Things we learned at V Festival 2007
Finally, the V Festival phenomenon has travelled from the UK to reach Australian soil. A line-up large enough to span three continents with the punters ready to pay homage to the likes of The Pet Shop Boys, Beck, The Pixies and Groove Armada, there is nothing left to do except Go!
It is a merry troop (on our bus anyway) who set out on the winding journey from Carrara Stadium to a place none of us knew existed. Nestled somewhere inland of the Gold Coast - Merrimac lies Avica Resort aka: “by the way, where the hell are we?”
What a great venue it is though, perhaps selected for its natural acoustics rolling acres of rich, green lawns that housed three big stages. This Stage, That stage and the Other stage (a novel way for organisers to identify them) each waiting to burst forth with some cranking tunes.
Event organisers had taken the time to compile a list of a dos and don’ts to assist in making the day the ”greatest of our mortal lives” I took the liberty of recording my own dos and don’ts to get festival goers by.
Don’t furrow your brow at the bad fashion you spy wandering through the gates. Surrender to the fact V Festival focuses on the fashion of earlier eras more so than any other.
Chances are you will be caught cringing at band members, sporting designer silver pointy shoes and no, they won’t be girls. You know who you are Mr Valentino.
Do make sure you bring a packed lunch.
For eating while waiting in the queue for drink tickets. Half an hour will pass in no time.
Do embrace the rain.
We are in drought and just because the heavens have waited 43 days to open, we should be happy it occurred at all.
Don’t expect to comprehend the logic that goes along with purchasing said drink tickets – it won’t be explained to you.
The system is not like other festivals where you purchase tickets as per type of drink you wish to consume. Rather exchange your money for tokens of equivalent value. This requires that you to calculate how many drinks you think you’ll consume a task for some more mathematically challenged among the group.
Do read your map to understand where you are in relation to the key stages.
This will take some time especially if you are navigationally retarded.
Do expect to be frustrated when you learn you are confined to drink in locations that aren’t really in close proximity to any of the stages.
Do smile politely when the person in front of you at the bar is requesting four Jaeger- bombs and the bartender doesn’t understand what this entails.
Do beg, borrow, or steal a Virgin branded mobile to present to the girls at the VIP section of the V Bar.
They will then give you a silver wristband with VIP emblazoned on it. You will be free to rest tired tootsies and take advantage of pristine toilets as well feel free to buy drinks located in close proximity to somewhere that is playing music.
Or better still, know the promoters who have gold VIP wristbands to give away at their discretion. This will entitle you to the above luxuries but also an open slather = free bar.
If you are able to snaffle a VIP wristband, do then smile all day knowing you don’t have to worry about half of the above do’s listed.
Do be mindful of those rocking out to the music, be it to the Pixies or The Rapture.
Whilst it’s great to see shirtless bodies must they gyrate up against you in 80s fashion victim attire? Yes it’s great they are able to enjoy dancing but encourage them not to do it on top of you.
Do run through the meadows and commune with nature.
Why not? It’s a novel adventure this Avica Resort V Festival.
Do have a sense of humour for when you get back to the car and are forced to sit in another long queue (not dissimilar to the one you encountered buying drinks tickets) to get home.
Do make sure you buy your ticket for the next V Festival.
You won’t be disappointed – the crowd is friendly, and there is plenty of fantastic music to appeal to all music tastes.
Photos by Angus Martin
Posted: October 11th, 2008 under ALBUMS, FESTIVALS, LIVE GIGS.
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