Art Vs Science delivered a high-mass of crowd-friendly, electro favourites to kick-off the New Year’s Eve festivities. Stand-out tracks included Magic Fountain and the perennial classic Parlez Vous Francais. The trio even paid homage to the world of metal, dabbling in the nether realms of Metallica for some high-voltage fun. Fast forward to Peking Duk who are well known for their super-charged live performances. The Canberra DJ’s Falls Festival slot was one of the stand-outs of the entire three day program, dishing-up a mix that saw the Valley Stage blast off in dance oblivion. The duo delivered a brilliant version of Adele’s Hello as well as some Fat Boy Slim, throwing in classics like High and Take Me Over.

The Wombats were billed to see in the New Year and delivered a track-list of radio-friendly favourites, which included 1996, The English Summer and (of course) Let’s Dance to Joy Division. The Brit-pop trio raced through a solid thirteen song set to bring in 2016 but no fireworks were to be had on the stroke of midnight due to total fire ban – a small price to pay to the music festival gods for a mud-free North Byron Parklands (those who were at Splendour 2015 will understand).

Courtney Barnett delivered a ‘cracking set’.

Day two gave us Courtney Barnett – probably one of the most anticipated acts on the bill – and she didn’t disappoint. The Melbourne singer/songwriter/guitarist has stolen headlines around the world, with Rolling Stone and The New York Times just two of the heavyweights lauding her talent. It was a shame she was slotted to play in the afternoon, but it didn’t stop her delivering a cracking set, which included the soon-to-be anthems, Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party and the Pedestrian At Best.

Other day two highlights included a stunning performance by Australia’s unofficial poet laureate, Paul Kelly. His ensemble, The Merri Soul Sessions, featured an all-star cast of Australian talent – Dan Sultan, Clairey Brownie, Vika, Linda Bull, and Kira Puru. The supergroup sampled everything from soul masterpieces right through to the Kelly classics, all of which left the Valley Stage crowd spellbound.

Punters had flooded front of stage to catch festival legends Bloc Party, who were billed to close day two. It was a performance worth waiting for. They played an eleven song set, opening with The Good News from their latest album, which was followed by the festival anthem Hunting for Witches. A change in line-up has only amped the band’s edge – Kele Okereke held the Valley Stage in his hands as he delivered the likes of Banquet, Helicopter, closing the night with This Modern Love.

Young Fathers – the Scottish group was one of the best finds of the festival.

Day three delivered one of the best finds of the festival – Young Fathers. The opening beats of the Mercury Prize winning group from Edinburgh, Scotland acted like a siren, drawing crowds of punters to the Forest Stage to discover the source. What they found was a four piece delivering an original blend of electronica, soul and hip hop through a combination of backing tape and turbo-charged drumming. It was one of those festival performances that would be literally a hard act to follow.

Nonetheless, festival headliners Disclosure delivered on their reputation. With rumours the Valley Stage amphitheatre had been sprinkled with celebrity glitter to the likes of Myley Cyrus and friends, the sibling duo from England put on an incredible performance that went to the tune of eighty minutes. The set-list included a selection of dance-inducing numbers along the likes of White Noise, You and Me, Omen and Magnets, with Latch closing the festival.

That was the year that was…and we enjoyed the music.

Falls Music and Arts Festival Director, Brandon Saul, declared this years’ event was the best they’ve had at the venue. “It was a thrill to see the natural amphitheatre full of people having a great time”, Mr Saul said. “The festival patrons themselves should also be congratulated – everyone commented on how friendly, polite and cooperative the patrons were and that it made this year’s Falls Music and Arts Festival Byron a great experience.”

It was a somewhat smaller crowd than previous years. But no one seemed to mind the lack of human traffic on the North Byron Parklands fields, which meant easy access to bars, food tents and even to the front of stage areas.

Additional material by Sam Drewe

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Some big names have been mentioned for this year’s festival including Bloc Party, Foals, The Wombats, Disclosure, Courtney Barnett and Gary Clark Jr. On the Australian music front, acts including Birds of Tokyo, Gang of Youths, Alpine, Hilltop Hoods, King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard, Little May, Seth Sentry and Paul Kelly & Merri Soul Sessions round off a stellar cast.

Falls Music & Arts Festival Byron Director, Brandon Saul, says the 2015 roll-call featuring more than 60 acts is one of the most diverse to date.

“There’s a great cross section of artists and musical styles in this year’s line-up. I’m really looking forward to seeing Courtney Barnett – she cleaned up at the Aria Awards this year and has just been nominated for a Grammy,” says Saul. “Kurt Vile, Gary Clark Junior and Hiatus Kaiyote are also really interesting acts. As are Merryn Jeann and Kyle Lionheart who are from the local area. Then of course there’s the pure class of Paul Kelly. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t have a soft spot for Paul Kelly.”

SOAK – appearing at this year’s Falls Festival.

But Falls Festival is not just about music – each year an extensive arts program is hosted via the Falls Village program. The Village is created as a cultural and artistic sanctuary with the festival, and will feature circus acrobatics, art workshops and interactive installations. Punters can also help create the giant puppets that parade through the festival on the last day, as well as their own costume. For those who prefer to catch a film, there’s an air conditioned cinema space. The Falls Festival Byron Bay ‘Foxtel Movie Marquee’ features the latest movie offerings in air conditioned comfort.

In the spirit of keeping cool, festival organisers have also introduced a custom built water park. Christened ‘Palm Springs’, the park will feature a 20-metre long water slide, four infinity pools, mushroom fountains, and all with life guards on the lookout – so don’t forget your togs.

Festival goers can also get involved with ongoing green initiatives that work to improve the grounds of North Byron Parklands. Staff and patrons planted 1,000 native seedlings at the 2014 Falls Festival. Brandon Saul says encouraging people to get involved with the site helps the festival to grow.

“All the Falls festivals are held on beautiful natural parklands. Some of the initiatives are about minimising our impact and encouraging patrons to look after the site in the short term via recycling [etc] but we’re also committed to a vision of what the parklands will be like in many years to come and the part we play in creating sustainable events globally,” says Saul. “It’s a long term process and we want to get it right.”

Falls Festival Byron Bay tickets are ON SALE NOW at www.fallsfestival.com

Thursday Dec 31, 2015 until Jan 03, 2016 at North Byron Parklands 18+ event

THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL BYRON 2015 LINE-UP

FOALS · BLOC PARTY · DISCLOSURE · THE WOMBATS · HILLTOP HOODS · RÜFÜS · COURTNEY BARNETT · BIRDS OF TOKYO · HALSEY · KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS · JARRYD JAMES · WAVVES · MAC DEMARCO · MEG MAC · THE AVENER · PAUL KELLY & THE MERRI SOUL SESSIONS · ART VS SCIENCE · DJANGO DJANGO · GARY CLARK JR. · SETH SENTRY · LITTLE MAY · THE MACCABEES · LEON BRIDGES · ‘WEIRD AL’ YANKOVIC · ALPINE · TORO Y MOI · YOUNG FATHERS · ELLIPHANT · GANG OF YOUTHS · BØRNS · HIATUS KAIYOTE · KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD · SOAK · OH WONDER · EL VEZ · FLEETMAC WOOD · JESSE DAVIDSON · PEKING DUK · MIAMI HORROR · TIJUANA CARTEL · BOOTLEG RASCAL · GOONS OF DOOM · SPIRIT OF AKASHA · BANFF

FALLS COMEDY

NAZEEM HUSSAIN · RANDY · ADAM ROZENBACHS · BECKY LUCAS · NICK CODY · TIEN TRAN

THE VILLAGE LINE-UP

DUKE DREAMER * JARRYN PHEGAN * KAYA BOOM * KIKI AND PASCAL * KIKI BITTOVABITSCH * KYLE LIONHEART * LEO * LIAM POWERS * LOONATIC SPECTACULAR WITH DAN NIMMO * MAE WILDE * MERRYN JEANN * MOME * NICK COYLE * THE SCRIMSHAW FOUR * SHAI SHRIKI * SHAK SHUKA * SHEP HUNTLEY * SIR ANTHONY LIVINGSPACE * SKETCH THE RHYME * THE BUTTON COLLECTIVE * THE CASSETTES * THE GREAT DAVE * THE IMPRINTS * TRANSYLVANIAN GYPSY KINGS * TWO AGE * VARDOS * ZEBI STRIPES      

THE VILLAGE VENUES

LOLA’S BAR · LA PETITE GRANDE · THE ALKAZAR · ART PARADE WORKSHOP · CAFÉ DE RUDE · DJ BIGTOP · MAVERICK SALON

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In a play about how the past can work to corrupt the future, we meet Hamlet – a modern anti-hero. In this production by the Bell Shakespeare Company Hamlet is vulgar, misogynist and cruel whilst being crippled with insecurity and paralysed by inaction in his struggle to gain revenge for his father’s murder.

“Hamlet is one of the most complete experiences theatre can provide – extraordinary poetry, intense passion, dazzling intelligence, terror, casual slaughter, friendship, humanity, great humour and great grief,” says director Damien Ryan. “Shakespeare casts his spell through the sheer scope and grandeur of this story – beginning with a dead man walking and ending with a stage littered with bodies.”

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest…Photo: Daniel Boud.

Hamlet is tormented by the impossibility of his situation – his father dead, his mother Gertrude quickly remarried to his uncle Claudius who has seized the throne, then the discovery – via his father’s ghost – of the truth of his father’s murder by his own brother and the unenviable task of avenging his father. Add a further plot twist of Denmark on the brink of war with Norway and the complication of Ophelia, who dies from the “poison of deep grief at Hamlet’s abandonment, and you have a play that explores the human experience at its most extreme.

In fact, when you think about it, Hamlet is about almost everything – war and power, husbands and wives, death and life, sex and love, friendship and fate – and perhaps most complicated of all, how families do or don’t work.

Off the back of directing the critically acclaimed, award winning Henry V for Bell Shakespeare in 2014, Ryan who has worked with Bell Shakespeare for 14 years as an actor, director, teacher and writer delivers this new production of Hamlet.  Josh McConville (Griffin Theatre Company’s The Boys, and Sydney Theatre Company’s Mojo) and rising star Matilda Ridgway (for Sport For Jove’s A Doll’s House) lead the cast of Hamlet.

Cast: Josh McConville, Matilda Ridgway, Sean O’Shea, Doris Younane, Ivan Donato, Michael Wahr, Philip Dodd, Robin Goldsworthy, Julia Ohannessian and Catherine Terracini.

https://youtu.be/buy1AogW6oA

HAMLET

NORPA at Lismore City Hall

Monday 31 August, matinee 11am & 7:30pm

Saturday 29 August, 7:30pm – Sold Out

$22 – $49

Bookings: 1300 066 772 or www.norpa.org.au

Diner and bar open from 6pm before evening shows

Free Q&A with the cast after the performance of Hamlet on Saturday 29 August

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WHEN actor and musician Michael Tuahine first met Australian Indigenous singing legend Jimmy Little in 2001, he never dreamt he would end-up starring in a musical that borrowed from the story of Little’s life.  But when Little died, 11 years later, Tuahine decided it was time to tell his story.

Tuahine came up with the idea for Country Song after being inspired by the film Walk the Line. Following Little’s death, Tuahine pitched his idea for a fictionised account of Little’s life to Queensland Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Wesley Enoch – the director of the original stage play of The Sapphires, and with Enoch and Reg Cribb, (co-writer of Bran Nue Dae), on board the project was all systems go.

“Jimmy and I were mates, we would talk on the phone, we toured together – I followed him everywhere,” says Tuahine. “One day over lunch, I said to Jimmy I’d love the opportunity to play him, sing his songs and tell his story. He liked the idea.”

Country Song – from left to right: Tibian Wyles, Elaine Crombie, David Page, Bradley McCaw, Megan Samardin. Photography: Rob Maccoll

Country Song is built on stories not widely known about Little’s life. Little couldn’t perform in many clubs and pubs because he was Indigenous, despite the fact his biggest hit, Royal Telephone was a No. 1 song in Australia in 1963 and topped the charts ahead of The Beatles and Elvis.

“In my culture, you become the custodian of a story and you tell it to the best of your ability. That’s what Reg Cribb, the writer, and I are trying to do,” Tuahine said. “We wanted to celebrate and capture the integrity and wonderment of who Jimmy was. “

Michael Tuahine plays Jimmy Little in Country Song. Photography: Rob Maccoll

The production narrates Little’s journey down a fictionalised road map of his life, witnessing the history of major social changes of the 1970’s. Little takes us through the thoughts of an artist who must weigh up the political power of his voice. Along the way we hear stories of singers Auriel Andrew, Bobby McLeod and Lionel Rose in this tribute to the era.

“We want to share his life, his incredible music and his impact on other musicians,” Tuahine added.

 Direct from the world premiere in Brisbane, Queensland Theatre Company bring their award winning new show Country Song to NORPA at Lismore City Hall, 13-15 August, featuring Michael Tuahine, David Page, Elaine Crombie, Megan Samardin, Tibian Wyles and Bradley McCaw.

COUNTRY SONG

NORPA at Lismore City Hall

Thu 13, Fri 14, Sat 15 August 7:30pm

Diner and bar open from 6pm

Bookings: 1300 066 772 or www.norpa.org.au

Free Q&A with Wesley Enoch and Michael Tuahine after the performance of ‘Country Song’ on Thursday 13 August.

Tickets: $22 – $49

 The Jimmy Little Foundation (JLF) works in Australia’s most remote communities in consultation with Elders and Councils, government and non-government agencies, health and community services, and schools and individuals to ensure a healthy future for Indigenous Australians. To find out more and to support JLF, visit https://www.jlf.org.au/jlf-programs/

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Mark Ronson fans braved a soaking to see him rock the Splendour stage.

Thirty thousand punters saw a stunning line-up of music, arts and crafts at Splendour in the Grass 2015 writes Verandah Magazine’s Georgina Bible.

The heavens opened but the crowds kept pouring into North Byron Parklands to watch over 100 acts play over four stages at Splendour in the Grass. There was sunny weather across the weekend, though it was punctuated by violent downpours that turned rolling green fields into murky black sludge, calf deep in places. But no one seemed to mind wading through the mire – with most dressed to do battle with their gumboots in readiness.

Friday kicked off with promising conditions along with outstanding performances by Death Cab for Cutie and Ryan Adams. Death Cab opened their slot in the amphitheatre with a rip-the-roof-off performance of The New Year, before launching into a set list of fan favourites. The natural law that presides over Byron Shire that rain shall fall on music festivals kicked in during Adams’ set in the GW McLennan tent but punters ignored the downpour outside as they were treated to extended versions of classics like Peaceful Valley and Magnolia Mountain. Mark Ronson fans had to endure complete saturation in order to watch his star-studded performance in the amphitheatre. Ronson invited friends on stage including Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker and Miike Snow’s Andrew Wyatt and closed the night with the monster smash-hit Uptown Funk.

Death Cab – rip-off-the-roof performance of The New Year. Photo: Stephen Booth

The sun came out enough on Saturday to see the Splendour urchins emerge from the expanding sea of mud to enjoy the powered lo-fi, psych-rock of Pond. With a look that passes them off as refugees from Nimbin (rather than Perth) the group had the amphitheatre engulfed in an auditory freak-out as they swayed and lunged to tracks like Giant Tortoise. Over in the GW McLennan Tent, The Church drew a crowd peppered with rock n roll silverbacks who enjoyed a mix of new and old classics. You Took was the track everyone was waiting for – and it didn’t disappoint. Later, the goddess from England, Florence Welch, had dressed head to toe in white to meet her people. Florence and the Machine capped off the day with an incredible soaring set, played to a captivated amphitheatre.

Florence Welch from Florence and The Machine. Photo: Savannah Vander Niet

By the third day, chartering the mud was like walking a tightrope above quicksand – one wrong move and it was off to a netherworld of sludge. Unperturbed, the punters rose again to enjoy a trifecta of some of the world’s best bands in the amphitheatre on Sunday night.

English drum and bass guitar duo Royal Blood hit the stage and immediately whipped the crowd into a literal whirpool. The sweat covered crowd slammed into each other through a thumping set, opening with Come on Over and closing with a monster 10-minute performance of Out of the Black, which diverted briefly into Black Sabbath’s Iron Man. Tame Impala relaxed the mood with a set-list largely from their last two albums, played through a landscape of psychedelic lights and flash-back projections. Two songs from the new album Currents had their live debut at Splendour – The Moment and The Less I know the Better.

Royal Blood whipped the crowd up into a frenzy. Photo: Justin Ma

After an 18-year absence from Australia, Blur was an anticipated headliner for Splendour after having withdrawn from the Big Day Out last year. Damon Albarn bounced onto the stage and blamed his exuberance on having just consumed a batch of Byron Bay doughnuts. He then launched into a cracking version of Go Out from the band’s latest album The Magic Whip. Albarn treated fans to almost a best-of Blur set-list, racing through hits like Parklife and Beetlebum. Song 2 saw the entire amphitheatre blast-off but sadly, a decent chunk of punters exited after the 2.05 minutes of pure pop-rock was over. They missed a three song encore that ended with a gorgeous version of the soaring song – The Universal – an appropriate end to a mind-blowing three days.

Blur in a Blur of motion. Photo: Stephen Booth.

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When mother of two Salila O’Connor decided to organise a fundraiser to help the peopleof Tibet after the devastating earthquake in May this year, the last thing that occurred to her is that she would end up at Splendour in the Grass with her two young children writes Georgina Bible.

The Ewingsdale resident entered a raffle to win tickets to Splendour in the Grass at the event she helped organise – Mullum Loves Nepal – at the Mullumbimby Civic Memorial Hall. Salila hit the instant karma jackpot when she won Splendour in the Grass Gold Bar tickets in the raffle for herself and her two children, none of whom had attended the festival before.

Salila O’Connor with her twins, Mattia and Aidan.

“Splendour in the Grass is an amazing festival – to be able to come here with children and feel free to enjoy the event with my family has been fantastic” O’Connor says.  “The Little Splendour children’s festival is an absolute sensation. It’s been funny to see people without children actually trying to get in to the Little Splendour area because of the amazing array of events and activities. It’s quite amusing for parents – you can’t get in to Little Splendour unless you’re aged nought to fifteen!”

The Nepal earthquake was the worst to hit Nepal in 80 years and was strong enough to be felt across parts of India, Bangladesh, Tibet and Pakistan. The earthquake was also felt by the people of Byron Shire who raised more than $20,000 towards relief efforts at the event. “It was great to see the people of Byron Bay get behind the Nepal Fundraiser to make it such an extraordinary success,” says O’Connor.  “It’s also been amazing to see so many people who were at the Nepal Fundraiser here at the festival. Byron Bay has an amazing sense of community, which becomes so apparent when you attend events like this that bring everyone together.”

Boots with bling, and the eyes have it…

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The new Splendour kids program – Little Splendour – opens up the festival for parents and children, writes Verandah Magazine’s Georgina Bible.

What happens when the Generation Xers who frequented Australia’s circuit of music festivals every year  grow up and start having babies? Do they retire their favourite band t-shirts and faded jeans to their local op-shop and relegate the festival experience to the remembrance of things past? Wrong. They stuff themselves back into their favourite jeans, pack the kids in the car and head off to Little Splendour – the specially designed camping and activity area for families at Splendour in the Grass.

Splendour in the Grass has developed an entire field of festival activities especially for children. Little Splendour is located in a fully fenced and secured area in the middle of Splendour in the Grass, designed exclusively for families to relax, play and explore their creativity.

“Many of the people who started coming to Splendour when it first began have families now, or are starting to have families, so this area is to encourage our Splendour families to return year after year and have a fantastic camping experience as well as a fantastic festival experience,” says Little Splendour manager Trudi Fitzgerald. “It’s also encouraging to those new Splendour comers with children that they can join in with other likeminded families and enjoy a music and cultural extravaganza.”

The Little Splendour program offers a line-up of arts and crafts activities to suit children of all ages. Highlights include a mini big top with a stage for musical performances, comedy acts, magicians and puppet shows. A clown school will offer clowning workshops, balloon twisting, juggling and face-painting while a circus school will give performances and circus workshops. There are two designated play zones, divided by age, with the Little Kidz Zone including an obstacle course, mega sized sandpit, jumping castle and a story telling tipi with character visits from fairies, pirates and princesses. The Big Kidz Zone will feature a climbing wall, ropes course, sports and games area, jumping castle and giant board games.

Little Splendour will also feature parents/babies tipis with areas for mothers to breastfeed and will include a fridge, microwave, change table and other conveniences for young families. Add a café and you might never want to leave. Moreover, the facilities of Little Spendour will also extend to a special new area for family camping. “The new camping area is in a little quiet pocket of the regular camping area sectioned of for those people with children,” says Fitzgerald. “There will be some facilities provided which will make camping for families more convenient.”

LITTLE SPLENDOUR

CIRCUS ARTS – Aerial acts include silks, trapeze, double trapeze net, Spanish web and ground acts include juggling, hula hoops and acro balance

THE MIM AND SAM SHOW – dynamic brother and sister circus act

YOGA with KarmaKids

AFRICAN DANCE – Afro Groove performance and workshop

JOHNNY THE JESTER – Magic Show

KIDDYWINKS – Puppet Show

SOUND SYNERGY – Drumming Workshop

THE GREATEST TREASURE – a musical theatre adventure

FIESTA JESTERS –Unicycling and juggling jesters

TRISTAN BANCKS – Children’s author and funmaster

Splendour in the Grass

Friday, 24th July – Sunday, 26th July 2015 – SOLD OUT

North Byron Parklands

126 Tweed Valley Way, Wooyung Tweed

Tickets: www.moshtix.com.au

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If you have ever had the desire to ‘face–off’ with Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage then Splendour in the Grass 2015 offers the chance. A giant inflatable cage fitted out with a giant inflatable meme of Nicholas Cage’s head has been created by Barcelona-based art collective Hungry Castle as part of the Splendour Arts program. The built-to-bounce Nicholas Cage In A Cage sculpture is just one of a line-up of paintings, performance installations and mini-universes created by some of the world’s most innovative artists as part of the annual festival.

“Splendour in the Grass is all about contemporary culture, art plays an important role in reflecting that,” says Craig Walsh, Curator of Splendour Arts. “It’s another layer of experience which contributes to the many layers which define Splendour. Art integrated into the site provides a completely different experience to the one gained from the music, we want to provide multiple experiences.”

This year’s Arts program sees the return of the Tent of Miracles – back this year as You C*nt Stop The Music with Andy Forbes and James Dabrowski. Expect a fusion of teenage 50s, flower power 60s, 70s rock n disco and fluro 80s hits. Bennett Miller will also make a return to Splendour this year with the live art installation Anabaptister, featuring a community of people living within the festival grounds along with a series of special guests giving one off performances. This will run alongside artist Tom Borgas’ outdoor installation/performance piece Post Digital Ruins – a work that considers the limits of the virtual world.

Painter and installation artist Sam Songailo will be at Splendour with ‘Program’ – acrylic on board.

Tanya Schultz who works as Pip & Pop will create a sculptural landscape Treasure Mountain – using a range of materials including sugar, glitter, sweets, plastic flowers and crystals. Two artists working with acrylic will feature at Splendour this year, including Sam Songailo and Reko Rennie. Songailo is a painter and installation artist working across a range of media and will exhibit a large scale acrylic on board installation titled Program. Rennie will take over the iconic entrance tunnel to Splendour in The Grass using it as his canvas to create Flash. The 2015 commission will consist of large-scale flash symbols along the entire tunnel with a mixture of colours and backgrounds.

“We commission new work by the most interesting artists working in a festival context,” Walsh says. “These works are highly considered and they respond to the festival, the punters and aim to surprise on many levels.”

Freeform body art at Splendour Crafts.

Splendour In The Grass 2015 – Splendour Arts line-up

Bennett Miller – ANABAPTISTER (Live art installation)
Hungry Castle – NICOLAS CAGE IN A CAGE (Inflatable Sculpture)
Andy Forbes & James Dabrowski – YOU C*NT STOP THE MUSIC (Tent of Miracles, Performance)
Tom Borgas – POST DIGITAL RUINS (Outdoor installation/performance)
Pip & Pop – TREASURE MOUNTAIN (Sculptural landscapes)
Sam Songailo – PROGRAM 1 (Acrylic on Board)
Reko Rennie – FLASH (Acrylic paint, paste up)

Splendour in the Craft is also back this year – the Crafts tent was jam-packed for the entire festival last year with an array of workshops that are set to make a return in 2015. The full Splendour in the Crafts line-up is listed below.

Splendour In The Grass 2015 – Splendour Crafts line-up

Thursday 23 July

6:00pm – 8:00pm
Pimp Your Festival Get Up: Bedazzle your tent, onesie, sleeping bag, phone covers – let your craftiest dreams come true.

Friday 24 July

11:00am – 12:30pm
Spotlight Session: Community Quilt workshop “I will always”

1:30pm – 3:00pm
Smash those Bad Dreams: Dream Catchers with Meet Make Create & Regular Wildcat

4:00pm – 5:30pm
The People’s Republic Of You: Pennant and Flag making with Kityia Palaskas

6.00pm – 6.30pm
No Lights No Lycra (Brisbane Chapter)

Saturday 25 July

11:00am – 12:30pm
Spotlight session: Piñata making with Kitiya Palaskas

1:30pm – 3:00pm
Charms for the Charming – Charm Bracelets with Each to Own

4:00pm – 5:30pm
Ojo De Dias (God’s Eye) with Beci Orpin

6.00pm – 6.30pm
No Lights No Lycra (Brisbane Chapter)

Beard embellishment with Splendour crafts.

Sunday 26 July

11:00am – 12:30pm
Spotlight Session: Totes, Totes! Yes free tote bag making with Art Park & Kitiya Palaskas

1:30pm – 3:00pm
Cool As Fuck Brooches with Beci Orpin

4:00pm – 5:30pm
Swamp your Sunnies & pimp your gumboots (free sunnies provided!) with Fancy Free + a band

6.00pm – 6.30pm
No Lights No Lycra (Brisbane Chapter)

Splendour in the Grass

Friday, 24th July – Sunday, 26th July 2015 – SOLD OUT
North Byron Parklands
126 Tweed Valley Way, Wooyung Tweed
Tickets: www.moshtix.com.au

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If you live in the Northern Rivers chances are you’re going to fly into or out of Brisbane at some point.  On behalf of our readers, Verandah Magazine’s Georgina Bible explores the Novotel Hotel – and finds it a perfect spot for preparation or recuperation…

Due to flight scheduling for a recent overseas trip, I needed to stay near the airport in Brisbane for two nights, one pre-flight and one post flight and decided to book a room at the Novotel Brisbane Airport for its location – it’s the only hotel located in the Brisbane Airport precinct.  But I admit it was with certainly reservations – with sterile lobbies, generic furniture and underwhelming room service food still lingering in the memory, the last place I wanted to start or end a holiday was in another high turnover hotel room near an airport.   I needn’t have worried.

The appeal of the Novotel begins in the lobby with its vast, light-filled space completed by a huge atrium style roof that extends six floors. Check-in is friendly and efficient and there is a screen above the reception desk showing live flight information. Opening onto the lobby is the Catalina Restaurant – a large space with an open kitchen – and a 24-hour business centre.

The Novotel features standard rooms, premier rooms and executive suites. I booked a standard king room – the décor is stylish with its warm blend of earth tones accentuated with bright coloured pillows and black and white photography. The bed is enormous and there’s a pillow menu for those who prefer a choice. The room features a large flat screen TV with cable channels, a couch, coffee table and desk, as well as complimentary tea and coffee. The bathroom feels sleek with its over-sized white tiles, marble topped vanity and timber finishes. I slept well on both stays – the double glazing on the windows keeping out noise from the airport and nearby road.

The only downside was the cost of the Wi-Fi, $12.50 for 2 hours or $24.95 per 24 hours. The room also lacks a bathtub, but the rooftop relaxation terrace was the perfect antidote for a tired body. The heated swimming pool is stunning, featuring deep glass windows and views across Brisbane. A gym and sauna is also located on the roof – the gym is open 24 hours, perfect for weary travellers arriving at all hours of the day and night.

For my pre-flight stay, I chose to eat at the Catalina Restaurant, which features modern Australian cuisine and a stylish bar with separate lounge area. The Atlantic salmon, pickled potato salad, wilted Asian greens ($33), did not disappoint. I followed it with the French apple tart, lavender ice cream, honeycomb, vanilla crème anglaise ($15), perfect for those with a super-sweet tooth.

My flight back to Brisbane arrived late but I was able to catch the hotel shuttle, available at limited times morning and evening with a $5 charge (cash only). Check-in was once again seamless but with jetlag creeping in, I decided to choose something from the room service menu for both dinner and breakfast the following morning. The entrée sized pan fried potato gnocchi with asparagus, walnuts, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes ($19) was just the right amount before going  to bed. I woke up in a stupor of jetlag but knowing that breakfast was being delivered to my room was as much of a relief as the actual breakfast. I settled on field mushrooms with sourdough bread ($11.50) with freshly squeezed orange juice ($7.50), which turned out to be a bit of a jetlag cure.

The Novotel hits all the right notes  – comfortable, clean rooms, decent food and enough distractions to while away the hours before a big flight, making it an ideal place for anyone needing to stay near Brisbane Airport.

 Georgina Bible stayed at the hotel at her own expense.

The Novotel Brisbane Airport is located at 6-8 The Circuit, Brisbane Airport, Queensland. The hotel is 2.6km from Brisbane International and 4.8km from Brisbane Domestic. For more details, phone (07) 31753100 or visit novotelbrisbaneairport.com.au Standard Twin/King Room start from $259 per night but are subject to seasonal variation – check with the hotel.

Highlights: Don’t miss the stunning roof top swimming pool or the nearby Direct Factory Outlet, featuring more than 120 brands from Australia and around the world.

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