Our Story.

Grounded was born from a love of live music, community and a desire to do things differently.

Launched in 2019 as an expansion of the Goulburn Valley’s Secret Garden gigs, it’s grown into something much bigger – a love story to the land, to art and to each other.

Grounded celebrates the raw talent of regional artists and their original songs. It’s where people come together to dance, to witness, to feel… and to be.

But it’s the Dookie Quarry itself that sets Grounded apart from every other music festival.

Carved deep into the land, you feel its presence the moment you walk in.

It’s a space that humbles and demands reverence. And it reminds you just how powerful music and people are when they come together on Country.

But it’s the Dookie Quarry itself that sets Grounded apart from every other music festival.

Carved deep into the land, you feel its presence the moment you walk in.

It’s a space that humbles and demands reverence. And it reminds you just how powerful music and people are when they come together on Country.

Grounded happens once a year, for one unforgettable day. And no two years are ever the same.

Come be a part of it and feel what it’s like to be truly grounded.

Six reasons Grounded at the Dookie Quarry hits different

There’s a quiet kind of magic to boutique festivals. 

But place one in an abandoned quarry under a wide-open sky? You’ve got one of regional Victoria’s best-kept secrets.

If you’ve never experienced Grounded at the Dookie Quarry, know that it’s real, raw and hits you right in the chest.

Here are 6 reasons why it might just be the coolest gig you’ll attend. Ever.

1. The location will move you

Forget sweaty club basements and packed warehouses, this is the kind of place you won’t just stumble across.

It’s wild, it’s weathered, it’s carved deep into the land and alive with energy.

‘It’s a place that just humbles you,’ Grounded co-founder Jamie Lea says. ‘You walk in and you just have to stop and take it all in. You can’t not feel something.’

By day, the rock walls glow golden in the sun. By night, they’re cool and transport you to a different world.

Trust us when we say: you’ve never partied anywhere like this before.

2. It’s not like the music festivals you’re used to

We hear it time and again: Grounded is an experience like no other.

There are no clashing stages. No sea of strangers. And no sprinting from act to act.

You’re held in one raw, open space surrounded by a community energy that’s hard to replicate.

And you become part of something powerful.

It’s intimate, grounding and impossible to explain until you’ve felt it for yourself.

3. There’s room to slow down

In 2025, an escape from everyday life – from our phones, from our jobs, from the news – is a must.

We all need places and spaces away from the noise and chaos. Places that let us just... be. 

Grounded is that kind of space. One that gently pulls you back into your peace and happiness.

 It’s fresh air and sunsets that feel like they’re out of a dream.

 Music that soothes, uplifts and energises.

 It’s dancing barefoot under the stars with your besties.

 And sipping wine and nibbling on cheese while sprawled across a picnic blanket.

 It’s the kind of festival that lets your entire being exhale.

 And it gifts you the kind of feeling you’ll want to carry back into the outside world.

 4. It’s where real connection happens

 Sometimes human connection can feel rare in this weird and wonderful world we live in.

We’re told it’s harder than ever to make friends. To meet people. To feel seen. 

But there’s something about Grounded that just brings people closer. 

Maybe it’s the open space. Maybe it’s the slower pace. Or maybe it’s being surrounded by humans who are truly present.

Whatever it is, it works.

What we do know is our crowds are special. People come for the music, but they also come for the slowness and the shared humanity.

You’ll likely leave with a new friend, a new crush or even just that warm feeling that connecting with strangers is still possible.

[PHOTO: Photo of friends taking selfie in crowd]

5. You’re seeing some of the coolest (known and unknown) Aussie artists

Ever gone to a gig, discovered an act you’d never heard of and then seen their name everywhere months later?

That’s what the Grounded experience is all about.

You’ll catch some of Australia’s most talented emerging artists, alongside performers who have graced national and international stages.

This year’s lineup includes the soulful Isaiah Firebrace, high-energy duo This Way North, groove kings The Meltdown, and indie darlings The Wildlings.

You’ll also catch rising talent Kaitlyn Martin and the always-electric Sam + Sam.

Let’s just say… you’ll want to be able to say you were there.

6. The land speaks (if you’re quiet enough to listen)

There’s always a quiet moment or revelation you’ll have when you’re standing in the quarry.

The earth is raw, vast and deeply felt, layered with tens of thousands of years of Indigenous history. 

The changing face of the land is what has made it so special. Changing ways of being that have made it all the way to our incredible festival.

It’s a place brimming with history and every moment there’s a chance to connect to each other, to the land and to something much deeper.

So, bring your picnic, your dancing shoes and your open heart.

You’re being led here for a reason.

[Photo: aerial shot of Dookie Quarry]

Ready to feel it for yourself? Join us at Grounded Festival this November. Grab your ticket here.