Lineup
Lambrini Girls
Brighton punk duo Lambrini Girls bring their explosive debut Who Let The Dogs Out to OK Charlton. Phoebe Lunny and Lilly Macieira deliver politically charged, darkly humorous punk tackling social chaos with ferocious energy. Fresh from sold-out UK tours, they're hitting Australia with their uncompromising sound.
TOPS
Montreal's TOPS bring their sophisticated indie-pop to Australia, stopping in Charlton. Since 2011, the quartet has become an underground icon with their stripped-down, emotionally intricate songwriting. Jane Penny's wistful vocals float over trademark guitar licks, lush keyboards, and measured grooves, creating timeless soft-rock-infused pop that's captivated listeners worldwide.
Floodlights
Floodlights make raw, intimate rock that explores personal turbulence, national identity and the Australian landscape. Their third album Underneath was released earlier this year, and they've sold out shows across Australia, Europe and the UK. Their live performance is powerful and honest, and we're so excited to have them come back to Charlton.
Cosmic Psychos
Three farmers-turned-punks from Spring Plains have been rattling eardrums since '82. The Cosmic Psychos influenced Nirvana and Pearl Jam with their fuzzed-out sound and dead-simple riffs. Between touring the world and meeting famous folks, frontman Ross Knight tends his vineyard and volunteers with the fire service.
Spike Fuck
Melbourne's Spike Fuck started wild in the late 2010s, with heroin ballads, synth-soaked post-punk, and cult status. Then vanished. Three years later, they're back with a full band, trading chaos for something closer to redemption. Still raw, still mythic, but now it's about recovery and connection. Same voice, different salvation.
Frenzee
Frenzee are three siblings, Apollonia, Nikos and Adonis, born in Melbourne, raised on Crete, making music that's hair-trigger tight and impossibly heavy. Raging riffs, relentless rhythm, and maximum pressure. Their debut album What's Wrong With Me just dropped, and we're pretty excited to have them bring it to Charlton.
Harmony
Harmony are blunt, bleak and ragged, mining gallows blues and downers with a grinding intensity. Built around Tom Lyngcoln's guitar shredding and three soulful vocalists offering call-and-response refrains, they swing between swagger and white noise.
The Pretty Littles
The Pretty Littles are Jack, Sam, Liam and JP, four mates who've been making anxious rock music since 2011. Seven albums in, including this year's Force. We're excited to have them join the cosmic pool party.
The Empty Threats
The Empty Threats are an Adelaide quintet fusing post-punk and noise rock with snarling bass, frenzied guitar and electric clarinet. Their live shows are wild, theatrical and unapologetically queer, amps get scaled, roofs climbed, big feelings welcomed.
Swapmeet
Adelaide four-piece Swapmeet mix indie rock with punk chaos and a habit for sonic experiments. Their debut EP Oxalis racked up serious streams and won them Best Release at the South Australian Music Awards. Known for wild, playful shows around Adelaide, they showcased at BIGSOUND last year. Now they're heading to Charlton.
Immy Owusu
Torquay-raised Immy Owusu blends surf town grit with West African tradition, psychedelia, Zamrock, Highlife, all woven together. He studied with his grandfather, Highlife legend Koo Nimo, in Ghana, then spent lockdown in a caravan behind Bells Beach writing his Australian Music Prize-nominated debut. BBC called him "the very definition of culture clash."
James Range Band
Named after the ranges surrounding their Pitjantjatjara community of Utju in Central Australia, The James Range Band are family making music about family, culture, and country. Sung in Pitjantjatjara and English, their songs carry stories from the desert, keeping culture strong, inspiring the next generation.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is Erica Dunn's solo project, deep outsider folk that's raw, intimate and stripped back. Recorded to tape in NYC with longtime companions, the music resists over-production and stays true to heroes like Karen Dalton and Pip Proud. Her live shows are sparse and immediate.
Sunny Morris
Sunny Morris is a Melbourne-based trans indie folk/rock artist. Her second album You're A Liar, Girl dropped in 2024 to widespread acclaim, and she's currently finishing her third. Her latest single Before It Gets Better shows her pop side. We can't wait to see it on Friday night in Glenda's Room.
Xylourides
Xylourides are siblings Adonis, Nikos and Apollonia, young trailblazers of Cretan folk music, descended from legends. By day they wield blistering lyra, rhythmic lauto and percussion to create hypnotic, circular rapture. By night they're Frenzee. Catch them in Win's veggie garden with a glass of ouzo … Yamas!
Back to Where the Sun Shines!
OK CHARLTON NUMBER 10
From Friday the 20th to Saturday the 21st of February 2026, Charlton welcomes us back. Strangers arrive and leave as friends, already planning their return before they’ve even left.
The pool party gets cosmic with Cosmic Psychos, James Range Band and The Pretty Littles taking the lawn stage for our biggest poolside shindig yet. Tell Your Friends You Love Them returns with Friend Songs and Dedications, plus some extra little surprises. The OK Tuckshop is back slinging salad rolls, chippies, lollies and sodas. There’s a lot more fun to be announced poolside, so stay tuned.
We’re making sure you’re all fed! Our friends at Tortas and Tacos are hitting the road with us, taking over the Charlton Motel kitchen to create a real life restaurant. Come up for dinner or grab a late night snack. There’ll be a local Chinese pop up in town, with a percentage of profits going to the Charlton College Dux to help with further education, plus a whole other bunch of fun food spots popping up around town.
Win and Ian from Charlton Vintage are opening up their backyard for a special veggie garden performance by Xylourides alongside a Greek BBQ and Ouzo bar. Yamas! After you’ve had a boogie, pop into the shop and snag yourself a vintage souvenir.
Marry Your Friends is back, this time nuptuials will take place in the Charlton Senior Citizens Centre. Once all besties have sealed the deal, we’re doing a celebratory lap of Charlton on the back of farmer Bill’s flatbed truck with the wedding band in tow. Listen out for the rattle of the ‘Just Married’ cans down High Street.
Get your fortune laid out in the cards by Leah from Radical Self, she’ll be taking up residence in the front room of the Charlton Club. Kit and Lou from Disco Rodeo are bringing their boot scootin’ moves along for what we’re thinking could be a Charlton Motel car park line dancing takeover. And our mates from Vic Market Tattoo are back with a fresh batch of Friendship Flash.
There’s so much happening next year, we feel like we need to keep some things as a surprise. All the old faves are back, so hop to it and order your scones, book your community dinner spot and get your tickets if you haven’t already.
Charlton’s where OK Motels began back in 2018, and it’s still the place that welcomes locals and blow-ins alike, inviting you to lean on the bar and linger a little longer. If you haven’t visited Charlton yet, “Where bloody hell are ya?”
Where to Stay
Charlton
OK Camp and Fancy Camp is the only accommodation left. They're both wonderful options.
Charlton Motel
Stay where the party is. Rooms for two or three are available at the Charlton Motel, all within easy shuffling distance from the Glenda Room, the Pool Cabana Karaoke Dance Club, and the mini putt putt. You’ll have a sink full of ice cold beers on arrival.
OK CAMP
On the banks of the Avoca River and smack bang in the middle of the swimming pool, bowling club, and the East Charlton Hotel. It is the perfect spot to set yourself up for a fun weekend in Charlton.
FANCY CAMP
If you don’t have any camping gear, or fancy a fancier camping option, we’ve partnered with Swell Shelter who have tents for two to five friends.
THE VALE OF AVOCA
Benno and Carmel are the hosts with the most and offer up a legendary brekky to party weary guests. Out back there’s a lush beer garden where you can spend the arvo eating wood-fired pizza, sipping cool drinks, and hang with Jasper the pooch.
EAST CHARLTON HOTEL
A stay at the East is a stay right in the heart of the action. It’s smack bang in the middle of town and the first stop for most for a cool drink at the end of your drive. You’ll meet Greg and Leanne, and the rest of the friendly crew who’ll look after you and make sure you have a great time. Greg also needs no encouragement to get the guitar out and jump on the bar. You’ve been warned.Wedderburn
Wedderburn is only 20 mins from Charlton and has some great places to stay, too! We'll be running a shuttle to and from Wedderburn on Friday night, Saturday morning, afternoon, and then back home after all the fun on Saturday night.
Goldseeker Motel
Your perfect OK base in the heart of Wedderburn. Freshly updated rooms with comfy queen beds and all the motel essentials. Great hospitality, and a head start back home on Sunday morning. Call to Book
Wedderburn Caravan Park
Pure bush vibes serenity beneath giant gums. Fancy new cabins and big sites for caravans and tents with heaps of great facilities. Call to Book
Wedderburn Hotel
Stay at the classic Miners Cottage with five comfy rooms, shared kitchen, and laundry. You can grab a meal at the pub before you head up to Charlton for all the fun. Call to BookSt Arnaud
St Arnaud has great spots to stay, too! You'll have to make your way to and from Charlton from here, it's an easy half-hour drive.
La Cochon Rose Motel
Old school motel nestled in lush gardens. Walk through wisteria-lined paths to the cafes and shops. Call to Book
Country Road Motel
Comfy rooms with all the motel basics, with WiFi. If you like your motels unrenovated and as OG as poss, this is a good choice. Call to Book
Motel St Arnaud
This is a ripper. It features its own Chinese restaurant, which delivers meals directly to your room, through the hatch, if you prefer not to go out. Call to Book
More Info
Charlton is 3 hours directly up the Calder Highway from Melbourne. If you’re taking PT, there is a VLine to Bendigo, then a bus to Charlton. We will also have a shuttle running from the Union Hotel in Fitzroy.
Friday Night
Friday night kicks off at 7:00pm.
Getting There
The Charlton Motel is located at
158 High Street, Charlton, Victoria 3525.
Sun Smart
Please bring what you need to be safe in the sun. Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle.
Check-In
Check-in for Charlton Motel and OK Camp guests is from 4:00pm Friday 20 February. For people staying elsewhere, please check with your accommodation.
Shoes
We don’t want to cramp your style, but there are a lot of sharp sticks and bullants out the back of the motel, so we suggest giving thongs a miss when up at the motel.
Respect the Neighbours
We love Charlton, and the people who live there, so please treat the town and the locals with respect. When you head off after the gig, remember that Charlton will be full of people sleeping. If you choose to walk back to your accommodation please keep the noise down. Fences are not toilets. Front yards aren’t either.
Respect Each Other
Be kind to your fellow punter, and if you don’t feel so great, or you see someone in trouble, there’ll be onsite medics to look after you.
Smoking
If you get in the mood for a boozy cig, head out to the beer garden, located near the back bar. No butts to be left on the ground. Please use ashtrays supplied.
OK Phone
If you’ve found yourself in a bit of a pickle, give the OKLine a buzz on 0475 825 539 and we will do our best to help.
Emergencies
If you have a life threatening emergency please ring 000.
OK Camp is smack bang in the middle of town. Chuck a right after the East Charlton Hotel and there lies your home away from home. We’ve fancied up the facilities with showers, toilets and shuttle buses to cart you back and forth from the party on Friday and Saturday.
As we have more people coming to have fun this year, we ask if possible to park your car in the Travellers Rest car park, or in the space behind the East Charlton Hotel.
OK Camp Check-In Hours
Friday 4:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm – 5:00pm
If you’re on time, you’ll be greeted by friendly faces who’ll check you in and give you a wristband. If you’re running a little late, no drama, give Leanne a buzz on 0448 276 631.
No campfires, firesticks, fireworks, flares, or candles.
No BBQs, camp stoves, nitrous bulbs & equipment, gas lanterns, soda water makers.
Generators
Do not bring an EV or RV if it has recently been in an accident, as this increases the risk of the battery catching fire, which can happen weeks after the initial accident.
Do not bring an EV or RV where the battery has been modified and/or not professionally installed.
Friday 4:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm – 5:00pm
If you’re on time, you’ll be greeted by friendly faces who’ll check you in and give you a wristband. If you’re running a little late — no drama. Give Leanne a buzz on 0448 276 631.
We’ll get you home safe as houses on Friday and Saturday from the Charlton Motel. The shuttle buses will be running to get you there when doors open and after doors closed. Easy as.
Shuttle Bus Stops
1. The Vale of Avoca Cricket Club Hotel
2. Charlton Club / Travellers Rest
4. Cricket Club Hotel
5. Charlton Motel
We will be running a shuttle bus to and from Wedderburn and Naarm. Details to come.
Waste not want not. Grab a traveller for the ride in, but don’t spill it. Better yet, if you take your rubbish with you and drop it in the bin on arrival the bus driver will be singing your praises. Remember, no boozin’ on the return buses though.
Feel free to get in touch with us
at hello@okmotels.com.au
