May 18, 2023

UOW the new home of Yours and Owls Festival

Annual music festival to be held at Wollongong Campus under three-year partnership

The annual Yours and Owls Festival has found a new home at the University of Wollongong (UOW) under a three-year agreement announced today (Thursday 18 May).

The University will host the two-day music festival at its Wollongong Campus from 14-15 October, providing the perfect location for thousands of people across the region to enjoy live music in UOW’s beautiful campus setting.

The brainchild of three UOW alumni, Yours and Owls has created the region’s premier music festival and one of Australian music’s most trusted brands.

With Ben Tillman, Adam Smith and Balunn Jones at the helm, all of whom studied at UOW, Yours and Owls has heralded a new era for the Wollongong music scene, establishing the city as hub of live music and creativity, via a decade’s worth of shows, venues, and festivals for the region’s music lovers.

As part of the partnership with UOW, Yours and Owls will take over the campus location for the two-day music festival, with UOW’s grounds, ovals and laneways coming alive to the sounds of some of the world’s best artists.  

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Patricia M. Davidson said the University was thrilled to be the new home of the Yours and Owls Festival and welcoming the community on to campus for the event.

“Adam, Ben and Balunn, the team behind Yours and Owls, are proud former students of UOW and we have watched in awe as they have changed the cultural and creative landscape of Wollongong over the past ten years,” Professor Davidson said.

Professor Davidson said holding the Yours and Owls Festival at UOW reflected the University’s role at the heart of the Wollongong community and would enable those who are not students the opportunity to see what the campus has to offer. 

“UOW does not stand alone. It is part of the fabric of our community. We want it to be a place of world-class teaching, learning and research, but also a place where everyone feels welcome and where those connections come to life,” Professor Davidson said.

“The relationship between Yours and Owls and UOW is a natural fit for us. It is a chance for us to showcase the beauty of our campus, to encourage the community to have fun and enjoy some of the best live music around in a safe and relaxed setting. 

“Now, more than ever, universities are critical to the success of local economies. We are delighted to be the home of Yours and Owls Festival for the next three years and can’t wait to see what the 2023 event has to offer.”

Ben Tillman from Yours and Owls said the three-year partnership with UOW gave them to opportunity to settle into their new home and take advantage of the natural beauty and facilities that the Wollongong Campus has to offer.

“We are delighted to be returning home to UOW to present Yours and Owls within the campus grounds. We are excited to welcome patrons to experience the festival in the space where the initial idea was hatched all those years ago. Our team have been busy creating ways to bring the multitude of spaces available to us alive across the campus.”

As childhood friends in Wollongong, Ben, Adam and Balunn all began their undergraduate studies at UOW. Adam undertook a degree in economics while Ben and Balunn undertook degrees in psychology. 

Yours and Owls Festival has brought some of the world’s most loved artists like  The Wombats, Catfish & The Bottlemen, The Offspring, The Used, Bicep, Rufus Du Sol, At The Drive In and more, and some of Australia’s most recognised acts to Wollongong over the years, including Hilltop Hoods, Flight Facilities, Amy Shark, Sampa The Great, Angus and Julia Stone, Courtney Barnett, Hockey Dad, Ocean Alley, Alison Wonderland, Dune Rats, Tkay Maidza, Baker Boy, as well as featured performances from countless up-and-coming local artists.

The 2023 Yours and Owls Festival is supported by Wollongong City Council and Destination Wollongong.

For more information please visit the Yours and Owls Festival website.