Presented by Red Hot Arts Central Australia, the 2019 Desert Festival is an exposition of dynamic events encompassing local and interstate theatre, music, arts and performance. DesFest will run over seven weeks from 29 August to 12 October presenting a smorgasbord of local and interstate talent.

The opening street parade takes place at the Alice Springs Town Council Night Markets on Thursday 29 August from 5PM – 9PM. The markets will come alive with performances from Red Centre legends like Coloured Stone, Eastern Arrernte Band, Rusty and the Infidels and Zimbabwean Outback Melodies.

Kicking off the first weekend of DesFest, Sing Hum Records presents Unified, a showcase of local musical talent with a modern analogue flavour. You can catch artists such as Cassi Williams, Xavia, Broadwing, Resin Moon and Stellar Sea at Monte’s Lounge on Sat 31 Aug from 6:30PM.

And that’s just the first week. There’s seven weeks of DesFest fun this spring with over twenty live acts, including kid’s activities, workshops and two mini-film festivals; the Japanese Film Festival and the Human Rights Film Festival. It’s a babushka doll of festivals!

They’ll also be performances by Warren H. Williams, Fan Fatale, Musical Mediations, Prince Pout, Dark Moon, Miss Friby, Monkey Marc and so much more!

Join us for this year’s 2019 DesFest, celebrating the vibrant community, arts and culture of Central Australia. Stay posted for a full line-up drop!!

Desert Festival takes place on the land of the Central Arrernte people. We wish to pay our respects to the traditional owners of this Country and to their ancestors. As the Festival welcomes contemporary artists and art from around the world, we also celebrate the continuing culture of the Arrernte nation.

Proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government and the Department of Tourism and Culture.

Many thanks to our supporters; the Northern Territory Government, Alice Springs Town Council, Tourism NT, Yeperenye Shopping Centre, The Centralian Advocate, The Japan Foundation Australia, Human Rights Arts & Film Festival, Central Australian Art Society Inc., The Alice Springs Cinema, Monte’s Lounge, Totem Theatre, The Gap View Hotel, Epilogue Lounge and 8CCC Community Radio,

Desert Festival 2019 Artwork, That Central Vibe I (Tjoritja), by Lauren Hutchinson – winner of the Desert Festival Prize in the 2018 Advocate Art Awards.