Doomsday, Slaughterfest and Progfest: Highlights of the Australian underground music scene

One of the most positive elements of the Sydney underground music scene are the annual one-day "mini-festivals" that pop up. After a couple of successful years these festival become anticipated staples in a music-lovers diet.

Personally, there are three which I look forward to above the rest;

• 666 Entertainments' Doomsday Festival: The premier festival for Australian stoner, doom, sludge and drone.
• Grindhead Records' Slaughterfest: A nice mix of grind, metal, hardcore, stoner, sludge and whatever else takes the promoters fancy.
  
• Welkin & Birds Robe Collective's Progfest: The highlight of Australia's post-rock and progressive music scene.

There are certainly others. Bastardfest is trying to make a splash in the metal scene this year with dates all across the country. Devils Kitchen provided an awesome day of stoner rock and psychedelia until they decided to take a break. Birds Robe Collective's alternate fest Featherfest is also one to watch out for.

What makes these festivals so good? Simply because they represent a critical mass of quality bands and promotional resources. Sure, dozens of disjointed, poorly promoted little pub-bills fail each month, but it is these mini-festival promoters who are bringing in solid attendance records by aiming a little higher than your average pub-gig --- and the dedication is paying off.

Be sure to check these dates out;

• Slaughterfest IV takes place on 30 July at the Sandringham Hotel.
• Progfest 2011 takes place on 13 August at the Annandale Hotel and 3rd September at the Epsy.
• Doomsday Festival takes place on 14 October in Brisbane, 15 October in Sydney, 21 October in Adelaide and 22 October in Melbourne.