Southbound - Part One

Part One

Let me get this out of the way. I had a brilliant time at Southbound. I heard some great music, met loads of people, got my dance on like no ones business and kicked around in whatever I wanted without being shunned by Perth's self proclaimed fashion elite. That said, the festival down south was the most poorly executed and organised festivals I have ever had the privilege of attending. From the obscene threats of ticket destruction to uninformative and advertised-soaked booklets I could not help but think that this once premier summer festival concerned with culture, arts and music had turned into nothing but a money spinner.

Gone were the drumming circles after dark, the impromptu indigenous performing arts, the eccentricities of Perth's finest artists. Instead we were exposed to shiny lights illuminating a 15 foot metallic construction filled with cans (it's been done), a toy bobcat perched upon a collection of rubbish bin lids (something I thought was actually a pile of rubbish until I gave it a closer look) and photo booths which may or may not have being taken from your local shopping centre. It seemed the event organisers had taken a “less is more” strategy when thinking of ideas to occupy the $300 paying patrons time when they weren't checking out the artists on stage. It was not surprising at all when, on the last night, bored festival goers decided that a group march would be the best form of entertainment when the music stopped at 10PM. Two mediocre tents open after hours just doesn't cut it when it comes to entertaining 20+ thousand campers.

The major downfall of the festival was also its biggest selling point. The camping section at Southbound this year was always doomed with the announcement and scare tactics of a total alcohol ban. Perhaps it was this in conjunction with the sweltering heat that resulted in a Happy Camping section derive of energy and atmosphere. Alternatively it could've been the ludicrous rules imposed on the campers. A 2am curfew for campers who not only have paid the money to stay, but who are legal adults, is completely patronising. Being told to go to bed by any one other than your folks is really bad form on the organisers part.

I understand that large amounts of money need to come from somewhere to support such a huge endeavour that is a three day music festival. But does it need to come in the form of giant plastic balls with a certain insurance company's insignia plastered all over it? Do we need every major landmark on the even grounds named after a particular sponsor with their brand smashing in our faces? I can't claim to be adept in the study of event management but I have attended enough festivals to realise that there are better ways to achieve the same goal. I think the abundance of advertising can be concluded simply by perusing the home page of the festivals site, 16(!) sponsor plugs compared only four (three of which are concerned with the betterment of social needs) on Denmark's leading festival home page, Roskilde.

To Event Managers – Please look to the world's premiere music festivals if you want to keep your festival running. Give people access to their cars. Provide free or highly subsidised transport to Busselton. Allow campers to take in some alcohol. Get rid of any curfew you have in mind. Give campers a priority section where you provide 24 hours entertainment around the clock. If you're going to claim to provide an arts festival, perhaps display something a little more nourishing than something by Mr. Squiggle (although he is very cool). People are paying money to have fun, give it to them.