Winter is coming. Embrace the darkness.
Celebrating good beer, live music, and all things dark and decadent, Darker Days is the coolest way to warm up this winter.
We set the night alight on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
FEAT. THE GROGANS
We’re stoked to announce that THE GROGANS will be headlining Darker Days Festival!
Bringing their raw blend of surf, punk, blues and garage rock from the coast to the mountains, The Grogans will raise the roof at DARKER DAYS with high‑energy riffs and a crowd‑ready live show.
Beer.
Darker Days is your gateway to the boldest, most innovative craft breweries from near and far. Think festival-exclusive collabs, one-off releases, and brews that celebrate all things rich and delicious. This is where the true flavour hunters gather. We are stoked to have pouring for you the following breweries:
Dark beer, no fear! Your host brewery will be pouring all your faves like vintage Stubborn, Affogato Stout and other decadent treats.
Straight out of Wellington, Garage Project are true boundary‑pushers. With 900+ beers under their belt, they’re all about reinterpreting styles, challenging norms, and showing us what beer can be. Bold, creative, and relentlessly curious – just how we like it.
Small, family‑run, and meticulously dialled in. Marrickville’s Bracket Brewing are masters of hop‑forward beers, especially their cult‑favourite hazy IPAs. No core range, no shortcuts – just a constant hunt for the world’s best hops and better beer every time.
Born from an explosively hoppy Double IPA, KAIJU! has grown into one of Australia’s most loved craft beer creatures. From monster hop bombs to award‑winning crisp lagers, it’s all about flavour, fun, and seriously good beer.
From a big dream in Torquay to a beloved Victorian staple, Blackman’s are driven by one simple philosophy: make really good beer. No rushing, no compromise – just quality ingredients, time, care, and beers for everyone.
Music.
Dance from day to dark with 10+ hours of non‑stop live music, spotlighting Australia’s rising indie stars, local legends, and a DJ driving the energy all night long.
Matt O’Gorman is a founding member of British India with multiple ARIA Top 10 albums, Gold and Platinum records, and over 40 million streams. He’s also a festival and club DJ, and will be spinning all your funk, soul, and indie favourites.
Lennon Paul is a solo artist delivering big sound from a one-man setup. Blending acoustic and electric guitar with live looping and stomp-driven rhythm, his sets build naturally from laid-back grooves into upbeat, crowd-friendly moments.
Melbourne‑based pop artist Sophie Kelly blends scream‑along anthems with diaristic songwriting, turning her early‑twenties highs and lows into polished pop. After her debut single “Sparkling Wine,” she’s gearing up for a breakout year of new releases and live shows.
An indie rock band from Melbourne, Five Buck Kid write anthems for the working class, the hopeful and the lost – heartfelt, loud and made for live stages.
A Sydney indie pop/rock artist creating raw, cathartic songs that turn dark moments into something powerful and uplifting. Expect big feelings and beautiful chaos.
The Grogans are an Australian trio ripping through surf, blues, punk, and garage rock with a sound that swings from breezy grooves to full‑throttle riffs. Since 2016, they’ve built a global fanbase on nonstop releases, relentless touring, and explosive live shows.
Spirits. Wine. Cider.
Taste the flavour of our region with cider, spirits and cocktails from some of the High Country’s best known producers.
Food.
