Sonic sounds brought to Meredith grounds

OVERCAST skies and muddy terrain did nothing to deter thousands of fans at Meredith Music Festival last weekend.

For its 31st year, the event drew in a bill of diverse acts across three days, ranging from dream pop to electronica, punk, stoner metal, and distinctly Australian blues and rock.

The sold-out festival drew in more than 12,000 attendees like Andrew Lindqvisg, who travelled for three days from Sydney to be at the event with a group of nine who came from across Australia.

“It was manic setting up camp when we got here,” Mr Lindqvisg said. “I was with some of very manic Meredith festivalgoers zooming in to get a good bush camp.

“We have a gorgeous spot amongst the trees and it was kind of frenetic until we had our Welcome to Country and put our hands to the earth and felt settled.

“I haven’t come for any specific act but more to understand what Meredith is and why people are so passionate about it.

“Mary Lattimore has really impressed me so far. The music has this nice, soft energy that’s suited the rain.”

With furniture set up around the bushland pavilion, wooden venues like the Pink Flamingo seeing a steady influx of people, and many attendees dressed in colourful clothing, the event grew in spectacle as the weekend continued.

US singer songwriter Caroline Polachek took the top bill on the festival’s opening night while the main act, German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk brought booming sonics and immersive visuals the following evening.

Meredith veteran Simon Coope from Ballarat was one of the many volunteers on hand, helping usher in attendees into the site and providing general assistance.

He said the event to him is always an incredible weekend of music and connectivity.

“It’s been beautiful,” he said. “I’ve been coming here and also volunteering here for more years than I can remember and I love being here.

“There’s such a beautiful energy to all the attendees as they’re coming into the festival grounds. Everyone’s always super excited because these festivals only happen twice a year and there’s such a love for this place.

“I love talking to people about what they’ve brought and where they’ve come from. I’ll bump into friends who I actually met at the festival years passed and it’s like a six-monthly catchup.

“My favourite bands were Floodlights, Coffin, and Watty Thompson. They were the main bands I came to see, but quite often I’ll see someone out of this festival that becomes my favourite.”