The past weekend witnessed the inaugural SPRINGTIME music festival staged beachside in Surfers Paradise (2-4 September).
I make my way from Brisbane to get a big bite of beachside live music festival action, and the weather (3 September) turned out much better than forecasted. As I'm driving the rain is changing from heavy showers to mere sprinkles. I arrive just after 2.30pm and the sprinkles are no longer – you see magic happens in spring.While day one (2 September) may have gone off without me (featuring Hermitude, Sneaky Sound System, JK-47, Peach Fur and others), I'm now in town to witness the music magic that the Saturday and Sunday line-ups have to offer.
Being in such a prime location the sounds of the music and festival signage is drawing punters as well as curious visitors to Surfers at the nearby shops and eateries.
In particular, The Cleaners live performance installation set up by Shock Therapy is so tall that it catches eyes up and down the Esplanade from blocks away. It is a mock-up living room made out of a three-walled shipping container that is stacked on top of another two containers. The whole structure rises well above the ocean horizon behind it.
Two cleaners (actors) are safely harnessed inside and gowned up in PE gear. Their job is to keep the inside of the living room spotless.
The Cleaners - image © Clea-marie Thorne
However, people are queuing for their turn to catapult a paint-filled balloon at the two cleaners and various targets, by launching it from an oversized slingshot. Masses of festival punters and passers-by are constantly stopping by to watch the fun and even have a crack at the target game!
Onlookers have their mobiles high in prayer mode capturing the misses and random bodily strikes. It is here that I meet some interstate holidaying punters and they are telling me they are pretty stoked to have FREE access to great bands, DJs and of course slingshot shenanigans.
Yep, SPRINGTIME is non-ticketed, that is, open to all and sundry and no queues to get in – all part of the magic. The only access restriction is a lawful one, regarding entry to the festival bars of course: ID and wrist-banding are a must.
To the right of The Cleaner's interactive performance, I kicked off at the Beach Stage with my first band of the day, Skunkhour. Opening with 'Weightlessness' I instantly embrace the chill vibe the gathering crowd has got going and grin on as the brass rings out a spread of deep and bright notes over the beach.
Skunkhour - image © Clea-marie Thorne
After 'Back To Basics' the familiar sounds of 'Sunny Side Up' encourages more groovy moves from the 'sand dancers'; I reckon this has got to be the next dance fitness craze – if it isn’t already!
The ocean on the left is pumping out waves to crash on the shore and Skunkhour is pumping out the decibels for the tunes I loved from years ago like 'Up To Our Necks In It' and newer material such as 'Blue'. Punters were thrilled for the close-out song 'Do You Like it' that included a jamming funk mash-up of songs including 'Wishing Well', 'The Boys Light Up', 'I Hear Motion'.
I'm now after a taste of Hauskey and I make my way to the Lifeguard Tower stage – I take a quick squizz at the obstacles set up for skaters at the SPRINGTIME Skate Park between the two stages on the Esplanade.
There are skaters already in there with their boards performing tricks. Some are executed fluidly and others ending in a tumble. I cringe at the latter and make a note to come stop by again.
Hauskey - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Punters are lapping up this solid performance. Hauskey looks right at home on stage and I like this fresh set. One song though that got a big reaction from the crowd was titled 'Help'. We are told it was written after thoughts of jumping in front of a car and understanding that the thought was not right and a need to seek help. Demonstrates a level of emotional maturity as well as encouraging others.
The stellar line-up on the programme has enticed punters from near and far. I am meeting local people as well as some from Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Ipswich, Toowoomba and two lads with ace mullets hailing from Port Macquarie – they're already into it and having a jolly good time and tell me they've been photographed and interviewed a couple of times.
I join a couple on the short stroll along the Esplanade to the Beach Stage for a little bit of Ivey action. Ivey gives us a song about a girl and a Kylie Minogue cover that has the young and the old in attendance dancing in the sand.
Their usual bass player is at a wedding, so we give a cheer for the stand in and are warned they're also using backing tracks to help the band sound like a 'good sh.tty pop band'. Ha! I am glad 'good' was thrown in before 'sh.tty'.
After another song the stage chat gets a little serious and we are told about the McGuffie brothers losing their Dad to suicide and how important it is to take a minute to hold each other close and check in to see they are ok – this one is for their Dad. We are asked if we have friends to dance with them. Ivey end their set with a banging song (no pun intended) that tells us to love who the f... we want!
Ivey - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Samin & Lotnic are pumping tunes from behind the decks at the Lifeguard Tower followed by Saint Lane who also has the vibrations lifting the happy vibe even higher and the dopamine levels are rising.
Back at the main stage the crowd has migrated much closer on the sands toward the barrier for Haiku Hands and with the sinking sun it's time for the pretty stage lights to come into their own.
I am absorbed with the middle eastern sounds of 'Squat' and join the crowd refrain of "It's not about you, shut up! It's not about me either, I am my sisters keeper. . . Chill!" I thought it was comical to see a bunch of punters busting out their '90s Madonna moves to bop to 'Fashion Model Art' – simply perfect!
Haiku Hands - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Giv & Latour and Ebony Boadu select choice beats to have festival revellers young and old boogying back at the Lifeguard Tower. I see some super cuteness with kids dancing on shoulders, or on their feet and real littlies busting moves in their prams – how cool they can get an ear and eye full of festival fun at such a tender age. They may well be the festival directors and musicians of their generation.
If I thought the crowd was hefty before at the Beach Stage, it's now a mega hefty mob. Punters have now filled the sand moshpit and overflowing past the sound desk and lined a few deep along the Esplanade path to catch a full hour of Thelma Plum.
Thelma Plum - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Plum acknowledges the Traditional Owners ahead of her set that opens with 'The Brown Snake', 'I'm Not Angry Anymore' and 'Dollar'. The crowd are cheering the start and finish of her every song, and even give her a cheer when she confesses to spilling her hot toddy on stage.
Plum has the crowd in the palm of her hand and singing along to her original material as well as a cover of Powderfinger's 'These Days'. I hoped 'When It Rains It Pours' didn't jinx us and decided to make like a bat out of hell after the 'Bat Song' to depart the busy Surfers precinct ahead of the mass exodus.
As I leave Plum fans enjoy another three songs, and I can hear the beats kicking out from the Life Tower from Ninajirachi. I hesitate whether to quickly go join the party people to bask in the electronica and delicious mixes but then decide to let them have their fun without me.
After the sand boogey and 20,000-plus steps the urge to go treat my legs to a hot shower and rest before I return for more live music and pedal pushing tomorrow, wins. If only I had ruby slippers!
Saint Lane - image © Clea-marie Thorne
With rested legs, a belly full of coffee, fruit salad and French toast, I'm ready to rock the final day of SPRINGTIME (4 September) with the flock of punters taking on the seagulls for a piece of the beach. The festival site is very much alive beneath white clouds that let blue skies peek and sunshine leak through every so often.
The sunshine illuminates the teal of the ocean and white wave crests in thick bands – a stripy ocean, so pretty, a little nature magic. I hear the blatt of beats from the Lifeguard Tower on my arrival. The Cleaners are already in action and have a constant milling of punters absorbed in their show.
I find it interesting that people get a kick out of seeing other people being pelted with paint bombs – I realise that I am one of them as I cheer on the next punter. Hmm!
There's a real hustle and bustle on the Esplanade today and the good vibes from yesterday are still in the air around me. Today I notice many more punters on wheels.
The Esplanade has been blocked off for the festival but the walkway remains a wheel-friendly place for small, wheeled transportation. As I foot pedal, others are scooting along on roller skates, skateboards, scooters, mini tricycles, wheelchairs, wheelie walkers, bicycles and Segway hoverboards.
The SPRINGTIME Festival site merch and information desk is bathed in sunshine as punters grab a shirt, bucket hat or tote. The Beach Stage has bikini clad girls lazing on towels soaking up the sun and the tunes while children dig in the sand and build sand mounds beside them – wait maybe they are castles.
The Lazy Eyes - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Sydney's The Lazy Eyes are turning on the psych-rock for punters on the main stage and the more they play the more punters are drawn to their set. I am loving the beachy song titles 'The Seaside' and 'The Island'. The set is embraced by the crowd and I have made a mental note to backtrack and check them out.
As expected The Oogars go off in laid-back fashion with a touch of boldness! Bodies are swaying in the sunshine overhead, heads are back and arms are moving to the rhythm.
Most punters are standing back to allow passer-by some room, but I feel it is giving the band space to breathe at least until they draw more into their web of wonderful riffs and rhythms. I am loathe to leave before the end of the set, but this big kid is up for a little bit of Death By Denim who did a marvellous job at jumping in at a moment's notice to fill this slot on the programme and deserve some of my attention. Legends!
The Oogars - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Not much after that I take in a quick bevvie with little South Summit as a chaser before heading on back to the main stage to enjoy the indie rock delights of Alex The Astronaut.
As I hope to catch more of South Summit next week at BIGSOUND, I am all about Alex The Astronaut on this day and as they take the stage many punters are losing their marbles. 'Octopus' and 'I Like To Dance' get roars from the crowd. The place is swamped with fans! Yeah, I know it is a beach.
Alex The Astronaut - image © Clea-marie Thorne
There is barely a break between the stages; it really is a non-stop music festival and I reckon that Teenage Dads are definitely on the wrong stage. The Esplanade path in front of the Lifeguard Tower stage is packed solid with their fans – no one is getting through the thicket of punters quickly.
During set up their lead singer Jordan stops to take selfies with fans holding fast to their front row possies – what a sweetheart! It's not long before they are rocking us all gathered before them. 'Cheerleader' and 'It Belongs To Us' has most of the punters singing or screaming along. Mad set. Mad band – got a long way to go.
Death By Denim - image © Clea-marie Thorne
A clash presents itself and sadly, I will miss Just Jessie who is up next on this stage to relocate myself so I can get a little loose with an hour of the Skegss back on the Beach Stage. The time has come. Skegss who are a must on my SPRINGTIME planner app have fans singing loudly to most of their songs. They are rocking out with them while their crammed as close to the main stage barrier as they can get.
Lads and lasses are up on shoulders under night sky and I think the body warmth of the crowd is an added bonus as I am feeling the air cool considerably. Tonight's headliners hit the stage loose and loud! For fans, the music and seeing their own faces enlarged on the digital backdrop behind the band members is feeding the frenzy.
'Paradise', 'Road Trip', 'New York California' were among the set list that had fans in a state of euphoria and 'Up In The Clouds' got a riotous sing-along in real ocker fashion. They even got a punter up on stage to attempt play guitar with them – kudos to Steph, she really rocked on up on stage. Skegss kept the tunes rolling out to us; at times it almost felt in time to rolling waves on the shore beside us.
Skegss - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Music magic happened in Surfers all weekend long and the surf-rock close out was the finale trick and much better than a rabbit out of the hat! I have trust that the event organisers had some awesome feedback from attendees – from my perspective it was a tight run programme, a kick-ass line-up that catered for lovers of DJ beats and live bands (not that bands don't have beats).
I hope the volunteers, staff and security and clean-up, pack in and pack down crews give themselves a massive pat on the back and big round. Everyone had a smile on their dial and were as helpful as they could be.
To the artists, bands and performers, I am one of many punters who is savouring the experiences I did have and I am leaving wishing I crammed in more but desperately wanting to come back next year with a truckload of buddies for another magical SPRINGTIME experience on the beach.
What a way to mark the turn of the season with an abundance of music – my favourite spring harvest of all!
