The Falls Music and Arts Festival, held in Marion Bay, Tasmania, is wonderfully unique. The site itself is amazing, with spectacular views of the surrounding parklands and an ever-changing, colour-filled sky. Offering something for everyone, the uniquely family-friendly vibe was chilled and relaxed, whilst fun and festive. A strong sense of feeling safe permeates the festival, as a culture of looking after one another is highly evident.
Colour was everywhere. The crowd shared their creativity through a wide variety of costumes, from jellyfish to The Wiggles, and countless ‘onesies’. The constantly changing weather conditions, from cool, wet and windy to blisteringly hot, didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits.
Internationally recognised for its sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives, the ‘Green Team’ at the festival worked tirelessly to maintain the beautiful surroundings. The rows of market stalls shared local quality produce, clothes and artefacts. Whatever your taste, there was an abundance of fresh food available, as well as drinks and ice cream. In the case you forgot something, you could easily pick it up at the ‘General Store’, a one-stop shop for everyday necessities.
The long list of artists, both local and international, all provided memorable performances. Every act conveyed a real sense of enjoyment, which was projected from the stage to their audience, and they were determined to make their performance the very best it could be. With virtually no delays, everything ran close to schedule. Some personal highlights included the performances from Asgeir, Bluejuice, Cold War Kids, DMAs, Milky Chance, Movement, The Black Lips, Wolf Alice, Jagwar Ma and Dan Sultan.
Regardless of whether or not you are a massive fan of Empire of the Sun, you had to respect the energy and production of their performance to bring in the New Year. They delivered an amazing show and there was no better way to see in 2015 than with an Empire of the Sun curated countdown. With help from La Roux who joined Luke Steele and Empire of the Sun on stage, they counted down and showered the crowd with champagne and confetti to ring in the New Year.
Story and photographs with thanks to: Peter Sharp from www.asharperimage.com.au
