Listen Out revellers bare flesh as they flock to Sydneys Centennial Park on a massive weekend of music festivals
Thousands of revellers have flocked to Sydneys sun-soaked Centennial Park with back-to-back music festivals across the harbour city over the long weekend.
Thousands of revellers have flocked to Sydneys sun-soaked Centennial Park with back-to-back music festivals across the harbour city over the long weekend.
Listen Out revellers flocked to the Moore Park parkland precinct for ticketed international headline acts including Skepta, 21 Savage, Sampa the Great, and DJ, Folamour.
The festival, organised by Fuzzy, had dates in Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane before its culmination in Australias biggest metropolis.
The line-up saw hip-hop, RnB, and electronic heavyweights take to three stages in the parklands as revellers flooded in.
Police and event organisers had urged revellers to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, expecting 17,000 people to dance Sunday away.
Bright colours were the flavour of the day, with thousands donning teal blues, scarlet, and white under the spring sunshine.
Festival-goers flocked to Centennial Park in Sydney for the second day of festivals in the city
Vibrant fashions were on display with crotched tops and linen pants popular among revellers
Some even went so far as matching their outfits from their heads all the way down to the boots
Many channeled the 1960s in iconic throw-backs to the bright and psychedelic fashions of the time.
Girls wore white summery skirts and many of the gents sported enduring tie-die patterns.
Others went for a more contemporary look with Byron Bays influence on show.
Flowing, boho pants came aplenty, linen was also a popular choice.
Festival goers also noted a heavy police presence in the grounds.
Eastern Beaches Superintendent Paul Simpkins, said the safety of festival goers was the number one priority of officers.
Our officers will be targeting anti-social behaviour and alcohol fuelled violence – this is no place for this sort of behaviour. Attendees who choose to do the wrong thing not only risk their own safety, but also the safety of others around them, Det Supt Simpkins said.
Music lovers were in for a treat as Listen Out and Knockout Outdoor went back to back in Sydney
Psychadelic patterns made a come-back among other summery fashions in the parklands
Groups of young Sydneysiders showed they were eager to party despite cost of living pressures and countless festival cancellations
Police said their goal was for everyone to enjoy the festival safely with officers and drug dogs on the site
Prohibited drugs are illegal and potentially life-threatening, especially when combined with alcohol, so I urge everyone to behave responsibly. If you or one of your mates feels unwell, please seek professional medical attention at one of the medical tents on-site.
Our goal is for everyone to enjoy the festival safely. We will not tolerate anyone who intends to jeopardise that safety or thinks they are above the law.
Det Supt Simpkins also reminded festival goers about keeping hydrated as temperatures soared on Sunday afternoon.
Please ensure you and your fellow festival goers are drinking plenty of water, wear sunscreen and seek shade during the day, he said.
Groups turned up in droves with hopes to see grime rapper Skepta and US rapper 21 Savage
NSW Police were out in force, having cited their concern for festival-goers safety earlier in the week
Many were dressed for Sydneys spring start to warmer weather with the country expecting a hotter summer
Cops were on high alert in the parklands following the death of a 20-year-old man on Saturday at Knockout festival
Many faced classic festival dilemmas spotted phoning friends and trying to choose between the three stages of international acts
Some channelled rave-styled looks with the shade of black popular among festival attendees
This year will be the first year that teens aged over-16 will be allowed at the event but remember: if youre under-18 you can only attend with a responsible adult and remain in the company of a responsible adult while in the event site, Det Supt Simpkins said.
It comes after a young reveller died at the Knockout festival on Saturday night.
The young man aged in his 20s suffered a medical episode and could not be revived by paramedics at the scene.
One man in a tie-dye shirt was seen talking with police, with a large amount of cops in the parklands
A variety of styles were on show at 2024s Listen Out festival, many opted to match styles with friends
Some wore their Sunday best for the outdoor fest with luxury brands on display
Salt-N-Pepas here: One pair wore contrasted in black and white for some of Hip-Hop and RnBs best
His death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
A NSW Health spokesperson said the man had a pre-existing condition and there is no indication his death is connected to drug use.
NSW Health extends its sincere condolences to their family and friends and the people who provided care at Knockout, the spokesperson said.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed on Sunday that there had been some hospitalisations for drug use or drug ingestion.
Its always risky whenever you take illegal drugs, you never know where theyre made, Ms Webb said.
A NSW Health spokesperson said three of the about 60,000 attendees had to be rushed from the festival to hospital by ambulance.
All patients continue to receive care in hospital where they are in a stable condition, they said.
NSW Health is committed to working closely with music festival organisers and other stakeholders to support a safe festival industry.
A range of harm reduction initiatives are in place at festivals, including, support and health promotion workers, health messaging, free chilled water, misting fans, chill-out spaces and well-equipped medical services.
Attendees dressed for the weather, the mercury soared to 26C in some parts of the city on Sunday
Police and NSW Health had affirmed their commitment to festival safety as the states health body worked with organisers
Many rushed to the stages from overflowing public transport toward the parklands on Sunday
Men and women dusted off their summer wardrobe for the event, soaking up sunshine and heavy bass-lines
It comes after two men aged 26 and 21, died in separate incidents at last years Knockout event.
The 26-year-old was rushed from the festival to Concord Hospital where he later died, while the 21-year-old was treated to at a hotel on George St in Sydneys CBD.
The young man was taken to St Vincents Hospital where he tragically died.
The latest festival death on Saturday night has sparked a fresh round of calls to implement pill testing and address strip searching at NSW music festivals.
Victoria has already committed to trialing pill testing over the over summer following the success of similar trials in ACT and Queensland.
Many Knockout attendees, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed calls from experts to implement pill testing at NSW music festivals, with Victoria having committed to a trial over summer following the success of similar trials in ACT and Queensland.
A 25-year-old Knockout attendee said pill testing is really important, claiming people will bring drugs into festivals no matter what.
It should be essential, he said.
Many sought respite from the sun in the shade, others soaked up the vitamin D on a stellar, sunny Sunday
People are going to bring (drugs) in no matter what … theres no point fighting it because at the end of the day its going to get in.
Harm Reduction Australia president Gino Vumbaca said there is a lot of anxiety and concern in the community heading into this festival season over the continued lack of action by the NSW government to allow proven harm reduction programs, such as pill testing, to be available.
We all want the same outcomes; the government just needs to let the evidence steer the way forward, he said, having earlier offered to run a free pill testing trial in NSW.
Gleeful revellers were even spotted skipping between the stages to catch the best of the line-up
NSW Police reminded festival goers to make sure they stay hydrated earlier this week as temperatures climbed in the afternoon
NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park said he is looking forward to hearing from a range of community voices and their experiences at the states drug summit, slated to begin in November.
The government continues to embrace a comprehensive range of existing measures geared towards awareness, prevention and harm minimisation, Mr Park said.
NSW Health works with music festival organisers to keep people safer at music festivals.
The NSW Ministry of Health, NSW Ambulance and local health districts (LHDs) provide support and advice on harm reduction strategies and risk management approaches for all music festivals across NSW.
