MAY-A’s Heaps Good Guide to Touring – “You Can Never Predict What’s Going to Happen”

Heaps Good festival will take over Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on New Year’s Eve before heading to Adelaide Showground one week later. The 2023/24 lineup includes the likes of Flume, The Avalanches, Foals, SBTRKT, Declan McKenna, Basement Jaxx, MAY-A and Holly Humberstone.

Heaps Good was set to launch in Brisbane in 2024 as well but “supply chain and event equipment issues” prevented it from going ahead. There is, however, a two-day mini-festival happening at Fortitude Music Hall with many Heaps Good acts on board, including Foals, The Avalanches, MAY-A and more.

Ahead of the three-date festival stint, MAY-A tell us her top ten tips for navigating life on the road.

MAY-A’s 10 essential tips for touring

No expectations

MAY-A: Never, ever go in with an expectation of what the tour will be. You can absolutely never predict what it going to happen

A sandwich press can go a long way

MAY-A: You’re better off buying a bag of groceries and sitting in the back of a van with a plastic fork, cutting open an avocado and spreading it on some bread than trying to track down edible food in the middle of nowhere. Also, a sandwich press can go a long way. You can cook scrambled eggs on that thing. Get an AeroPress and make your own coffee.

Pack smart

MAY-A: Pack essentials, but pack light. Carrying a 50kg suitcase up and down stairs gets old real quick.

Bring bungee cords

MAY-A: Bring bungee cords. You never know when your van door is going to fail and you’ll have to strap the door to the side mirror for the end of a tour.

Bring clothes for all seasons

MAY-A: Pack for all kinds of weather. Prepare for anything – bikini and a snow jacket.

Party wisely

MAY-A: Pick designated party nights. If you are getting plastered every night you’ll burn out real quick. It’s still a job.

Wash your clothes

MAY-A: If there isn’t a laundry, you do have a sink… and probably a hairdryer. That’s all I’m saying.

Take vitamins

MAY-A: Vitamins are your best friend. They deserve the space in your suitcase.

Thank your crew

MAY-A: Thank your crew, even if you’ve only worked with them for one night. Thank them.

Get some sleep

MAY-A: Sleeeeeeep!!! And if you are going to eat anywhere, check the yelp reviews or ask a local.

Heaps Good 2023/2024

Sunday, 31st December – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne VIC

Saturday, 6th January – Adelaide Showground, Adelaide SA

• Flume
• Foals
• The Avalanches
• SBTRKT (Mel only)
• Basement Jaxx (Mel only)
• Declan McKenna (Adl only)
• Griff
• Holly Humberstone
• MAY-A
• Sycco
• Logan

Tickets via the Heaps Good website

Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD

Tuesday, 2nd January

• Foals
• Declan McKenna
• Griff
• Sycco
• FELONY

Wednesday, 3rd January

• The Avalanches
• SBTRKT
• Holly Humberstone
• MAY-A
• Logan

Tickets via Secret Sounds

Further Reading

Spotify Wrapped 2023: Australia’s Most Streamed Artists, Songs, Albums & Podcasts of the Year

Foals, SBTRKT, The Avalanches + More to Perform at Heaps Good Make-Up Events in Brisbane

Here Are the Set Times for Heaps Good 2023/24 in Melbourne and Adelaide