Gemma Dempsey, Host of the Global Gig Guide interviewed a variety of Australian artists and festival directors to find out about music festivals down under. Check out her conversations as she catches up with new indie bands fresh out of bed - artists like Missy Higgins and Gabriella Cilmi on the road, music fans dangling off buildings and festival curators putting the finishing touches to their events.
Photo: Big Day Out crowd shot by Tony Mott
Sahara Herald Shepherd, National Event Coordinator - Big Day Out
Sahara talks to GD about what it's like to coordinate the biggest Australian festival for the last 17 years
and why Adelaide is one of the great cities on the tour to check out. The Festival features Neil Young, TV on the Radio, Artic Monkeys, Cut Copy, and more.
For more: www.bigdayout.com
Danny Rogers, Co-Founder - Jeromes Laneway Festival
What started as a big street party in Melbourne with the Avalanches has grown to an inner city national tour, each venue
picked for never having had a music event held there before and boasts a long and eclectic list of artists.
For more: www.lanewayfestival.com.au
Missy Higgins
Multi award-winning singer songwriter and KCRW favourite, Gemma chatted to Missy as she was on the road in Minneapolis; she talks about the musical hot bed of Melbourne and some of her favourite festivals.
For more: www.missyhiggins.com
Gabriella Cilmi
At the age of 17 Gabriella has won 6 ARIA awards (the Australian equivalent of Grammy), has performed on the same
bill as REM, and talks about how her love of food and music make going to festivals one of her favourite occupations!
For more: www.gabriellacilmi.com
Julian Hamilton of The Presets
Gemma found Julian at his apartment in Sydney busy marinating lamb chops for his barbi! He talked about the
popularity of dance music in Australia, what its like to perform in a small venue or a large on and the effect of My Bloody Valentine on ones eardrums!
For more: www.myspace.com/thepresets
Woody MacDonald, Music Director - Meredith & Golden Plains
Woody has been in the business of music and booking events since the age of 14; now 23 he curates the music for Meredith and Golden Plains held 90 mins from Melbourne on one stage in a supernatural amphitheatre.
For more: www.goldenplains.com.au/page_superAmp.php
Bill Hauritz, Festival Director - Woodford Folk Festival
A unique festival near Brisbane has over 600 acts ranging from writers workshops, circus performers, musicians and artists with an emphasis on community and building for the future.
For more: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com
Paul Pittico, Co-Founder - Splendour in the Grass; Owner, Dew Process Label
This festival takes place in the Australian winter so has less competition with all the dozens of events in their summer time. Takes place in beautiful Byron Bay - the most easterly point of Australia.
For more: www.splendourinthegrass.com
Tjupurru
Tjupurru plays didgeridu and didgeribone and talks about the difference between the two ; his favourite festivals and what is was like to perform at Femmes Funk in New Caledonia.
For more: www.tjupurru.com
The Temper Trap
The Temper Trap has a U2/Radiohead type of sound thanks to the unique vocals of lead singer Dougy - he talks about his favourite festivals and recording their debut album.
For more: www.myspace.com/thetempertrap
Michael Chirnside
Gemma met Michael at Burning Man and discovered he lived near her sister on the Gold Coast - turns out he is an industrial abseiler so she called him while he was hanging from a 32 storey building to chat about music and the view below!
Yves Klein Blue
The band was in L.A. recording their debut album and came to KCRW to chat about the album, touring and what a difference a year can make.
For more: www.yveskleinblue.com/
Little Red
A 'doo wop punk' band out of Melbourne - they have toured most of the Australian festivals and now hope to venture overseas. We also learn how the band enjoys doing the 'Coca Cola' dance when they go out for a night out on the town (the video is great and was inspired by Jean- Luc Godard no less!)
For more: www.myspace.com/littleredmusic
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