Birds of Tokyo, King Stingray to headline Kimberley Moon Experience at Ord Valley Muster 2023

Homegrown rockers Birds of Tokyo and Northeast Arnhem Land band King Stingray will headline the award-winning Kimberley Moon Experience next year.

The news comes as the complete line-up and dates for the Ord Valley Muster have been confirmed, with the festival set to return from May 19 to May 27.

A curated program of special events, from big concerts to lunchtime sessions, station luncheons, comedy, Indigenous culture and arts and family-friendly festivities kick off East Kimberley’s tourism season.

A highlight of the nine-day Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster festival is the Aviair HeliSpirit Kimberley Moon Experience, which will see Birds of Tokyo, Toni Childs and King Stingray take to the banks of Lake Kununurra — the Muster Hub — on Saturday May 20.

The bands will be joining fine company as a member of the Ord Valley Muster club which has seen the likes of Paul Kelly, Jimmy Barnes, Jessica Mauboy and others perform in the past two decades at the East Kimberley’s leading event.

The night will see a number of options for festival-goers, from the more glamorous black-tie Kimberley Fine Diamonds Dinner — complete with champagne, canapes and a full bar — to the all-ages ‘Moon’ experience, which encourages event goers to bring a picnic, rug and esky.

Starting from independent roots, Birds of Tokyo have become one of Australia’s most popular contemporary rock bands, releasing six studio albums, topping the ARIA charts, winning APRA’s ‘Rock Work of the Year’ five times, and headlining the 2021 AFL Grand Final.

Classic songs like ‘Good Lord’, ‘Two Of Us’, ‘Plans’, ‘Lanterns’, ‘Brace’ and ‘I’d Go With You Anywhere’ have all been top 10 airplay hits and more than 70 Birds of Tokyo tracks have featured on Triple J, making them one of the National Youth Broadcaster’s three most played artists of this millennium.

“The East Kimberley is a truly special part of the world and I’ve been lucky enough to visit once before so I know the band can’t wait to meet the crowds and explore the region while we’re up there,” Birds of Tokyo frontman Ian Kenny said.

With one foot planted in history and another firmly in the future, King Stingray is Arnhem Land’s hottest musical export. The band took out the enviable title of No.1 Most Played Australian Track on Triple J, for their accidental lockdown anthem, ‘Get Me Out’.

Other unmissable events in the program include Comedy in the Park, held for one night only at the Muster Hub on Wednesday, May 24, with the line-up of comedians to be announced soon.

Ord Valley Events Chair Sophie Cooke says that she’s excited to announce the event program and bring the Muster back to Kununurra after it was cancelled in 2022 due to the pandemic.

“We’re thrilled with this year’s line-up of extraordinary talent and events,” says Ms Cooke.

“We’ve intentionally curated a program of events to suit every kind of local and visitor, something for all ages, for those that like exclusive experiences to those that love a free festival, for those who are enchanted by Indigenous experience to those that love a laugh and a good sing-a-long.

“We introduced the Muster Hub for the 20th anniversary event in 2021, and it was a huge success, not surprising as it’s the perfect location for a festival – across the road from many major accommodation options and a short walk into town.

“After missing a year, as a Board, we’re very excited about the Ord Valley Muster 2023 and proud to be taking it into its third decade with an offering that’ll suit every kind of festival-goer,” says Ms Cooke.

A full event program and tickets for the Ord Valley Muster 2023 can be purchased from www.ordvalleymuster.com.au