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Published: February 3rd 2010
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Kia-Ora once again.
Feels good to be walking on concrete again but I don't think I'll ever look at a festival the same way again - I mean that in a good way.
It was truly fascinating to see an empty field become a centre of great vibes, great times and an overwhelming feeling of peace.
I've attached some photos so you can see the progression from green grass to stalls and people as I saw it, but what of the festival itself? Well it was a very quiet and intimate affair. They claimed 10,000 last year, but I doubt that - this year there couldn't have been more than 3,000 pass through. SAturday was blazing hot and full of people, but Sunday was rather cloudy and empty. I think the main stage headliners played to about 20 people. But anyway, here's my behind the scenes report...
Monday I arrived to find a kitchen set up, with 2 tents, one of which was for us to sleep in, so we laid down hay and a few mattresses ready for when darkness fell, but some people had brought their own tents and vans to sleep in so it was
never very busy in there.
I was introduced to the organiser, Eddie, and when I told him I was from Portsmouth he stuck out his hand - turns out that despite the strong NZ accent and skin colour he was born in Southsea and lived in Milton until he was 14! I'm sure that I'm the only reason he wore his Pompey top one day...
More and more people began arriving over the week and it became very clear how music can bring people together. I was the odd one out with a group of Germans and an American who all knew each other from working at another small festival further north, but then one of them got a guitar out and the next day we were all one group of friends.
On Thursday the 2nd stage was erected and I got word the guy running it was setting up an open mike situation for the night as the festival didn't really start officially until saturday other than some background music on the friday. So after taking a sad phone call, the details of which have no place here, I got up on the stage and performed for a
few of my fellow volunteers. Just as I ran out of songs to play the "house band" - made up of those running the stage - got up to join me and we proceeded to keep on going. I've heard reports indicating I was up there for somewhere between 1 and 2 hours, so that was pretty cool, but unfortunately meant I was getting asked if I was playing again every afternoon until we all went home. Which was nice but I'm just not that egotistical and felt a little pressured.
Anyway, I did get up again on Saturday after the last bands had finished and we had a little festival extension, so all the volunteers were there and a few stragglers including the organisers niece who just happens to be one of the stars of NZ's popular soap - Shortland Street.
This was rather exciting for me because although I had no idea who she was having never seen the show I was hanging out with her and a couple of others for most of sunday and seeing all the kids running up wanting to meet her while I just hung out like old mates. Oh and she was
very complimentary about my previous nights performance, so much so that she involved me in some crazy video reel she's making, whereby she dressed up as a man, jumped on the 2nd stage in the middle of the afternoon and got me up to do 500 Miles by The Proclaimers with her, so I have to keep a close eye on Youtube now.
The highlight of the festival for me was the Curbside Cabaret where they had erected a small stage in the middle of the bush down by the river and anyone could put their name on the list and get up and perform. What an amazing idea, British Festivals should take that on in my opinion.
Anyway, tomorrow I start heading for Blenheim where I am working on the bar at the Food & Beer Festival (my 2 favourite things) for the day on Saturday and after that I need to find some more paying work and pretty bloody quickly...
Much Aroha
Greg
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