It’s hot. It’s so hot that only an hour into our foray into The Pro Show we ask if it’s okay to leave and come back as the beckoning view of blue green waves and white wash is just too much to bear. And we can still hear the tunes from the beach, so it’s okay.
We’re a bit late getting to the festival and it appears that a lot of people are planning to do the same as when we arrive the crowd is small and those who are there are desperately trying to find or construct some shade. One advantage of the as yet limited turnout is that we’re able to walk straight into the bar to be served very cold cans and can use the amenities with the greatest of ease.
The site is good for a festival of this size. There are two stages facing the water with the surrounding hills forming a natural amphitheatre. The DJ tent doesn’t fare as well being an adjunct to the end of the bar marquee and, being effectively drowned out by the main stages, remains almost empty for the entire proceedings. It becomes apparent that the festival organisers, while having a good go at it with a good PA system, a good site and ample security, have overlooked some of the basic requirements of such an event as later in the day it becomes apparent that there aren’t enough toilet facilities for the growing crowd, the bar line starts to wind and stretch for far longer than many are prepared to join and my friend finds out that the promise of “plenty of free water” is a relatively hollow one.
However then there is what we’re really here for – the music. We arrive as Beau Young is playing and from his crooning and the rest of the advertised line-up it’s clear that we’re in for a low-key afternoon full of acoustic guitars and chilled hip hop beats.
The first half of the afternoon is filled with a selection of Gold Coast surf rock bands and Pete Molinari from the UK offers something a little country in between. There is a small crowd of dancers moving and milling, up until Brissie’s purveyors of hip hop, Winnie Coopers hit the stage and the jumping begins.
Roger That encourages a lot of crowd interaction and invites as many people up on stage to dance as they possibly can without endangering their equipment or their lives.
Tim Bonython presents a montage of surf clips from the last 25 years to much appreciation from the surfer rich, or skegcentric, crowd.
Not long from their journey on the Big Day Out bus, The Herd get everyone’s feet in the air busting out energetic rhymes and killer beats. The crowd swells as the sun sets.
Ash Grunwald is a keen surfer and fits this festival like a custom wet suit. His blend of folk rock roots is a winner with this crowd and the barefoot sand dancing has definitely taken over as more people are on their feet than their butts now. Ash plays all of his festival favourites, with Dolphin Song & Take The Drop getting the biggest response with there tales (hehe tail) of ocean living and surf herocism.
As dusk decends over the nearby waves, The Beautiful Girls thrill their adoring audience with their brand of relaxed sing-along songs. Then their guest ukuleleist and lead vocalist is a very welcome surprise! Eight time world surfing champ, Kelly Slater, takes to the stage with these stalwarts of the festival circuit to knock out a really good rendition of Paul Simon’s Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes. All of those on and off stage looked to be having a blast and as the beach towels were collected off the grass and the little kids carried off home to bed, any thoughts of the lacking facilities at the inaugural Pro Show fast become a distant memory.
