Woodford
[Timestamp in AEDT]
I spent New Year at the Woodford Folk Festival. I honestly had never heard of it until Penelope Swales, who I now have the honour of calling a sweetie, invited me there, but it turned out to be one of the biggest folk festivals in the world: some 150,000 people, over a dozen stages and venues, scores of stalls and activities, and given the deluge that has hit Queensland in recent weeks, lots and lots of mud.
I'd heard it ended with a performance involving fire, so I somehow expected it would feel a bit like Burning Man, but it was actually a lot more like the Harmony Festival in Sonoma County, California. It was thus more mainstream than I was expecting: people were less creatively dressed, and, well, everyone was actually dressed. The cost was like the Burn, though, even more expensive, in fact. But since a good chunk of the money goes towards their 500 Year Plan of habitat restoration, I didn't mind paying them. The site is already beautiful: bushland, native palms, hills, lots of waterways (marshes and billabongs functioning as floodways this month-they thought this through!) and frogs and butterflies everywhere, with signs to help identify them. Still a lot of grassy, muddy fields left too, though, and the mud didn't smell too good... it'll take a while longer for a century of cow poo to completely dissipate.
For me, the theme for the event was serendipity. I decided this when porcineflight dropped me off at Caboolture Station, and while we waited for the connecting bus to pick me up for the event, she rang one of the more active poly group members that she wanted me to meet. It turned out he was at the festival, and he met me at the bus stop and helped orientate me. Then he went further: he pulled some strings to allow me to camp with his posse in the season campers area, which was far more convenient than the overnight camping where I was supposed to be. This saved me from walking over a big, muddy hill, or riding a crowded, muddy bus. He even helped me set up my tent! I could hardly have imagined a better welcome!
The serendipity continued throughout the weekend. Penelope and I had had a hard time keeping in touch in the proceeding week, partially because of her performance schedule and partially because of my stuffed mobile 'phone. But our schedules ended up meshing perfectly! We spent the first night together, and the next day we hung out a lot with her primary partner, Jack. I'd met him before but didn't get a chance to get to know him, and he's pretty awesome-my favourite metamour in Australia.
me, Penelope and Jack-I was pretty worn out at this point!
I spent most of the 31st with them, but wanted to do something more lively than them as New Year was approaching. I ran into a woman who I'd met when I arrived at the event, and she'd just ditched her drugfucked companions and was looking for somebody to welcome in the new year with. She was cool to hang out with.
And then, that evening, I ran into mordwen. I've ceased to be surprised by the interesting places on both sides of the Pacific that I run into her, but the timing was perfect, especially for her. It was New Years Eve and we were both in a contemplative mood, and the opportunity to clear some 17-year-old baggage was very apt. And I'd never seen her with offspring before-very cute, and it's amazing what toddlers will sleep through!
I enjoyed the performances, which were a mix of folk and other types of music. Unfortunately, I didn't arrive in time to see You Am I play, nor the act before, which included some members of Midnight Oil. But I did see Penelope's band, Totally Gourdgeous, for the first time, named after the fact that Penelope made all the instruments out of gourds. I also went to some interesting workshops, everything from a panel on climate change to former prime minister Bob Hawke talking about the importance of unionism. A much more recent PM, Kevin Rudd, also had a speaking gig. Labor lost big time in Queensland at the last election, so clearly their big names have already started working to regain lost seats.
Bob Hawke, and Tin Can Radio in the rain
There was also one kinda Burnerish, interactive performance art installation. It had a pig theme, which meant I had to show it to porcineflight, when she came up for a day at Woodford with rachaelbrennan. And there was other weird shit:
The thing I liked most was the craft activities. Not only was this a great thing for kids and families to do, but it was a means of contributing to the grounds. For example, they had blocks of clay suitable for pavers, and you could carve things into them, for all to see as they walk over them at future events. I used it as opportunity to encourage people to come to Burning Man-I meet a lot of Sydney people who have been, but not Brisbane peeps, so a lot of Woodford folks asked me about it.
Overall, I enjoyed Woodford. I'm not dying to go back, especially not given what it cost, but I totally see why Brisbane's alternative scene gets so excited about it, and I'd definitely tag along if a group of fun friends wanted to go.