The full program for the tenth and final Nimbin Roots Festival has been released.
While putting an end to the annual festival weighs on founder and director, Lou Bradley, as she wistfully gears up to give Nimbin one last event to remember, she is also trying to contain her excitement about upcoming announcements for next year’s Mullum Roots Festival.
And in the middle of juggling both these festivals, Lou has been recording her own music, anticipating her first album release in 15 years in early 2026.
Her own experience as an independent artist seeking outlets for live performance led to her founding the Nimbin event.
Around 25 years ago she and her young family landed in Huonbrook, deep in the Byron hinterland, and drew inspiration from her local surrounds. Because of Huonbrook’s location, Lou found herself geographically and creatively pulled to the Nimbin area as much as she was connected to Mullumbimby.
Her music went national very quickly, with ARIA and Golden Guitar nominations. But, she says, ‘As happens with musicians, finding work to make ends meet, when you’ve decided to have a life dedicated to the arts, was a struggle. The continuing question was do I keep my focus on my music or focus more on family and conventional work?’
‘That’s when Nimbin Roots Festival was born. Over the years, I’d been to a number of performances of “successful” artists – large venues, people packed in – and I always said that’s not for me.’
‘It felt like we had to create something just for artists who needed an outlet to perform their original music. They wouldn’t have to be famous, nor have to be successful, but just had to really mean it with their songwriting because that’s when you get back to the roots of your art.’
With her life and music partner, Phil Chaffer, Lou toured through the Northern Territory to raise funds from their own gigs to mount the first Nimbin Roots Festival. That continued every year, steadfastly playing to welcoming audiences in the NT to earn the money to stage the Nimbin event. It inevitably became exhausting, and now coming full circle to shift her festival energies from Nimbin to Mullumbimby, Lou’s drive and vision are reignited.
Meanwhile, Dog Trumpet, The Audreys, Hussy Hicks and dozens of other artists will entertain at Nimbin Roots Festival from October 24 to 26. More info and tickets at nimbinrootsfest.com.
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