Stonefest (sometimes referred to as Stone Week) is an annual festival held at the University of Canberra during week eleven of the second semester to celebrate the laying of the university's Foundation Stone. Stonefest is run by UC Live - the music and live entertainment division of the UCX (the University of Canberra Union), who have been responsible for the event for its entire life span.
History
Stone Day started as a celebration at the University of Canberra held annually to mark the laying of the foundation stone by Prime Minister John Gorton on 28 October 1968. This founded the Canberra College of Advanced Education, which became the University of Canberra in 1990.
The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded to take up a whole week in 1976. In the 1980s and 1990s Stoneweek became a popular Canberra entertainment event. In the 1990s it was given themes such as "Return to Woodstock", "Circus", "Back to the Beach", "Alien Abduction", "Oktoberfest", "Halloween" and "Stoneage". In the year 2000 the festival became Stonefest.
For many years Stonefest was the largest music festival in Canberra and a popular one in Australia. In recent years other festivals have made their way onto the Canberra scene, including Groovin' The Moo (also on the University of Canberra Campus) and Foreshore Summer Music Festival, contributing to declining numbers for Stonefest. In 2012, organisers made the decision to return the festival to its roots as a university celebration, re-branding the event as Stone Day, giving it a fresh new look and feel and returning tickets to the student-friendly price of $25.
In June 2019, Stonefest social media channels became active after a long hiatus, teasing the festival's return. On 11 June the lineup for Stonefest 2019 was announced, featuring artists from the local Canberra area, wider Australian music scene and a notable international artist in Example.
Stonefest will return in 2022; since 2020, it has been on hiatus on grounds of COVID-19 pandemic.
Past lineups
2001
"Super Heroes". Artists included: The Cruel Sea
2002
"A New Frontier". Artists included: TISM - one of the band members famously climbed up onto a nearby balcony totally nude. Machine Gun Fellatio Waikiki Little Smoke Groove Terminator Mikah FreemaN Jono Fernandez Archie
2003
"Batteries Included". Friday 31 October - Saturday 1 November 2003 Superstage(on the lawns outside UCU Bar), The Hub (Friday Only), The Arena (UC Refectory)(Friday Only) Artists included: 1 November: Regurgitator, 28 Days, Magic Dirt, Gerling, For Amusement Only, Epicure, Love Outside Andromeda (known then as just Andromeda) 31 October: Resin Dogs, Zephyr Timbre, Biftek, Koolism, Kid Kenobi with MC Shureshock, The Herd, Spod, Karton, Chris Fraser, Groove Terminator, Archie, Nervous, Katch, Hyperion, Typhonic, Brewster B, Anjay, Bec Paton
2004
"The Proud, The Loud, The Many" (featuring an oriental theme). Superstage(on the lawns outside UCU Bar), The Hub (Friday Only), The Arena (UC Refectory)(Friday Only) Artists included: Something for Kate Von Bondies Groove Armada Butterfingers Rocket Science
2005
"Your Own Wonderland" headlined by The Living End. Friday 28 October - Saturday 29 October 2005 Superstage(on the lawns outside UCU Bar), The Hub (Friday Only), The Arena (UC Refectory)(Friday Only) Artists included: Friday 28 October: Decoder Ring, The Presets, Greg Packer, Cabin Crew Saturday 29 October: Butterfingers, Thirsty Merc, The Beautiful Girls, Detroit band Electric Six, Casual Projects and The Living End
2006
"Your Own Backyard" headlined by Hoodoo Gurus headlined the 2006 festival. Friday 27 October-Saturday 28 October 2006 Superstage(on the lawns outside UCU Bar), The Arena (UC Refectory)(Friday Only) Changes to the organisation of the festival saw the omission of The Hub as a stage. Artists included: Regurgitator The Herd Kid Kenobi Urge Overkill Sarah Blasko The Avalanches The Hoodoo Gurus
2007
"Carnivàle" Friday 26 October-Saturday 27 October 2007 Superstage (on the lawns outside UCU Bar), The Hub (Friday Only), The Arena (UC Refectory) (Friday Only) 2007 saw the return of The Hub stage. Artists included: Butterfingers Cut Copy Expatriate Scribe Paul Kelly The Waifs The Mess Hall Grand Fatal Young and Restless Milkbar Nick