Music enthusiasts in Western Australia are set to experience an exciting addition to the festival scene with the launch of the first-ever beach music festival in Albany, named Middies 2026. Scheduled for February 28, 2026, this event will feature an impressive lineup of Australian indie rock artists, including Beddy Rays, Dear Sunday, Ruby Hoo, Lazy Haze, and Jack Hamilton.
With the recent closure of popular events like Groovin’ the Moo and The Drop festival, local organisers have identified a gap in the market. The festival aims to re-energize the region’s music scene and provide a platform for both local and national talent. Co-organiser Santino Pietropaolo expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Being a local musician, I think I always wanted to see something like this happen down here.”
In collaboration with fellow organiser Sanjay Sanapala and event planner Robert Forgione, Pietropaolo has worked diligently over the past few months to bring this vision to life. The festival is set to take place at Ellen Cove, with a capacity of up to 1,000 people. The venue will also feature food trucks, bars, and DJs to enhance the overall experience.
The event marks the first outdoor music festival in Albany since the beloved Wignalls Vintage Blues Festival ceased operations in 2020. Sanapala, who also owns Eve Late Night Bar, highlighted the need for local festivals, stating, “Since I moved to Albany, I realised Perth is really far and it’s not really cheap to travel to for festivals.” He believes that Albany has the potential to host significant events and that the local community desires such entertainment.
Forgione, now a major sponsor of Middies 2026, has played a crucial role in navigating the logistics, including obtaining council permissions and managing crowd control. He noted that early ticket sales have shown promise, with buyers not only from Albany but also from Busselton, Bunbury, and Perth. “We’ve noticed that the people buying up tickets are not just Albany people…it’s for everyone who wants to come down and enjoy some music at this location,” he stated.
Middies 2026 is an 18-plus event, beginning at 15:00, and tickets are available through Megatix. The organisers are optimistic that the festival will not only fill the void left by previous events but also attract larger acts in the future, solidifying Albany’s place in the festival calendar.
As anticipation builds for this inaugural beach music festival, local residents and visitors alike are eager to support what promises to be a vibrant celebration of music and community.
