allowed)
- Laser lights or laser pens
- Umbrellas (bring a plastic poncho or raincoat instead)
- Water pistols
- Dogs or other pets (service dogs excepted)
- Fires and open flames of any kind
- Sound Systems
- Eskies, coolers or chilly bins
- Culturally insensitive items
- Drones
- Register rolls, shredded paper, confetti or other item likely to cause an environmental issue.
- Other items as determined by Laneway Festival, that do or can potentially cause injury or public nuisance.
The Laneway Festival in Melbourne in 2025 will be a 16+ event. So that they can provide a secure and safe environment for everyone, they are once again implementing our Youth Policy for 2025, which will form part of the Conditions of Entry.
The minimum age requirement to attend the Laneway Festival in Melbourne for 2025 will be 16 years of age (that is, 16 years as of the date of the event: Friday, 14 February 2025).
There is no requirement for 16 and 17-year-olds to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the Laneway Festival in Melbourne.
Accepted ID for ALL patrons attending the Laneway Festival in Melbourne will be as follows:
- Australian Photo Driver’s Licence or Learner’s Permit (From VIC or interstate); or
- Foreign Drivers Licence (English language or if not in the English language, must be accompanied by an official English translation, e.g. by any NAATI accredited translator) or an International Driving Permit; or
- Passport from any country (either current or expired less than 2 years ago and has not been cancelled)
- KEYPASS Photo ID Card or equivalent Proof of Age Card (*see below); or
- Australian Birth Certificate (a certified copy is okay) PLUS a Current Photo ID (e.g. a student card). We must be able to verify both your age and your photo ID; we cannot accept one without the other.
Anyone who fails to present an Accepted ID upon entry will not be allowed into Laneway Festival. No refunds will be processed for anyone who is denied entry because they did not bring an Accepted ID.
The Conditions of Entry and Ticketing Terms & Conditions apply to everyone attending the Laneway Festival. The promoter reserves the right to evict any persons engaging in illegal activities (for 16 and 17-year-olds, this includes trying to purchase or consume alcohol).
Can I purchase tickets for laneway 2020 Melbourne yet?
Hi Lisa,
I only had just checked the details of next year’s event and it appears that even at this time, not even the dates have been announced yet.
I have scoured through all of their social media profiles and can’t anything on their either.
I will be checking their website frequently for any new information, but it may be worth following them on social media or joining their mailing list as i am sure that will be the place where any new details will be released.
Thanks
Michael