Greater SA Gets Chilled Out ‘n’ Fired Up at Caltowie
If you’re putting together a list of must-do regional events in South Australia, Caltowie Chilled Out ‘n’ Fired Up (COFU) deserves to be right up the top.
We’d seen the hype, we’d even help create some of it, so this year, we decided Caltowie COFU was going straight to number one on our South Aussie regional events calendar.
And It didn’t disappoint.
What cranks up in Caltowie each March is no small-town gig. It’s a full-blown music festival, swelling a town of about 100 people to a music-loving, camping crowd of around 1,300.
Running since 2019, COFU feels like a well-oiled machine. Think mini Mundi-Mundi or Big Red Bash vibes — proper stage, lighting, sound and a seriously solid line-up. This isn’t a band on the back of a truck. It’s the real deal.
Tent City and a Whole Lot of Effort
COFU organisers reported a huge blow out in the number of campers who rolled in for the weekend – but there was plenty of room in tent city. While there might be a few extra porta-loos added next year, the massive effort behind the scenes didn’t go unnoticed.
Volunteers zipped around in golf buggies keeping everything clean, stocked and running smoothly — the kind of detail that makes a big difference.
Heading into the festival zone, the food and drink options were on-point. And we settled in with a glass of Ben Murray’s Barossa wine before hitting up the adults only Sars from Union Bridge Brewery.
The Soundtrack to COFU 2026
The massive line-up of performances was another pleasant surprise.
South Australia’s own Caitlin Drew lead Loose Change, with COFU’s very own Ben Van Boekel on drums. A standout moment came when the legends from Funk Me brought Ben’s talented guitar-playing son Ryan to the stage — a proper festival moment that had everyone smiling.
And then there was 19-Twenty. They had the crowd up and moving, led by a double bass that went places we didn’t know a double bass could go!
Frontman Kane Dennelly summed it up perfectly –
“We didn’t really know what to expect heading into Caltowie. The crowd was right there with us — families, kids, older legends — everyone just soaking it up and having a genuinely amazing time. Those kinds of vibes don’t happen by accident.”
When people travel from as far as Perth and northern Queensland, and ages range from four months old to 90 – that alone tells you something.
The Crew Behind The Award-Winning COFU
With festival-goers rocking in early, the Caltowie Bowls Club had to head to Jamestown for extra supplies on Friday night! The energy had started well before the first act hit the stage.
Right across the weekend, it was clear this wasn’t just an event — it was a well-executed nod to mental health. It was a group of legendary music-lovers putting their town on the map, and a crowd that appreciated every minute of it.
Caltowie COFU brings music, community and connection together in a way that just works.
Lock it in for March 20, 2027 and we’ll see you there!
To see how the tiny town of Caltowie built an award winning festival click here.
