The beginnings: Festival's first five years

Rock ’n’ roll was yet to make its impact on popular music when Festival Records began in Sydney in 1952. A group of enterprising Australians saw a different opportunity in the record manufacturing business – the arrival of vinyl ‘microgroove’ records. This new technology was about to revolutionise the industry. Festival was quick to realise its potential and obtained licensing rights to overseas recordings and developed its own local artists. The fledgling company set up a factory and soon became the second largest manufacturer of gramophone records in Australia. This section looked at the origins and early years of Festival Records, its first Australian recording artist and the story of rock ’n’ roll’s first smash hit.

Images left to right: Bill Haley at the Sydney Stadium, Glenn A Baker archive; Festival Records catalogue, courtesy Festival Mushroom Records; Festival Records building at 223-229 Harris Street, Pyrmont, courtesy Festival Mushroom Records; Festival label, courtesy Festival Mushroom Records

500 Harris Street Ultimo, PO Box K346 Haymarket, Sydney NSW 1238, Australia.
NSW Government | About this website | Privacy statement

all contents © copyright Powerhouse Museum
Powerhouse Museum collection index