Peats Ridge Festival [DayThree] @ Glenworth Valley(31/12/09)

Mon 4th Jan, 2010 in Gig Reviews

DAY THREE

Taking cover from the rain under tents, Fisher King provided a nice dry area and a chilled-out acoustic set. Informing everyone that last year they also played in the rain on the mainstage, they encouraged people to repeat the festive vibe and again take off their clothes and dance around. Under the shelter of the tent their comment was laughed off, much to the dismay of the band members.

As the monsoon subsided and moved to a light drizzle, the festival’s mask parade began, led by a giant whale model and various stilt-wearing performers. Already drenched, many then headed off to the dirt puddle otherwise called the – œswimming hole’.

Jeff Martin – former frontman of The Tea Party – was not to be missed. His new collection of acoustic folk-rock including Black Snake Blues was welcomed by those masked and ready for the new year, whilst picnic blankets up the back of the main stage were filled with others happy to sit back and relax.

On to local Sydney band Seekae (soon to play upcoming BDO and Laneway). Their extensive range of instruments and glitch-hop influence kept them behind their mixing desks, separating them from a potentially great live atmosphere. However, it will be great to see them perform more of an acoustic-infused live set in the upcoming year.

Catching the end of Ash Grunwald, I was in time to see a Superman-clad festivalgoer jump off the stage after dancing to the blues beats. Graveyard followed, dedicated to the adventurous five-year-old “little man” who jumped up on stage from the audience. Driving straight into Break Out, Grunwald was fuelled with enthusiasm and fed off the energy of the crowded tent.

Sarah Blasko has already been acclaimed as one of the best female artists of 2009, with a total of five ARIA nominations and potential to go beyond. Yet with fame not going to her head, her down-to-earth performance of songs from all three albums had you wanting to run up and give her a massive thank you hug.

The set-list ran through Over & Over, Always Worth It, Planet New Year (ah yes, nice and appropriate), The Gardens End, All I Want, We Won’t Run, Explain and No Turning Back. With confetti flying and a pyrotechnics warning for the handing out of sparklers, Blasko had smiles on all faces.

Clashing with Blasko and the start of Lamb, New Yorker twin duo Telepathe ran tough competition for a crowd. More on the indie side, whilst the two girls put on a good performance, including their newly-released So Fine, they stood out of the regular Peats Ridge vibe.

Lamb. Oh, Lamb. Producer Andy Barlow along with vocalist Lou Rhodes offered a range of music, from their drum – œn bass influenced Little Things and ambient Heaven to the trip-hop style of Trans Fatty Acid. When thinking I could not have been more satisfied, along came the hauntingly beautiful instrumental of Angelica followed by a signing of Gorecki to the hearing-impaired.

Moving from stage to stage was a lucky stumble across MOR (Master of Ribongia). With a range of experimental electro-pop beats, many passers-by took a double back to hang around to join in the quirky sounds, – œ90s 8-bit mixes and fat synth lines, creating a packed-out tent. Work it Out was a mesmerising art display featuring Lanie Lane’s jazz pop vocals (who also played an acoustic solo set on the 30th) and a series of body-suited synchronised stage dancers.

But there’s never time to stand still on New Years Eve. The roots/reggae sound of Blue King Brown had everyone in a wave of arm-flailing during Come And Check Your Head.

No doubt their countdown to the New Year would have been sensational, but I couldn’t tear myself away from the prospect of a party with Sydney’s well loved 11-piece band The Bakery. Bursting into 2010 could not have been in better style than to their soulful funk tunes. To no surprise, fluoro jungle-themed costumes were involved. From the infectious ska of Handsome Young Devil to the grooves of Way Back, the only pause in music was for a quick 10-second countdown to midnight. As usual, the Bakery exceeded expectations for fans, passers-by and families, with well-deserved dancing and applause throughout the entire set.

With everyone already warmed up from the Bakery, Crooked Fiddle Band carried on the festivities. Asking for our lowest humming note, the entire tent went into a Zen-like moment. The Crooked Fiddle Band played to everyone’s – œcelebratory’ state of mind and gave it all they had.

To the artists, volunteers, and everyone who made the festival what it was, Peats Ridge 2009/2010 could have not been better. Even for those brave enough to face the women’s urinals…