SURVIVAL GUIDE: The Summer Season Of Festivals

Summer is almost here and its time to hitch up those dacks and laminate those timetables, because festival season is rearing its fun little head. As any punter would know, there are certain guides to surviving each individual festival and here are some cheeky pointers that are guaranteed to give you a good time, many memories and definitely some form of blister on your heels.

MEREDITH FESTIVAL

What began as a shy little gathering for around 200 people in 1991 has blown up into one of the must-see events of 2012. With acts like Primal Scream, Grimes, Regurgitator and Tame Impala; Meredith promises to be a mini city filled with many delights to survive.

1. Be sure to spend some dollars at the International Food Court. There is nothing better than watching Chet Faker with a gozleme in hand. Trust me, I saw many doing it at Splendour In The Grass this year and they were bloody loving it.

2. Meredith Festival has a rare little secret. It is BYO. Yes you heard me right, you can buy a six-pack or slab of your respective tipple at the bottle-shop provided on site. To survive, please refrain from carrying said six-pack on one’s shoulders. Just don’t.

3. The site has an ampitheatre, which means you will be in touch with nature. Bring Aero guard. You might be seen as “that guy/chick with Aero guard” but by the time the summer mosquitos come out to play, you will be seen as, “that lord with the Aero guard who I really want to be my friend”.

FIELD DAY

Field Day is held in Sydney’s Domain, which is a beautiful big oval that not only makes you want to kick a ball around but also implores you to watch some amazing acts. The line up boasts Hot Chip, Mark Ronson, Fake Blood and Coolio (to name a few).

1. Every year I have been to Field Day I have come home looking like a lobster. Pack some goddamn sunscreen as the Domain has little shade, especially if you like being all up in your favourite artists’ face.

2. Go and see our Purple Sneakers DJs. When you see them, do not stand there with a drink in your hand and look coy. Pretty please lose your keys, wallets, hats, undies and shit in that set. Thank you.

3. Learn all of the words to ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ before seeing Coolio. Show the man some respect. Or at least learn the first few lines, “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there’s nothing left. Coz I've been something and something so long…”

FALLS FESTIVAL

The majestic Falls Festival is one of the most coveted tickets in the summer festival season. The three-day extravaganza is filled with art, comedy, camping and an array of genres of music. The Flaming Lips, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, The Hives and Two Door Cinema Club are some acts you will find in Lorne and Marion Bay.

1. Do not listen to that advertisement that was on TV ages ago about a three-day festival needing only one pair of undies. That was a lie and you don’t want to be THAT guy. Pack some undies and guard them with your life in your tent at night.

2. The night before the festival begins, the generous Falls organizers are hosting a ‘Boogie Nights’ event on site. You will not find Mark Wahlberg there in tight flares. But you will find Muscles and a bunch of crazy costumes, so get involved and excited for the days to come.

3. Don’t just make sure to pack your cool new shades for the blinding sun, pack those 3D glasses everyone got when they went to see Avatar as Falls offers an outdoor cinema attraction that begins as soon as the sun goes down. Although, who would really be watching a movie while Hot Chip is on stage?

SOUTHBOUND

Now although this festival is located EASTbound, the Southbound festival is one that promises to be a weekend to remember with an impressive line up that sees the likes of Parachute Youth, Bombay Bicycle Club, Flume and The Vaccines.

1. The two-day event boasts some of the most amazing acts on the summer festival schedule. This may mean that there will be clashes in your timetable. Take one silver coin and a trustworthy friend who will toss it for you and help you make the gut wrenching decision about who to see.

2. If you aren’t one for setting up outdoor equipment, there is a solution for you! The Pampered Camper ticket allows the more precious type of punter to have a tent set up and waiting for them upon arrival. You will even have your own Pampered Camper shade provided for you! As it is seen as a rite of passage to set up your own campsite at a festival, to survive Southbound you should at least bring a fold out table to unload, you know, to assert yourself.

3. It’s going to get hot, so the ultimate survival technique for Southbound would be to bring a blow up pool to your campsite. You will be the toast of your mates, you will provide a make shift esky and there is nothing better than planning out your day while submerged in water (note: must laminate timetable before usage).

BIG DAY OUT

1. Make sure you check out Foals, Sleigh Bells, Vampire Weekend and Band of Horses

Good luck! Just always remember to eat your vegetables, don’t stare at people and keep your elbows off the metaphorical table while out in the sunshine this summer. With these handy tips, you will no doubt survive the music festival season, leave with an impressive wristband tan and enough sun soaked memories to last you till next year.

Words by Jess Holton