Boutique festivals are few and far between in Australia – let alone ones that involve camping! It comes with great relief, therefore, that Playground Weekender is here to create an original atmosphere and an unbeatable experience for punters. Are you ready to experience this? Are you ready to party?
While I personally have never made it up to Wiseman’s Ferry for the festivities, contributor Kate Dunlop is a Playground veteran, and will be covering the 4 day festival for us this year. Of the past, she said: “Playground is the most enjoyable festival I’ve been to in Sydney. The fluro clad tossers are replaced with a non-pretentious crowd who really know how to party. Add to that the beautiful setting of Wiseman’s Ferry, and a diverse line up, it’s the perfect way to spend a few days away from the city.” Meanwhile, Sarah Hiley went on to call it the “best festival in Sydney”. So what’s the weekend all about, and why should you care? Well, let’s take a look at some of the diverse offerings of next weekend’s hotly anticipated festival.
THE ARTISTS
Firstly, there’s the artists – from the cream of the crop, to the bottom of the barrel – Playground Weekender searched far and wide this year, and came out with more than enough goodies to satisfy any taste.
Orbital (Live), Lupe Fiasco, Polyphonic Spree, The Cribs, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Jamie Lidell, Bluejuice, Bjorn Again, Gui Boratto Live, OK GO, Steve Lawler, Cameras, One Flew East, Chicks Who Love Guns, LTJ Bukem, British Sea Power, Norman Jay MBE, Mark Farina, James Lavelle, Prins Thomas, Pivot …. and so many more it will make your head hurt. Head to the PGW Website for the full list.
THE DRESSES
Saturday night is Playground’s fancy dress night – so make sure you come prepared! With this in mind, several of the performing artists were asked: Will you be getting dressed up? If not, what’s the best fancy dress outfit you’ve ever seen?
ORBITAL Phil Hartnoll: “I think I’d go as Harry Tuttle (Google him) Best I’ve ever seen? A particularly mad Elvis.”
OK GO Dan Konopka: “Personally I won’t, but I believe our bassist, Tim Nordwind isn’t afraid to put on glitter and a boa – he’ll put the “fancy” in your party.”
MARK FARINA: Do I have to wear a dress? Never DJ’d in one…
Here’s hoping he wear’s a dress!
EWAN PEARSON: “I haven’t thought about it yet, but last year I was lucky enough to be given a Care Bear outfit from Japan to wear which was fun – I bounded up to Keith from Optimo while he was DJing as Sunshine Bear and it took him about five minutes to work out who it was.”
CAMERAS Fraser Harvey: “I have a penchant for capes and pirate shirts, so probably a combination of the two.” This sounds like a win to us!
THE WALL
Over the epic four days of Playground Weekender 2010, Sydney’s best arts based club night, The Wall, will be taking over ‘The Shack’ bar. 50 selected artists will be allocated a single panel to create artworks in any medium they wish. All artwork will be exhibited and sold at an auction on the last day with proceeds going to HEAPS DECENT www.heapsdecent.com a charity organisation that aims to give indigenous and underprivileged young people the opportunity to access studio equipment and learn how to produce their own music.
The visual delights of The Shack will be complemented by 30 of The Wall’s favourite DJ’s + 20 comedians who will keep you laughing with live comedy from Sydney’s “Stand Up Get Down’ event from 8-10pm Thursday to Sunday.
Artists include; Levins, Spruce Lee, Magic Happens, Bad Ezzy, Cassette, 16 Tacos, Wedding Ring Fingers, DJ Crane, Alex Pye – FBI, M.I.T, Ennsu, Gadget, Nic Yorke, Pipemix, Gabe Clouston, Splitter, Friends With Benefits and Pocahontas & Miss Micha
GREAT CULINARY DELIGHTS
To accompany the stunning line-up, the Wall & Heaps Decent Arts area, the fashion cat walks and Australia’s biggest and most delectable fancy dress event, this year, PGW soars to a new level with the introduction of some culinary delights of note. Firstly, you can book a table at the ‘FINE FOOD’ RESTAURANT and enjoy some Rock Oysters or some Moroccan style Octopus.
Or, if that doesn’t tantalise your tastebuds, You can sup on a Cosmopolitan and look out over the stunning Hawkesbury river at our New Orleans theme SOCO RIVERSIDE COCKTAIL erry. ewBAR, or hang by the pool and enjoy some free pour vodka at the FINLANDIA POOL PARTY BAR. Don’t forget your swimmers!
Meanwhile, Mad Pizza from Darlinghurst will be making the journey to Wiseman’s Ferry. Their bread comes from Infinity Sour Dough, daily delivered greens from Matt Browns Greens, their chicken is free range and chemical free and their lamb is farmed in the Gippsland area. So much yum.
And for the first time you will be able to enjoy a bottle of first rate wine in the lush surrounding of a wine bar with barreled seating. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE MELODLY WINE BAR-Presented by MELDOY WINE, DAN SINGLE OF KSUBI (A.K.A DANGROUS DAN) and ANGUS MCDONALD (SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM).
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The moral of all the above is that this is MORE than a festival – it’s an experience.
… And it’s an experience not to be missed!
Limited tickets remain – it all kicks off THIS THURSDAY!
HERE IS THE TICKET INFO
AVAILABLE AT WWW.PLAYGROUNDWEEKENDER.COM.AU
Early Bird Tickets $130 – SOLD OUT
Limited 1st release 3 day tickets – $159 + b fee – SOLD OUT
Limited 1st release 4 day tickets – $179 + b fee – SOLD OUT
Final release 3 day tickets – $199 + b fee
Final release 4 day tickets – $219 + b fee
Our 2009/10 Summer Festival series comes to an end next week with a focus on the unofficial end to the Summer season… Byron Bay Bluesfest. See you then!
