Wave Rock Weekender 2009

Wed 30th Sep, 2009 in Gig Reviews

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The organisers of the Wave Rock Weekender 2009 ought to be congratulated. It was everything it said it was going to be, and should be viewed as the pinnacle of festivals in Perth, if not the country. If it doesn’t get up there in our Festival Awards this year it will only be because it happened after most people had cast their votes, and because it is a rather well kept secret. Soul Highway managed to create a weekend full of fun times with none of the unpleasantness that goes along with camping festivals. Even the environment was taken care of; with all vendors being required to use recyclable containers, a coach service for the trip down, even a forest planting to offset our carbon emissions from the weekend. All achieved without browbeating or guilting anyone into it.

After a welcome to the country by local Aboriginal Elders, Mo Wilson and the Drivers kicked off the musical proceedings with an awesome Nick Cave-like voice that insinuated itself throughout the campsite as people were getting their tents up and their drinks on. Their sound was a perfect beginning to a weekend of laid back good times. The band wasn’t much to look at on stage, and didn’t particularly engage the gathering crowd, but that voice was enough for the band to be filed in the memory under – œmust hear again’.

As Lee Memorial took over the stage and filled the air with recognisable indie sounds of storytelling a couple of dancers got going, but most were content to stake out a patch of grass or an upside down bucket and let the vibe wash over them. It seemed as good a time as any to compare notes with friends about the drive down and what awaited punters on arrival. Those who missed out on a coach seat had to drive under their own steam, reflecting on how much petrol they were using and planning to get more organised next year to make sure they weren’t contributing any more carbon to the environment than was absolutely necessary. After possibly the most relaxing four hour drive through bright yellow fields of canola and rolling hills and plains that were unusually green and lush looking, punters arrived at a checkpoint where, with no waiting at all, tickets were swapped for a wristband and directions for dropping off camping gear and parking. Trolleys were available for ferrying excess gear to the campsite (no more than 400 metres from the drop point anyway). Security were more concerned for your back if you were carrying heavy loads than making sure you respected their authoritah.

Day of the Dead made their way on stage with a moustachioed smirk and a spin of the double bass; their – œWelcome to Wave Rock, we’re going to play you a bit of surf guitar’ prompted a few chuckles. Soon it was about time to think about refreshing that drink and finding some dinner. So far, no queue had exceeded about three people. At the bar you could buy pints for $5 or a bottle of wine that they’d keep on ice until you wanted a refill. If vegies and alcohol were your thing, Bloody Marys were also on offer.

As the sun set, and the bite of the cold set in, Boom Bap Pow had people up and dancing, nay high stepping and arm-flailing to keep warm. The funny dancing mania had spread to the entire audience by the time ex-Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks arrived, and while the temperature had dropped to 5 degrees or so everywhere else, dancing bodies and peripheral campfires kept everyone warm. Jamie T’s sore throat related no-show didn’t seem to upset too many people, or if it did, they soon forgot about it thanks to extended sets by everyone else. Malkmus’ tunes could be heard clearly from the top of the rock and not a few people decided that it was a good time to hike up there and enjoy the view, accompanied by a perfect soundtrack.

In seemingly no time at all, it was time for the much anticipated set by Sugar Army, and they did not disappoint. Standing on an upturned bucket at the rear of the frothing mass of fans it was possible to witness the interplay between the band members and their songs and enjoy how the crowd’s reactions fed their enthusiasm. The gift of a rubber chicken hat was received and donned with delight and the final few songs were somehow more intense despite the silly hat.

Final set of the night over, no one was ready to sleep, so it was off to the rock for some dance grooves, or across the road to the 24 hour cinema or to one of the campfires to meet new friends and enjoy intense late night conversations and impromptu sing alongs. Most punters made it into their tents just as dawn was arriving.

Sunday morning and the entertainment started in the nicest possible way with some dulcet tones washing gently through the campsite thanks to Kelly Malone rousing revellers from their bedrolls. As we thought about showers, breakfast, coffee, a swim in the salt lake or a half nap in front of one of the films, Roly Skender and then Steve Parkin provided the soundtrack and while their music was nothing surprising, it was masterfully delivered and contributed to the overall vibe of the day even for those who were not standing in front of the performers. The lovely thing about the day was that no matter where you were, you didn’t feel like you were missing the music, and hopefully the bands still had a decent number of people in their audience.

A genius piece of festival planning was the 24hr cinema showing a selection of documentaries, short films and cult classics. One of the notable docos was an ABC one called Spirit Stones, a masterpiece of cinematography, a simple telling by Aboriginal elders of their memories of an odd event of warm stones falling from the sky over a couple of years and across four towns in the States’ south west in the 1940s and 50s. The phenomenon was experienced by a wide variety of people and has never been explained by science. It was not only the story of the strange event, but the sharing of Noongar memories and legends in a setting as ancient and awe inspiring as Wave Rock that made this a perfect addition to the festival.

Emerging from the cinema like moles into the bright afternoon It was Wagons’ moment in the sun and their performance was considerably more energetic and had people thinking about beer o clock. following on from Wagons everything went a little bit country for a while, thanks to Emily Barker and Justin Townes Earle, and for those who couldn’t really take that much twang, there was a climb to the top of the rock with the camera or another go at attracting interested spectators with impromptu guitar performances at the tents.

Of course, by 5pm everyone was making a beeline back to the stage to stake out a spot for the Sunshine Brothers’ set. They call it Gypsy-dub-reggae, although this set was more like psychedelic ska and included a combination of bass, drums, piano, trumpet, melodica, guitar and the occasional phenomenal vocal from - œCheeky’ Even if you hate trumpets, you will love Sunshine Brothers, look up their next gig and get yourself there any way you can. They don’t play all that often, but you’d be a fool to miss them.

Next up was more of the same from the Menahan Street Band, albeit a little less enthusiastic, and with seemingly less feeling although Charles Bradley could have been James Brown to anyone who couldn’t see. The set was a trifle lacklustre, until the man joined them about halfway through and then everything started to jump. King Tide followed on in a similar vein, and frankly after the Sunshine Brothers everything seemed a bit… well overcast.

Charlie Bucket took over to finish off the night with beated up versions of the dub reggae horn work that had been the fare of the night and everyone seemed pleased to just keep on going well into the morning once again. For those too dubbed out, there was always Dogs in Space to round out a magical weekend.

This is how festivals should be done, and there is a very good reason the Wave Rock Weekender isn’t more aggressively publicised. It is a festival for people who love music, not particular bands, a festival for people who want to spend the weekend with like minded people, not people who want to be seen, A festival for people who don’t need heavy handed security to take care of them. Above all a festival that’s about respect -for each other, the environment and of course, music.

Have a look at Eagle Eye’s stunning gallery