Cairns Festival finds its groove with a jam-packed live music program

Cairns Festival is delivering a packed program of world-class music to Cairns Esplanade with a massive Main Stage line-up kicking off on 29 August and running through to 7 September.

Free, feel-good live music will be held across festival featuring a mix of local, home-grown talent and national touring favourites spanning multiple music genres.

Additional gigs will also pop up across the city as part of Festival’s Live Music Trail, along with activations at other key sites, including The Cat Empire at Munro Martin Parklands on Sunday 31 August and multiple events at CPAC and Tanks Arts Centre.

Headlining the Cairns Festival launch night, iconic electronic artist Groove Terminator will take to the stage with Soul Song Choir, starting the party with a set of banging DJ beats paired with big harmonies and uplifting energy from the locally based choir.

Other artists bringing the beats include The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, performing Nigerian funk laced with hip hop, rockin' reggae party band El Moth and coastal indie-folk singer-songwriter Felipe Baldomir, alongside Djabugay and Western Yalanji traditional custodian and singer-songwriter Djawarray (Uncle Bertie) with Koahlition.

The Main Stage also welcomes names including Dizzy Doolan, Loni Fitzpatrick, Sweet Talk, Nicole Nighthawk, Katie Richards Band, Whiskey, Minnie Marks, Steph Strings, R3B, Quartier Street and Burger Joint.

Expanding the program beyond the Main Stage, Cairns Festival has also introduced a curated Live Music Trail to Festival’s 2025 program.

The trail is a week-long series of gigs across local venues and events and includes a tropical pool party, inlet cruises, live vinyl sessions and an afternoon of jazz, classical and lounge music at Pullman Cairns International.

Some events along the Live Music Trail are free, some are ticketed, but all share the same concept, inviting people to explore and support the city and its soundtrack.

Cairns Festival runs from 29 August to 7 September 2025. For more information and the full program, visit www.cairnsfest.com.au.