Once a year, a grazing paddock just outside Brisbane becomes the site for BYO-weekend sleepover Red Deer Music & Arts Festival.
It all happens again this October at Mt Samson, where Red Deer will play host to over 25 local and interstate artists.
One of the Managing Directors for the festival, Sean Graham says it has always strived to be a unique experience for the bands and punters. “We are a boutique, BYO festival that looks after regional and emerging artists,” Sean says.
“That's the big focus that we have and we also do book a couple of bigger bands to add that element to the festival and build our profile.
Red Deer Festival sack races
“What we strive to do is provide a really good experience for everyone who attends. We judge ourselves on how satisfied people are when they leave the event. It's not about making money, it's about providing an experience that is a little bit different and a personal experience.”
The Red Deer Music & Arts Festival heads into its seventh instalment this year and although the event has had to grow over the years in order to accommodate its rising popularity, Sean says he and his team have worked hard to keep its original, homegrown spirit intact.
“The first event that we held was really grassroots,” he says, “it still is very much grassroots but the three of us who run the event, none of us have any event management education behind us, we've just learned through experience.
"Every year we've gotten better at running the event, but we do put a lot of energy and resources into any decision we make. “At the first event there was about 500 people there and it was pretty much friends and friends of friends; it was a big, backyard party essentially, with just one stage.”
Take a yoga class at Red Deer Festival
In 2017 Red Deer goes intergalactic with a 'space oddity' theme, promising a memorable weekend of astronomical entertainment in the natural amphitheatre of Mt Samson. “Over the past few years we've themed the event, just because we feel it adds another element and people love dressing-up,” Sean says.
“We [will] dress the festival as a 'space oddity' theme [this year]... I don't want to give away too much, but when people get there they'll hopefully be going on a little space adventure.”
This year's line-up boasts headline acts The Preatures and The Kite String Tangle, accompanied on the bill by Kingfisha, Transvaal Diamond Syndicate, Shag Rock, Leanne Tennant, MC Wheels and much more. “We're absolutely pumped with the line-up this year. We've got some fresh, new stuff out there," Sean says.
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“One of the acts I'm pumped about seeing is The Cool Calm. They played as Cool Calm Collective at our first event seven years ago and they've just put some new stuff out. They'll be a band to definitely watch out for, they've got some cool stuff.
“We get over 100 bands that apply and that task is really enjoyable to go through; unfortunately we can't book everyone, but there are some really talented musicians on the bill for sure.”
