A Stellar Lineup Announced for the 2014 Adelaide Festival

Having begun in 1960, the Adelaide Festival is widely recognised for its excellence, innovation and artistic leadership.

It has become a significant part of South Australia’s social, cultural and economic landscape. With over 900 artists participating in 200 events, next year’s Adelaide Festival is sure to be one of the most exciting and extensive so far.

The festival’s aesthetic design is “quintessentially South Australian”, inspired by the 560 million year old fossils discovered in the Flinders Ranges. It’s an intriguing theme that runs through the festival’s various partner events, including Artist’s Week and Writer’s Week.

“2014 is the best festival I have ever produced. You’re going to get shocked, you’re going to get challenged and there’s going to be loads of stuff that you’ve never heard of,” said Artistic Director David Sefton.

“This festival is an organic, living beast. The brochure is already wrong [because it is constantly expanding].”

During the 2014 program launch Sefton openly maligned other South Australian events for their banality and overstated success. Perhaps such criticism is understandable, considering the reputation of the festival that Sefton leads.

2014’s fortnight-long festival is sandwiched by headliners Kid Creole, Charles Bradley and the Black Arm Band. Other epic Adelaide-exclusive events including Zorn in Oz, Roman Tragedies and River of Fundament are also sure to draw massive crowds.

Further highlights include Sadeh21, Fight Night, Green Porno by Isabella Rossellini, Malthouse Theatre’s The Shadow King, and John Waters in This Filthy World Vol. 2.

With artists like Shaun Parker and Windmill Theatre the festival is as much a celebration of the local stage as the international.  As David Sefton says, “when you’ve got something good on your doorstep, you should make a song and dance about it.”

To great disappointment, Barrio, the late night festival bar, has been axed from next year’s program. Taking its place is “marquee de suave” Lola’s Pergola, a new riverside destination to dine and dance the night away.

Considering the stellar 2014 program, organisers recommend early ticket purchases.

Writers Week, Artists Week, DocWeek and the Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art programs have also been launched.

Adelaide Festival 28 February to 16 March 2014