Summer Salt - Port Macquarie

There was an undeniable buzz in the air at Port Macquarie’s Westport Park on April 5th as over 6,000 music lovers from the Mid North Coast gathered for Face to Face’s Summer Salt festival. After being starved of real music festivals since 2023, and with a stellar lineup featuring some of the very best Australian music has to offer, tickets sold out within hours, and the event quickly became the talk of the coastal town. With a beautiful setting by the Hastings River, an all-ages event, and a blistering hot day to enjoy, the stage was set for an unforgettable experience.

Josh Pyke kicked things off with a beautiful, heartfelt set. The Australian singer-songwriter and musician, who’s also a children's book author, captured the crowd with his soft yet powerful vocals. Playing hits like ‘The Lighthouse Song’, ‘Your Heart Won’t Always Work’, ‘Middle of the Hill’ and ‘Say My Name’. Pyke kept the mood light and fun. Between songs, he had the crowd in stitches, joking about marriage proposals at previous shows and even commandeering a hat from a front-row fan.

Next up was The Waifs, the iconic folk rock band, whose arrival on stage drew a rush of excited fans. Known for their raw sound and captivating performances, the band – who co founded the independent label Jarrah Records with roster mate John Buttler – delivered tracks like ‘Lighthouse’, ‘The Bridal Train’, ‘Crazy Train’ ‘Highway One’ and ‘London Still’, which had the crowd singing along. Lead singer Donna Simpson’s voice rang out beautifully, especially during her “latest breakup song”, ‘Love Is Done and Dusted’.

Then came The Whitlams, an indie rock powerhouse with frontman Tim Freedman at the helm. Known for their piano-driven tracks, The Whitlams delivered some of their biggest hits, including ‘Blow Up the Pokies’, ‘No Aphrodisiac’, ‘I Make Hamburgers’ and ‘Gough’’. Freedman’s charismatic performance, combined with his humorous anecdotes between songs, kept the crowd entertained and connected throughout their set.

Fanning & Dempsey, the Australian duo of Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey, have been prominent figures in the Australian music scene since the 1990s, with their respective bands, Powderfinger and Something for Kate. With their ageless good looks and cheeky banter, they had the crowd swooning. The duo performed tracks from both their bands, as well as original songs from their Fanning & Dempsey 2024 debut album ‘The Deluge’, including ‘Strangers’, ‘Disconnect’, and ‘Past Tomorrow’. They also played Something for Kate's ‘Romona Was a Waitress’ and ‘Shut Me Out’, along with Powderfinger's* ‘Pick You Up’. The performance reached its peak when they launched into a cover of Queen and David Bowie’s ‘Under Pressure’, which had the entire crowd singing along.

Missy Higgins, the Australian singer-songwriter and musician, celebrated the 20th anniversary of her iconic debut album ‘The Sound of White’. She opened her soul to the audience, giving attendees a glimpse not only into her life off-stage but also explaining the history of each track and the inspiration behind their creation. She performed hits such as ‘Secret’, Set Me On Fire’, ‘Scar’, ‘Futon Couch’, ‘Peachy’, and her Like A Version cover of Troye Sivan’s *‘One of Your Girls’, as well as ‘The Special Two’ and ‘The In-Between’. For a brief moment, a stunt plane zoomed above, distracting everyone in attendance, but Missy’s performance, which spanned her entire career, quickly brought the crowd’s focus back to her emotional and captivating set.

The festival’s final act was John Butler, the American-Australian singer-songwriter known for not only his insane guitar skills but also his activism and outspoken political views. His set was a powerful combination of music and message, where he used his platform to speak about nuclear energy and the need for men to call out bad behavior, especially when it comes to violence against women. He performed fan favorites like ‘Treat Your Mumma’, ‘Used to Get High’, ‘Don’t Wanna See Your Face’, and ‘Better Than’, along with new material such as ‘King of California’ and ‘trippin’ on you’. His mesmerising guitar solo was as intricate as it was epic, and he closed out with the emotional ‘Miss Your Love’ and the crowd-pleasing ‘Zebra’ and ‘Funky Tonight’.

As the final notes of the day echoed across the park, it was clear that Summer Salt had left its mark. Port Macquarie was quiet again, but organizers promised that the sold-out series would return in 2026, alongside Face to Face’s other major festival series, the Red Hot Summer Tour.

A special shoutout to the event’s MC, Paul ‘PT’ Taylor from 3BA Ballarat who kept the energy high throughout the day with giveaways and fun interactions, ensuring the energy stayed high, with good vibes from start to finish.

Thank you to Face to Face and Menard PR for putting on such an unforgettable event. Summer Salt 2025 was, without a doubt, a spectacular return to live music in Port Macquarie, and music lovers are already counting down the days until next year’s return.

Review by Sue Hart

Photos by Mish Media for Music Festivals Australia