A new major festival is heading to the Barossa, complete with exclusive music, art, food, and wine experiences in five spectacular locations.

Barossa Contemporary: Festival for the Curious will see founding artistic directors Ruth Blythman and Zac Tyler (of production company Release Creative) turn their home region into a curated arts and culture playground for two days and nights on Friday 8 October and Saturday 9 October.

Arriving as a preview event in October before returning in 2022 with over 200 performances, Barossa Contemporary sees Ruth and Zac create live performances, dining experiences and installations with some of South Australia’s most imaginative and celebrated artists, musicians, chefs, and artisans.

Old meets new in Zac and Ruth’s program that features artists and musicians such as Late Nite Tuff Guy, Carla Lippis, Gospo Collective, Er@ser Description, Temple Magic Orchestra, and the State Opera’s Anthony Hunt and Desiree Frahn.

These artists will headline events in spaces transformed by creative talents such as Studio Botanic’s Nadia Travaglini (Awe Hunters), multidisciplinary artist Dave Court and lighting designer Peter Rubie (Lightwaves), experimental collective The Bait Fridge, and designer Matthew Adey (Transcendence).

“The skills of our South Australian artists are world-class, and we get to unleash them in one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions,” Zac says. “We’re giving them a chance to express their art in a brand-new setting. Our creative concepts have been developed for people and spaces that intrigue and inspire us and we hope audiences will feel that connection as well.”

A headline event in the State Government’s new annual spring event collective, Bloom, sees Barossa Contemporary founders Zac and Ruth return to their childhood home with the largest investment for the arts in the region’s history.

Tickets are on sale at barossacontemporary.com.au.

Barossa Contemporary
Friday 8 October and Saturday 9 October