There's something to be said for small independent musical festivals. Sure, they don't have all the bells and whistles of their larger mainstream counterparts but that also means you get a far more relaxing and boutique experience. One such example is Newstead Live.
Every January, the small regional town of Newstead (located less than two hour's north-west of Melbourne) grows from its population of around 500 residents when it hosts a weekend of concerts, workshops, food and a poet's breakfast. Visitors can camp at either the town oval or the racecourse reserve.
The 2018 line-up includes veteran Australian singer-songwriter Neil Murray, the Japanese Irish music trio John John Festival and Luke Plumb & the Circuit.