Long Listen: Global Sounds, Local Heart
An Artist-Driven Festival Celebrating Musical Diversity and Community Connection
Long Listen is an artist-led music festival founded and directed by acclaimed cellist Louise King. Held annually in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, the festival offers an intimate and immersive experience, blending traditional and contemporary performances, world music, classical music, experimental collaborations, workshops, and artful storytelling.
What Makes Us Unique
Unlike traditional music festivals, Long Listen provides a deeply immersive experience that emphasizes both artistic excellence and community connection. The festival celebrates cross-cultural musical exchange, bringing together Eastern, Western, and First Nations traditions.Â
By showcasing global sounds alongside local talent, and offering accessible programming for all ages, Long Listen fosters appreciation of music’s power to transcend boundaries, all within the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast on Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) country.
2025 Program Overview & Highlights
Returning 3-6 October 2025, the festival features 54 artists, 14 events, and 11 genres, from chamber orchestra and world music to blues, folk, and experimental sounds. Key highlights include:
- Bold collaborations: Véronique Serret & Band with William Barton, Ensemble Q with Emily Granger, and Courtenay Cleary with Alex Raineri
- World music and blues: Gosti, State of Appalachia, Hat Fitz & Cara
- Sound immersions: Morning Meditations and Didge Didirri
- Firsts: Festival Conversations, Welcome Dinner at Homegrown Café, world premiere by Queensland composer Nicole Murphy, and the inaugural Chamber Music Gala uniting three generations of musicians
- Local artists supporting visiting headliners
Find out more about the full 2025 program here https://collections.humanitix.com/long-listen-festival-2025
Our Vision: 2026 and Beyond
Looking ahead, Long Listen will continue to champion innovation, intercultural collaboration, and community engagement. Our 2026 vision includes:
- An international collaboration with master musicians from India, Japan, and the Middle East working with Queensland artists
- New commissions and premieres, expanding cultural dialogue and creative exchange
- Side-by-side mentorship programs connecting festival artists with the next generation of musicians
- Public engagement through open rehearsals, artist talks, and workshops, making world-class music accessible to all
Our Purpose
Long Listen celebrates musical diversity where listening is centre-stage. We aim to:
- Promote cultural collaboration: Partner artists across diverse backgrounds, amplifying First Nations voices
- Support artistic excellence: Deliver world-class performances that inspire audiences
- Engage the community: Provide meaningful access to music and artist interactions
- Celebrate local talent: Showcase the Sunshine Coast’s rich musical community
Artistic Director: Louise King
Louise King is an internationally acclaimed cellist and visionary festival director, recently awarded the 2025 Queensland State Luminary Award by the Australian Music Centre and APRA for her advocacy of Australian music by female composers with Muses Trio. She has founded initiatives including the Sunshine Coast Chamber Music Festival, Summer Concerts, the Australian Chamber Music Collective, Dreaming BIG concert series, Rising Stars Chamber Music Program and Cello Dreaming Summer Retreats. Through Long Listen, she brings Australia’s finest artists, and the world’s most diverse and inspiring musical voices, to the Sunshine Coast.
Join Us
Long Listen is more than a festival; it’s a cultural playground celebrating music’s power to connect, inspire, and unite communities. Support Long Listen through donations, partnerships, or by attending our events to help bring world-class music and cultural experiences to the Sunshine Coast and to realise our bold vision for 2026.
How to Donate:
Choose your amount using the details below, and we’ll take care of everything else!