Review by Sian Hanigan
Photos by Amy Lee Freshwater
Driving out on a dusty dirt road, after passing the sleepy country towns of Cessnock and Branxton, we had reached our magical destination, ‘Dashville’, Lower Belford. The secluded bushy estate owned by the Johnston’s in the beautiful Hunter Valley, welcomed us with open arms. Local volunteers with cheek-to-cheek grins directed us to SPACIOUS camp areas nestled amongst the Australian gum-trees. Every person we pass, waving, like old friends.
And wait, only 10 minutes had passed and I knew it was my kind of festival. The camping situation was second to none, taking me back to childhood camp outs in east coast national parks. There was space, there were showers, there was the occasional melody of native birds through the music and it was BYO (definitely a bonus). People were friendly, an assortment of very young, very old and everyone in between. They were more than happy to offer you a cuppa from the billy, welcome you over for a sing-along, or in my case lend me their jumper leads to recharge my car… and the toilets were clean.
Continue reading Festival Review: THE GUM BALL Festival 2013
If Stone Music Festival’s first day was a salute to rock then day two proved a little more difficult to pigeonhole. The bill included an American piano man, two elder statesmen of Oz music, a new band and two former Australian Idol contestants. I suppose we’ll just have to say that this unlikely grouping meant that this was a celebration of music, pure and simple.
Sydney was wet and it wasn’t David Lee Roth’s fault. Saturday morning had seen the heavens open again and again but rock ain’t about being comfortable and a little water never killed anyone. On day one of the inaugural Stone Music Festival, guitar heroes were king and no one was going to let a few showers rain on their musical parade.
Bluesfest Day Five Wrap:
Day Four: Bluesfest wrap
Day three of Bluesfest.
Byron Bay’s Bluesfest hit full stride yesterday, following a cracker opening night on Thursday, and the heavens responded in kind.