It was a surprise as to how chilled out Chill Island was. Lax security paid no attention to bag checks or ID checks or even ticket checks, and later folk were blatantly wandering in with beer bottles in hand. As for pass outs, there was no such thing, just a gander at random arm bands. We felt relaxed and indeed, chilled out.

As ARIA award nominated Ash Grunwald played Sky Writer, it was easy to see that Chill Island is more of a family affair, walking in to this windy event, clouds overcast overhead. I see old-style, country ambo’s and a very generous four drink limit til six p.m that is very hippie. just like the majority of people strewn around the venue. A view of the bay adds to this awesome atmosphere, albeit the primitive set-up, there is a nice haze over the bay and rain can be seen in the distance.

Josh Pyke begins after his bass player warms up and a loose crowd assembles. The MC ‘Mr Chill’ makes it known about a ‘free circus school by the food court’ for the kids. Josh quickly finds his groove playing mostly songs from his new album. It is a crowd consisting of mainly high school and university aged fans upfront. ‘Thanks for getting rid of the rain for us. Thanks to Ash Grunwald for lending us his soccer ball’ Josh adds prior to his song You Don’t Scare Me off of his latest album Chimney’s Afire. Spits of water drop from above, but it’s just a very light drizzle, barely even, still, it stays a serene atmosphere. Suddenly it’s a retort of ‘we love you Josh’ from several young lasses letting their thoughts and elation be known. Don’t Wanna Let You Down becomes the soundtrack to a large expanse of beer cans, champagne and cigarette consumption.

Josh goes on, ‘This is the first time I got to play that song live’. He endears us with his story of how Our House Breathing came about as hands sway with lyrics sang like ‘I been getting urges late at night’. The Lighthouse Song enthuses and it is still mostly females up the front, swaying in the breeze from the bay. Josh shifts the lime light, ‘Please give it up for Russell, Matt and Josh’ he exclaims. Memories and Dust is welcomed, as is the fitting song The Summer. He plays most of the songs off Chimney’s Afire and Sew My Name is introduced for ‘all those having a summer romance’. A raindrop hits my eye, could this be a symbolic tear of joy? I wondered with amusement.

Josh emphasised and reminded us of the guitar boat for sale online at present, and encouraged us to make a bid on it, perhaps with a few friends. The relevant song to sing after these comments was the song from this very video clip called Makes You Happy, one that played while small children walked about and bubbles floated around. During intermission, it was Jack Johnson that we were lulled by, the Brushfire Fairytales album.

There are yet more drops of flirtatious rain as the bongos gear up for Blue King Brown to take up arms. AC/DC music plays over the speakers for quite a while, songs such as You Shook Me All Night Long. The bar is being put to good use as many line up for some good old boozin’. ‘Chill Island, are you awake?’ Mister Chill enquires. One of the last living traditional owners of the sacred land of Churchill Island, the Bunnarong clan, speaks on the land belonging to ‘coastal people, the beautiful land you walk along’ as well as asking that we all help to preserve it by planting trees, respecting the Earth and its resources. The Bunnarong lady is speaking while many sit with their eskies and food, scattered and perhaps even littered about the venue.

Sirens, drum and bass introduce Blue King Brown’s set, they are rather loud and in your face by comparison. Three female singers dressed in green, sway from side to side, clapping in rhythm as Natalie spread her messages of love and all things political. A substantially larger crowd converged on the stage and Natalie continues with “before we go any further, we’d like to acknowledge the traditional owner’s of this land”. She also casually adds, ‘it’s been a year or so since we been here, the weather is looking fine right about now’. BKB build it up then tone it down, as a vast array of instruments complement their sound. Natalie has blue paint smeared across her eyes and there are ten band members onstage at one time contributing to the soul-choir-funky-blues assembly. There is ascension of musical mania here as most revel in this moment lapping up the beauty.

As Pete Murray comes out of hiding and walks on showing us his beard, it is apparent how inebriated people have become, not only by booze but by song. This band is quite the contrast with BKB, as is their bass player with his Ramones band shirt. Better Days lulls the young crowd and Pete converses with them between songs as though chatting to a mate. ‘You want to support this one and make sure it doesn’t slip through your fingers, you guys are lucky’ he says in reference to the festival.

As the encore is clapped on, the clouds cover over us. ‘This is off our new album, and I haven’t played it for a while so I hope I don’t forget this one,’ Pete says introducing Passing Time. Music is what brings people together, and there is no mistake about the effects it has on this Chill crowd, banding together to bring home a wonderful day at Churchill Island.

CHECK OUT THE PIX FROM THE FESTIVAL HERE