This year's Melbourne Earthdance returns to its Urban roots with a massive venue in the Docklands, exploring the imaginative and exciting theme “Inside-Out”. Mentioning the word Earthdance most Melburnians automatically think of trees and paddocks, but where do they live? The vast majority of the hundreds of thousands of party people who attend Earthdance worldwide annually are city dwellers and will most likely remain so.

So how do we reconcile living in the city with environmental sustainability, a healthy lifestyle, thriving communities and peaceful co-existence? For many the concept of sustainability involves a return-to-nature approach, which in reality will most likely never occur. How do we invert this into making the most of what we got? Liveable cities for happy people.

This year's festival is an artistic exploration of this theme. We have literally turned the whole shebang “ Inside-Out”. Organisers have chosen an enormous all-weather venue just outside the CBD. There will be something amazing for absolutely everyone, a Welcome to Country ceremony and the globally linked Prayer for Peace that marks the most special start to the day. The outdoor area will remain a predominantly quiet zone all day with market stalls, workshops, performance art instillations and you, all exploring this year's theme. While we turn the venue on his head and into an otherworldly space, the show will start with live bands moving from folk to dub through dubstep to electronic mayhem in the evening. Expect the most significant production values ever for a Melbourne Earthdance with a licensed bar and smokers area close to the main stage.