A 10-day festival celebrating the Northern Beaches surf culture.
Harbord Hotel, Freshwater’s laidback beachside haven, presents FROTH FEST, a 10-day festival celebrating Sydney’s Northern Beaches surf culture, from 16–26 April. Riding the wave of the 2021 World Surfing League Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic, the action-packed programme of events will encourage Sydneysiders to immerse themselves in the salty tapestry of ‘The Beaches’ and deep dive into all things surf, art, film, boards, music, great food and cold beers.
Glenn Piper, owner of Harbord Hotel, said “Sydney’s Northern Beaches have been an incubator for surf culture for more than 60 years, producing some of the greatest heroes, larrikins and infamous characters in surfing and Australian counter-culture. FROTH FEST is a celebration of their art, their films, their song, their history.”
FROTH FEST features an epic line-up of events, talks, exhibitions and gigs including; an Awake Academy ‘Lunch & Learn’ with seven time world-champion surfer, Layne Beachley; two live recordings of ‘AIN’T THAT SWELL’, the surfing podcast by esteemed journalists and hosts Jed ‘Smivvy’ Smith and Vaughan ‘Deadly’ Blakey dedicated to cutting sick; a live performance in the main bar by Australian singer-songwriter, Ruby Fields; Divine Flow Yoga with Freshwater local and yogi, Eliza Hayward; a photographic exhibition of ‘The Beaches’ by revered surfing icon, Peter Crawford; and a screening of ‘Men of Wood and Foam’ which tells the story of pioneers of the Australian surfboard industry and uncovers a golden decade in surfing where it transformed into a sport and culture.
On ANZAC Day, Harbord Hotel will open right after the dawn service for coffee and breakfast on the terrace. Renowned for being the best place to meet up with mates on ANZAC Day, the car park will then open from 10am, coming alive with 2UP from midday til dusk.
The festival will conclude with the unofficial Surf League Afterparty hosted by The Swellians on Monday, 26 April, as they toast to an epic ten days of events. More details to be announced soon on https://harbordhotel.com.au/froth-fest/.
A Freshwater institution for nearly a century, Harbord Hotel reopened after a spectacular restoration in January and quickly won the hearts of the local community with its fresh look and respectful nod to Freshwater’s surf history. Located a short stroll from Freshwater’s shoreline, Harbord Hotel is home to an expansive main bar, sun-soaked terrace, and the Balsa dining room, where guests can settle in and enjoy good mates, great food, cold beer, cracking tunes, and, of course, the ocean.
FROTH FEST 2021 PROGRAMME
Flow & Feast hosted by Divine Flow Yoga | Friday 16th April, 7am
Glide through your morning with Freshwater local and founder of Divine Flow Yoga, Eliza Hayward, as she guides an intimate morning zen-flow similar to how a surfer feels when they are in the zone. The practice will be followed by breakfast in the courtyard. All proceeds will be donated to Waves of Wellness, a mental health surf therapy charity committed to changing lives by delivering for-purpose, innovative support programs for people experiencing mental health challenges.
Tickets are $35pp and include 45min yoga flow followed by coffee and breakfast.
Ash Holmes Art Exhibition | Friday 16 April–Sunday 18 April
Northern Beaches local Ash Holmes has been painting for as long as her hands could hold a brush. A fourth-generation artist, she developed her painting practice from a vocational pursuit into a fully-fledged professional career and has become one of Sydney’s most hotly tipped artists. Ash is responsible for the stunning mural that warmly greets you when you enter Harbord Hotel, and the team are proud to feature more of Ash’s works throughout the venue during FROTH FEST.
Board Demo with Bennett Surfboards | Saturday 17 April, 9am–4pm
Test drive a new board and chat to the legends at Bennett Surfboards on the grass in front of Harbord Hotel. Everyone’s invited – from the old surf dogs to the little groms – and there will be coffee and breakfast available on the terrace, and a BBQ at lunch to fill up on after a surf.
Peter Crawford Photographic Exhibition | Monday 19 April–Wednesday 21 April
Peter Crawford is one of the Northern Beaches’ most revered surfing icons. His life was a sun-soaked wild ride drenched in surf travel, exploration, and stories of the 70s surfing avant-garde. Presented by his son, Justin Crawford (surfer, photographer and founder of fallenBROKENstreet), this exhibition will particularly focus on ‘The Beaches’ during this explosive period in surfing history.
‘Men of Wood & Foam’ Film Screening | Monday 19th April, 8pm
‘Men of Wood and Foam’ tells the story of pioneers of the Australian surfboard industry. It uncovers a golden decade in surfing, starting in 1956, when surfing was transformed into a sport and culture with its very own music, movies, fashion and heroes. Underpinning this exciting transformation was a small group of Brookvale-based artisans called the Brookvale 6. Bennett Surfboards will donate a board to be auctioned on the night with all proceeds donated to SurfAid, an organisation whose mission is to improve the lives of women and children in remote areas connected to Australia through surfing.
The film will be screened in the Balsa dining room, and guests can book a table for dinner beforehand here.
Ruby Fields LIVE | Wednesday 21 April, 8:30pm, $65pp
Ruby Fields will be playing a very intimate live gig in Harbord Hotel’s main bar. Ruby is an Australian singer-songwriter whose use of simplistic but poignant lyrics has garnered the attention of the Australian music industry and fans alike. After uploading a single to Triple J Unearthed and gaining national airplay that same day back in 2017, Ruby’s indie rock chords with punk rock delicacy have amassed over 12 million listens across streaming platforms _ her song ‘Dinosaurs’ took out ninth place on Triple J’s Hottest 100 in 2018.
Tickets are $65pp entry, and Ruby will be supported by Love Drunk Hearts.
Lunch & Learn with Layne Beachley | Thursday 22 April, 1pm
Layne Beachley is a seven-time world champion and the only surfer in history to claim six consecutive world titles. Standing firm in her values with a clear vision for the future, Layne lives a life of unapologetic honesty, with humour and humility. Her no bullsh*t leadership style blazed a trail for equality, in and out of the water – and led her to create Awake Academy, an online self-empowerment platform designed to help people unlock a life filled with fun, freedom and flow.
Join Layne for an intimate lunch in the Balsa dining room, where she will share her lived experience and reveal how to transform your life. Tickets are $150pp and includes a three-course set lunch menu and a welcome drink.
‘AIN’T THAT SWELL’ LIVE at Harbord Hotel | Thursday 22 and Monday 26 April, 6–8pm
Grab a cold one and join hosts Blakey and Jed as they record LIVE at Harbord Hotel. The ‘AIN’T THAT SWELL’ podcast and YouTube show has been churning out degenerate, shambolic, straight-talking, p*ss-taking, car park surf radio for over half a decade. With over 50 years in magazine and online publishing between them, esteemed journalists and hosts Jed ‘Smivvy’ Smith and Vaughan ‘Deadly’ Blakey have created a podcast with its own cult sub-culture of core lords, corn draggers and swellian queens who tune in every episode to experience their unique, informed and outrageously non-filtered take on the culture, sport and lifestyle of surfing. No topic is too ridiculous, no feat in the water too epic.
Tickets available from harbordhotel.com.au/froth-fest
Steve Gorrow Art Exhibition | Thursday 22 until Monday 26 April
Harbord Hotel is proud to premiere the first show of Australian award-winning designer and art director Steve Gorrow’s new works. Mostly known for being one of the masterminds behind surf brand, Insight, Gorrow has produced some of the surf industry’s most revered campaigns. Born and raised on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, his style is intrinsically linked to pop culture and is infused with a unique sensibility, simultaneously blending playful pop iconography with socio-political undercurrents.
Fluro Friday hosted by Chix Surf School | Friday 23 April, 7am
Harbord Hotel is proud to partner with Chix Surf School to bring OneWave’s Fluro Friday to Freshwater Beach. Dress up in your brightest outfit, share stories, surf with Chix at Freshie then head to the sunny courtyard for breakfast – all while raising awareness for mental health. Every Fluro Friday participant will receive a free coffee when they order breakfast at Harbord Hotel.
Harbord Shakes with Haydenshapes | Friday 23 April, 8:30pm
Haydenshapes is a modern performance surfboard brand, founded in 1997 by Hayden Cox at the age of 15. Inspired by design, technology, innovation and a simple, clean aesthetic, Hayden and the brand are recognised for notable projects both within and unconventional to the world of surfing. Join Hayden Cox as he takes over the Balsa dining room and gives away Dion Agius’ new signature board (a customised Raven), with tunes from DJ Rad Dan and a screening of ‘These Violent Delights’ featuring Dion alongside Craig Anderson, Micky Clarke, Dylan Graves, and Jake Kelley.
Tickets are $45pp and include a drink on arrival and canapés.
Curly Maljam Pro Welcome Drinks | Friday 23 April, 6pm
Harbord Hotel is proud to sponsor Curly Maljam, Australia’s premier one-day longboarding surfing event – celebrating the three main stages of the longboard evolution; from the early 1950s hollow wooden boards, to the classic single fins and the modern-day high-performance models. Since its inception in 2011, the Maljam has been attracting the best of the nation’s riders and past and present, and World Champions all going head to head with the best of the locals. Guests can expect live music and the chance to rub shoulders with Maljam participants as they gather for drinks before the main event on Saturday, 24th April.
Board Demo with M/SF/T Shapes | Saturday 24 April, 9am–4pm
Hosted by M/SF/T Shapes on the grass in front of Harbord Hotel, everyone from old surf dogs to little groms can test drive a new board, or chill on the grass with surfers from all over.
ANZAC Day – Lest We Forget | Sunday 25 April, 7am
Harbord Hotel will open right after the dawn service for coffee and breakfast on the terrace. Renowned for being the best place to meet up with mates on ANZAC Day, the car park will then come alive from 10am til dusk.
Unofficial Surf League Afterparty hosted by The Swellians | Monday 26 April, 8pm
Join The Swellians as Harbord Hotel toasts to an epic ten days of events celebrating the salty tapestry of The Beaches with surf, art, film, boards, music, good grub and cold beers.
Harbord Hotel
Open 7am–12am every day
29 Moore Rd, Freshwater NSW 2096
T: (02) 9905 3434
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