Territory Artists Score Coveted Spots on BASS Stages

Two talented Territory artists have landed the opportunity of a lifetime – performing at the iconic BASSINTHEGRASS music festival at Darwin’s Mindil Beach, with a warm-up set at BASSINTHECITY just three days earlier.

The Territory Artist Competition, which has been running for more than a decade, once again offered local musicians the chance to share the stage with major Australian and international acts at BASSINTHEGRASS on Saturday, 17 May.

From a high volume of entries Top End band, Crystal Robins & the Wildfires, and Central Australian DJ, Jacksen, have been selected as this year’s winners. They will now perform at the Territory’s largest music festival, joining a stellar lineup featuring Hilltop Hoods, Meg Mac, The Jungle Giants, The Dreggs, Cyril, 3%, and international acts Jax Jones and house duo Jaded.

This year marks a special milestone, with two acts — a live act and, for the first time, a DJ — who will open sets on the Palm Stage and BASSment Stages, respectively.

Adding to their excitement, both winners will also perform at BASSINTHECITY on Wednesday, 14 May, each delivering 20-minute sets ahead of Grammy-nominated international DJ Kah-Lo, offering fans a preview of what’s to come.

Crystal Robins & the Wildfires are a 4-piece band spearheaded by their talented namesake Crystal, a Darwin songwriter who is a recent graduate of The CMAA Academy of Country Music and has just released her first full-length album. She has performed at festivals around Australia and opened for touring artists in Darwin including Josh Pyke, Brad Cox, Wendy Matthews and Dan Sultan. Featuring stunning vocals, intricate guitar playing & heartfelt lyrics, the band’s sound is described as a dreamy mix of indie-folk with an alt-country twist.

Thrilled about the win, Crystal said, “I’m really stoked to be part of this year’s line-up, and to play a major festival like BASSINTHEGRASS with my band. I can’t wait!”

Jacksen Dulvarie is an emerging Alice Springs DJ, producer, and artist who seamlessly blends a broad range of music, showcasing his soulful approach to taking the listener on a journey through house, breaks, downtempo, dub bass, and techno. In addition to holding DJ residencies at multiple venues, he hosts innovative dance parties and runs a community radio segment showcasing independent Australian electronic music.

Jacksen will travel up to Darwin with his family for the event and is very excited for the opportunity, “BASSINTHEGRASS will be the biggest gig I’ve ever done in my life. It’s going to be incredible to showcase the kind of music that I’ve been playing on a big sound system to a lot of people.”

The Competition was judged by industry representatives from Music NT, Standing Room Only, and Northern Territory Major Events Company. All judges unanimously agreed on the impressive volume and high calibre of applications, highlighting the wealth of musical talent within the Territory.

The Territory Artists Competition assess applicants across criteria such as quality of recordings capability, development, and live show experience. The chosen winners clearly demonstrated the talent and professionalism to shine on the BASS stage.

BASSINTHEGRASS Final Release tickets are on sale for $155 (plus booking fee). For an elevated festival experience, explore premium packages including ReFresh, Oasis, and the family-friendly BASS Camp. For tickets and more information, visit: bassinthegrass.com.au.