The time for hibernation is through, it’s time for Perthians to crawl out from their comfortable shelters, wipe the sleep from their eyes and re-introduce themselves to their vibrant city, starting this weekend. City Of Perth’s free Northbridge Festival Starts This Sunday, November 1 and runs all week to the 8th. That’s eight full days of free entertainment spanning music, culture and the arts.

The brand new Northbridge Piazza, on the corner of James and Lake Streets, will become Festival Central with a grand opening party kicking off the festivities on Sunday. Catch the free musical entertainment from 4pm with End Of Fashion, Carus, Blue Shaddy and Special Brew.

The revelry continues throughout the week with a little something for everyone, including film nights, market stalls and a gospel festival on Lake Street and street artists along James Street.

The festival heats up for a full weekend of action from Friday, with some great local and national musical talent gracing the Piazza and James Street stages, including performances by Kram, Downsyde, The Dirty Secrets, The Panda Band, Vasco Era, The Novacaines, LABJACD, Canyons, Van She, Boys Boys Boys!, Cassette Kids (and heaps more).

There’s also exposure for some great new talent with the Northbridge Live band competition; a battle of the bands running right throughout the week, with the grand finale on the Saturday. $1,500 prize money is up for grabs! Show some support for great live acts while they’re still young and free!

Also coming to the Festival is acclaimed dance-theatre explosion Burning Daylight, presented by the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and Mobile States. The show is inspired by the depiction of Broome at the turn of the 20th century as an – œAsian Wild West’. Pumping beats and rhymes create a vibrant contemporary sound live on stage, contrasting with gentle guitar strums and melodies evoking outback campfires. You can catch their show at in Russell Square, see pica.org.au for more information.

There’s even something for visual arts enthusiasts, with Northbridge Festival also invading laneways. Live laneway painting projects can be found in the James-Francis Street and Francis-Aberdeen Street Laneways; featuring up to 65 artists and coordinated by the William Street Collective.

There is a complete day program of community activities, including dance, community bands and a colourful Chung Wah (Chinese community) showcase with Chinese orchestral performances and even a chicken feet eating competition! Crazy!

There are just too many things happening to mention them all.
Head to the Northbridge Festival Website to check out the full program