CherryPopper

As some of you know i do lighting for bands as a side job and this time i got sent down to Apollo Bay's Music Festival for 3 days of rain, cold winds and the occasional great band that made it all worthwhile. I was on the B stage doing the lighting there for all the acts that played, no rest for me.

It kick off on Friday with a few boring acts but then Skipping Girl Vinegar popped onto my stage and impressed me with their catchy tunes. One song sounded great but listening to the recording on their site it didn't quite capture this songs "vibe" that well, the song was "Sift the Noise". The rest of the Friday was pretty boring.

Saturday kicked off early with my stage staring at 10.30am with Bonjah with their unique sound. The song that caught my attention with these guys was "My Patience" grooooovy little tune. Pretty boring to light but it kept interesting enough to keep me awake before I had time for my coffee.

Next up was one of the big acts of the festival, Kate Miller-Heidke. Apparently she has been on Ch7's sunrise a few times but I never get up that early (anything before 10am should not exist). I started off pretty mello but her songs all had a bit of a funny story to tell which kept it fun to light. But the main reason I remember this act was their cover of John Farnham’s You’re the Voice. Now while this wasn't too out of the ordinary it started off slow and then out of nowhere gets very rocky and totally caught me off guard to their audio mixing guys amusement... having me scramble to kick off a faster scene with the lights only to have it slow right down again until the next chorus. But her little stories out side of the songs were also quite funny with one story about having to sign a kids dirty jocks only to have him ask who she was after waiting 2hrs in the line!!! Kate also has an amazing opera type voice.

Dallas Frasca busted her way onto my stage later that day and she's always a lot of fun to light & very random. She loves to jump into the crowd to the dismay of security who have to protect her. I've also never seen someone have absoulty no respect for a stomp pad (pad you stomp on to make a drum beat). Great live act though and man can she sing, i don't think she needed the mic at all.

I had been told that there was a rock band coming up on my stage which after a few country and shit boring acts was a welcome relief. Electric Mary crashed onto my stage and boy did i love it. FINALLY a band i could sink my teeth into. They came out loud and kicked the crowd's ears... I came out bright and kicked the crowd in the face with my lighting show. After a day of pent up lighting i let it all out on one band and blew the crowd away. Strobe's, fast movements silhouettes and much more... even I was impressed with my work. I love rock & roll, it so suits my style of show. The band loved it too with them & a few of their friends coming up to say that fucking ROCKED, great work. Its times like that i love doing lighting.

Overall it was a great festival even if it was a little boring in parts. After freezing my ass off for the entire festival i was glad to get home to a warm bed.