music

Fuzzy marks 30 years under new Wiradjuri leadership

Joseph Guenzler
Joseph Guenzler Published August 28, 2026 at 11.10am (AWST)

Wiradjuri woman Adelle Robinson is leading Australian live music company Fuzzy into its fourth decade as it marks 30 years with a new identity.

Ms Robinson now serves as chief executive of the company after co-founders John Wall and Ming Gan stepped away in 2025.

She joined Fuzzy during its early years and helped build its festivals and events alongside Mr Wall and Mr Gan.

Ms Robinson is also chair of the Australian Festivals Association and Biennale of Sydney, a board member of Opera Australia and a member of the SoundNSW Advisory Board.

She reflected on Fuzzy's development since its first event in 1996.

"Thirty years is a huge milestone in live music, particularly when you think about how much the industry has changed since 1996," Ms Robinson said.

"What I'm most proud of is that Fuzzy has kept moving with it.

"We've gone from Sublime to festivals across the country, regional shows, touring and new live formats, but the instinct has always been the same: back great music, build the right experience around it and give people a reason to come together."

Adelle Robinson. (Image: Supplied)

Fuzzy began with Sublime, an 800-capacity club night on Pitt Street that became part of Sydney's electronic music and rave scene.

The company launched Parklife in 2000 before establishing festivals including Field Day, Harbourlife, Listen Out and Shore Thing.

Millions of people have attended Fuzzy events during the past three decades, while its stages have also provided early opportunities for Australian artists.

Flume opened a small Parklife stage as a triple j Unearthed winner in 2012 before returning to headline Listen Out and Field Day less than a decade later.

Fuzzy's new identity places the company's name at the front of each festival, tour and show, connecting its different events under one banner.

Ms Robinson believes the change recognises the company's history while preparing it for future growth.

"This rebrand respects everything that got us here without being stuck in the past," Ms Robinson said.

"It feels like Fuzzy now, and gives us the confidence and clarity to keep pushing forward. There's a lot more we want to do."

The anniversary follows the return of Groovin the Moo through a one-off Lismore event after a two-year hiatus.

Field Day also marked its 25th anniversary in 2026 and is scheduled to return on New Year's Day in 2027.

Fuzzy launched The Point this year, with Missy Higgins and The Teskey Brothers among the artists appearing at Fleet Steps.

Harbourlife, which is among the company's longest-running events, now sits within The Point series alongside its headline concerts.

Golden Hour also debuted at Bondi Beach in February, attracting 15,000 people for a headline performance by Crowded House.

THE BLAK QUEENS at MightyHoopla. (Image: Gabrielle Clement)

Fuzzy brought British pop festival Mighty Hoopla to Australia at the same location and secured the licence to return New Year's Eve celebrations to Bondi Beach.

Recent tours have included Mochakk, Dennis Cruz, Disco Lines, MEDUZA, Gorgon City and Levity.

Future tours will be presented under the new A Tour by Fuzzy banner.

The company has also expanded MobTix and Affordability Tix across all Fuzzy-run events.

MobTix provides significantly discounted tickets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, while Affordability Tix supports people who hold selected concession cards.

Fuzzy has continued its recycling program across its major events, with the company reporting that 650,000 cans and paper cups were diverted from landfill in 2024.

Funds raised through container recycling are donated to charities.

The new identity retains Fuzzy's "Good Times, Done Properly" mantra as the company prepares for its next phase under Ms Robinson's leadership.

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National Indigenous Times

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