a day on the green FACT SHEET

The first a day on the green was held on January 26, 2001 at Morning Star Estate, Mt Eliza, Victoria with 1,800 people enjoying an all-Australian bill: James Morrison, Renée Geyer, Stephen Cummings, Rebecca Barnard and Shane O’Mara.
We’ve come a long way since our first show in 2001 with a day on the green celebrating its 500^th show in November 2022 with Crowded House at Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong.
In 2018 Robbie Williams performed at Mt Duneed Estate in Geelong with 20,000 fans securing tickets in less than one day. This was followed up the following season with two more sold-out blockbuster events with Florence + The Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers – with the Chili Peppers becoming the fastest-selling show in a day on the green history, reaffirming its status as one of Australia’s premier outdoor concert events.
a day on the green was created by Michael and Anthea Newton from Roundhouse Entertainment, based in Melbourne.

"We started a day on the green as a way contemporary music could be enjoyed by music lovers in a new way, rather than having to go to smoky clubs or large arenas. The idea of enjoying good food and wine with your friends, while listening to some great music in spectacular environments just seemed like a great way to spend a day. We started with one show in Victoria in January 2001, then were encouraged by the response to do five the following summer, and then nine the summer after. It's been a slow and gradual build and I think that's been one of the keys to our success. We are proud of how far we’ve come and to consistently deliver premium outdoor concert experiences to the high standard a day on the green has become renowned for.”
Michael Newton, Director – Roundhouse Entertainment

Roundhouse Entertainment later partnered with Michael Gudinski’s Mushroom Group, a partnership that continues to this day with Michael’s son, Matt Gudinski.

“Doing shows in wineries was a unique concept when a day on the green first launched 21 years ago, so to have now hit 500 shows is an amazing feat. Credit to everyone involved in the journey which has seen some of the world’s greatest artists perform in truly amazing settings across Australia. There’s no slowing down and we are looking forward to the next 500. Congratulations a day on the green!”
Matt Gudinski, Chief Executive – Mushroom Group

The settings for a day on the green’s world-class events are some of the most stunning wineries and outdoor venues in Australia. In January 2008, a day on the green successfully launched in New Zealand. 48 venues have hosted a day on the green shows across Australia and New Zealand.
a day on the green has featured acts covering every letter of the alphabet – apart from Q (Queen, we’re ready when you are).
When a day on the green started, Australia’s number one song was Cruisin by Gwyneth Paltrow & Huey Lewis.
On the day of the first show, Powderfinger’s My Happiness took out top spot in Triple J’s Hottest 100.
Jackson Browne was the first international artist to appear at a day on the green (Show #13, Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley, 15 February 2003).
Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong also hosted a day on the green’s 400th show – You Am I, Something For Kate, Spiderbait, Jebediah and The Meanies in 2016.
Since 2001, a day on the green has given regional communities around Australia a much-needed economic boost, injecting millions of dollars into local economies while bolstering tourism in the regions.
The event has generated six albums, three TV specials and a hugely popular merchandise range – with 63,000 t-shirts and 172,000 stubby holders sold to date!
a day on the green renewed their 10-year partnership with national insurer AAMI in 2022, reinforcing their decade-long commitment to the live music industry in Australia.
a day on the green has donated more than $1.5 million through its support of local charities and community groups at every event.
With more than 4 million tickets sold to date and 500+ shows behind us, a day on the green has firmly established itself as one of the most successful and respected outdoor concert events in Australia. The a day on the green experience of good food, fine wine and great music, with some of the biggest artists in the world performing at some of the most beautiful outdoor locations in Australia remains unrivalled.
And for those wondering which artist has performed the most shows at a day on the green? It’s Jimmy Barnes with 44 shows – 36 solo and 8 with Cold Chisel! The most shows by an international act – Pretenders with 16 shows.
a day on the green continues to offer its loyal audiences an unmatched first-class event experience, something warmly acknowledged by patrons, artists and the media.

“a day on the green continues to set the standard when it comes to outdoor concert events.”
Newcastle Herald

“a day on the green has become a much-loved staple of Australian music culture. When Mick and Anthea Newton created the event as ‘a Big Day Out for grown-ups’ in 2001 little did they know then that this would be one of the biggest live attractions in Australia … a day on the green has delivered some of the biggest acts on the planet to Australian wineries over the years.”
Noise 11

“Mount Duneed Estate offers up an incredible venue to showcase music to a large audience while never sacrificing sound quality.”
The Age / Sydney Morning Herald

“Traipsing through the fields to my car post show, I was on a high not only after seeing three awesome ’80s acts, but for experiencing all that a day on the green has to offer. A beaut location, awesome DJ interaction between acts, and the best vibe I’ve felt at a music festival. Take me back!”
Scenestr

“20,000 people gather together in celebration of our finest storytellers … But the success of this show wasn't just about Cold Chisel, or Paul Kelly, or their esteemed supports. It was about that indescribable feeling of being a part of something. It was about joining 20,000 strangers with a common love of something that we love on a primal level, and celebrating it with open hearts.”
Double J

"Geelong was crazy – there were just so many people. I couldn't believe it, I was really moved by it. It was a really beautiful thing. There were people as far as I could see, it [Geelong] kind of had like a Woodstock feeling to it, it was outdoors and it was a really incredible show.”
Florence Welch, Florence + The Machine, triple j

“The people who run a day on the green are music fans and do a brilliant job.”
Chris Cheney, The Living End

“I’d rather be here than just about anywhere else in the world.”
Chrissie Hynde, Pretenders – Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley

“It’s a remarkable milestone that a day on the green have reached. Congratulations – that’s a legacy to be proud of. We were there at 220 and now it’s our good fortune to be able to mark their special occasion, the big 500 and singing our hearts out, under the stars with all the good folk on the Green.”
Neil Finn

Five Highlights from a day on the green Promoter, Michael Newton

“I could list 500, but here are 5 random highlights from our first 500 shows.” – Michael Newton

Watching Elvis Costello chat for an hour with winemaker Peter Lehmann about wine, art and music.
Sitting by myself at the front of the stage before the gates opened, with Paul Simon onstage sound-checking Mrs. Robinson.
Doing seven shows with the late-great Leonard Cohen. All you could hear was the click of the walkie-talkie on the security guard; the crowd was just dead silent.
I grew up loving the Pretenders, so chatting backstage with Chrissie Hynde was a personal highlight.
Promoting so many great young Australian artists. We booked a teenager and she was so great, she sold every EP she had after the gig. And Missy Higgins has gone on to sell a few more records.

Australian and International artists who have performed for a day on the green include:

1927, Adalita, Alex Lahey, Alicia Keys, Alex Lloyd, Archie Roach, Ash Grunwald, Augie March, Baby Animals, Bachelor Girl, Ben Hazlewood, Bernard Fanning, Billy Idol, Billy Thorpe, Birtles Shorrock Goble, Blondie, Bob Evans, Bonnie Anderson, Boom Crash Opera, Boz Scaggs, British India, Bryan Adams, Bryan Ferry, Busby Marou, Cheap Trick, Choirboys, Chris Isaak, Chris Watts, Christine Anu, Clairy Browne, Clare Bowditch, Client Liaison, Cold Chisel, Crosby Stills & Nash, Crowded House, C.W. Stoneking, Cyndi Lauper, Dallas Frasca, Dami Im, Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males, Dan Sultan, Daryl Braithwaite, Daryl Hall & John Oates, David Campbell, Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier, DEVO, Diana Krall, Died Pretty, Diesel, Don Henley, Dragon, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Eurogliders, Fleetwood Mac, Florence + The Machine, Four Tops, GANGgajang, Garbage, George Benson, George Clinton + Parliament, Funkadelic, George Thorogood, Glenn Shorrock, Grace Knight, Guy Sebastian, Hatchie, Hoodoo Gurus, Human Nature, Hunters & Collectors, Husky, I’m Talking, Ian Moss, Icehouse, INXS, Jack River, Jackson Browne, Jake Shears, James Blunt, James Morrison, James Reyne, James Taylor, Jamie Cullum, Jebediah, Jenny Morris, Jewel, Jimmy Barnes, Joan Armatrading, Joan Osborne, Joe Camilleri, Joe Cocker, John Butler Trio, John Farnham, John Fogerty, John Legend, John Mellencamp, John Paul Young, Jon Stevens, Jordin Sparks, Josh Pyke, Karise Eden, Kasey Chambers, Kate Ceberano, Katie Noonan, KC and the Sunshine Band, Kira Puru, Kylie Minogue, Lanie Lane, Leo Sayer, Leonard Cohen, Lionel Richie, Lior, Lisa Mitchell, Little Red, Lowrider, Lucinda Williams, Machinations, Madeleine Peyroux, Mahalia Barnes, Marcia Hines, Mariah Carey, Mark Gable, Mark Seymour, Mark Wilkinson, Mark Sholtez, Marlon Williams, Martha Reeves And The Vandellas, Mary Wilson, Meat Loaf, Megan Washington, Melody Gardot, Melody Pool, Mental As Anything, Mia Dyson, Mick Thomas, Mi-Sex, Michael Paynter, Missy Higgins, Models, Mondo Rock, Monique Brumby, Montaigne, Moving Pictures, Natalie Imbruglia, Neil Young, Ngaiire, Nick Barker, Noiseworks, Norah Jones, Oh Mercy, Paul Kelly, Paul Simon, Pete Murray, Pierce Brothers, Pseudo Echo, Rebecca Barnard, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Renée Geyer, Richard Clapton, Richard Marx, Rob Thomas, Robbie Williams, Rod Stewart, Rodriguez, Ronan Keating, Rose Tattoo, Ross Wilson, Roxette, Roxy Music, Ryan Meeking & The Few, Russell Morris, Sade, Sarah Blasko, Sean Kelly, Shane O’Mara, Sheppard, Sheryl Crow, Simple Minds, Simply Red, Sister Sledge, Slowly Slowly, Something for Kate, Spiderbait, Steely Dan, Stella Donnelly, Stephen Cummings, Steve Kilbey, Steve Winwood, Sting, Stonefield, Swanee, Tash Sultana, Tate Sheridan, Tex Perkins, The Angels, The Audreys, The B52’s, The Badloves, The Bamboos, The Beach Boys, The Black Sorrows, The Church, The Clouds, The Cruel Sea, The Dead Daisies, The Fauves, The Lemonheads, The Living End, The Meanies, The Preatures, The Pretenders, The Proclaimers, The Temper Trap, The Temptations, The Ten Tenors, The Waifs, The Whitlams, The Wolfgramm Sisters, World Party, Thirsty Merc, Tim Finn, Tim Freedman, Tim Rogers, Tina Arena, Tom Jones, Train, Troy Cassar-Daley, Tumbleweed, Vanessa Amorosi, Veruca Salt, Vika & Linda Bull, Village People, Violent Femmes, Wa Wa Nee, Washington, Wendy Matthews, Xavier Rudd and You Am I.