Surf + Sound Festival at Manly Wharf

Surf + Sound is a brand new festival bringing live music, art, food and surfing to Manly, running Friday to Sunday across three weekends from Friday 16 October to Sunday 1 November.

It started with Creative Director James 'Jamo' Willis. After more than 25 years overseas, he lost his home in the Malibu fires, and his mates gave him a reason to come back. With Adam Flaskas, Joel Parkinson, Paul Henry and Lachie Given on board, an idea for a surf comp grew into a full festival built around the culture of the Beaches.

Sound check

Ticketed headline shows play the Felons Barrel Room, with free music running across the wharf throughout.

• Friday 16 October: The Whitlams
• Saturday 17 October: The Beautiful Girls
• Saturday 24 October: Skegss
• Sunday 25 October: Babe Rainbow
• Thursday 29 October: Kita Alexander
• Friday 30 October: Skunkhour
• Saturday 31 October: Yolanda Be Cool
• Sunday 1 November: GANGgajang
• Sunday 1 November: Winston Surfshirt, secret location on Manly Wharf (free)

For The Whitlams' Tim Freedman, it is a homecoming of sorts: his first ever gig was at the Time and Tide Hotel in Dee Why in 1981, seven kilometres and 45 years away.

Art you can walk through

Sydney-raised, New York-based artist Jeremyville leads a free art trail of inflatables and large-scale installations around the wharf, curated by Arts-Matter. Over the opening weekend, Karlee Mackie, Steve Ormandy, Funskull, Daimon Downey and Ozzy Wright each paint a Classic DEFENDER live at Manly Cove.

Wharf eats

Manly Wharf's restaurants anchor the food program, with a food village, guest chefs, market stalls and special dining experiences. The full food line-up is still to be announced.

Paddle out

The festival closes with the Surf + Sound Boardrider Battle at Manly Beach on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, led by world champion Joel Parkinson. Boardrider clubs from across Australia compete in men's, women's and under-18 divisions for a major prize supporting grassroots surfing. Saturday's Legends Heat puts world champions Mark Occhilupo, Layne Beachley and Parkinson back in the water, and the after parties and awards roll on at Felons Manly.

Friday 16 October to Sunday 1 November | Manly Wharf and Manly Beach | Free entry, headline shows ticketed | surfandsoundfestival.com.au