Sculpted Sounds is bringing Ball Park Music, Sarah Blasko and The Meltdown to McClelland Sculpture Park next March.
Next March, McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery breaks new ground with Sculpted Sounds, a bold new music festival where art, nature, and genre-defying sounds collide. On March 7, the Langwarrin cultural icon transforms for the day-long outdoor festival where indie rock meets world-class sculptures and native bushland.
With ticket proceeds supporting McClelland’s exhibitions, education programs and cultural preservation, the festival blends artistic innovation with social impact, creating a vibrant space where music, art and nature harmonise.
The event represents a significant evolution for the 54-year-old arts institution, marking its entry into large-scale outdoor programming while maintaining its commitment to cultural preservation and education.
Sculpted Sounds
- 7 March 2026
- Gates open 2.30pm
- McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery, Langwarrin
- Early bird GA $99 (14-18 November), GA $105 (from 19 November), VIP $220
- Tickets on sale now
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The festival lands on 7 March 2026, with gates opening at 2.30pm for an afternoon and evening of performances across multiple genres. Ball Park Music headline alongside Sarah Blasko, with Melbourne soul outfit The Meltdown and vintage-inspired duo Queenie & Hank rounding out the bill. Henry Wagons takes on hosting duties, guiding attendees through the day’s programming with his characteristic storytelling flair.
Tickets launched on 14 November, with early bird general admission priced at $99 for the first five days of sales using this access code ‘mcclelland’. Standard GA rises to $105 from 19 November, while a VIP experience offers premium access at $220.
Ball Park Music
Brisbane’s Ball Park Music arrive at Sculpted Sounds riding their highest wave yet. The indie rock institution scored their first number one ARIA album in early 2025 with Like Love, a milestone that caps off more than 15 years of consistent evolution and audience devotion. Five ARIA Top 5 albums sit in their catalogue alongside platinum-certified singles and over a dozen triple j Hottest 100 placements, building a legacy that balances commercial success with artistic integrity.
The band’s trajectory spans from 2010’s Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs through the psych-influenced Every Night The Same Dream and the euphoric GOOD MOOD, with each release showcasing their willingness to push beyond indie rock conventions. Their self-titled sixth album and 2022’s Weirder & Weirder continued this pattern, earning critical recognition and sold-out tours.
Sarah Blasko
Sarah Blasko brings a career-defining moment to Sculpted Sounds, performing in support of her seventh solo album I Just Need To Conquer This Mountain. Released in November, the record explores late-night reflections on loss, endings and fresh starts with the clarity and purpose that have become her signature. Her catalogue demonstrates remarkable range and consistency across six solo releases and two albums as part of Seeker Lover Keeper, with four reaching Platinum sales status and six debuting in the ARIA Top 10.
The accolades tell part of the story: three ARIA Awards from 18 nominations, a J Award for Australian Album of the Year, and three Australian Music Prize shortlistings. But Blasko’s impact extends beyond industry recognition, with her songwriting striking immediate emotional connections that have sustained her audience across two decades.
The Meltdown
Melbourne soul ensemble The Meltdown represent the festival’s local connection, bringing their classic-inspired grooves to a hometown audience. The band has accumulated over 150 million streams while building an international following through authentic musicianship and frontman Simon Burke’s commanding vocal presence. Their sound draws from timeless soul traditions, filtered through contemporary production and arrangement choices that emphasise sophistication over nostalgia.
Recent developments signal upward momentum: a global distribution deal through Warner Music subsidiary ADA and the forthcoming release of six-track opus Perseverance position them for expanded reach. The new material, crafted in Burke’s custom studio, maintains their foundation of warm Wurlitzer tones, shimmering guitar work and signature horn arrangements while exploring broader sonic territory.
Queenie & Hank
Recording sessions at Wagons’ Trentwood Studio produced an album of original duets that balance vintage aesthetics with fresh perspectives. Thetford has established herself as a rising force in Melbourne’s live music community, while Wagons brings decades of experience as a pioneer in Australia’s indie-country movement.
Henry Wagons as Master of Ceremonies
Beyond his Queenie & Hank performance, Henry Wagons assumes hosting responsibilities as Sculpted Sounds’ Master of Ceremonies. His background spans music, broadcasting and storytelling, providing the varied skillset required to guide a day-long festival across multiple acts and moods.
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This article was made in partnership with Sculpted Sounds.
