Mix together music, culture, art and wonderful people, and the solution is bound to be a success. This is the equation that Corinbank Festival has perfected after their third year of operation.
Corinbank was split up into two stages, (Gibraltar Grove, Billy Billy) the circus stage known as The Bally, and the creative workshops that sat in between the two main stages. Over the three days, workshops ranging from tarot card reading through to body painting, and over fifty musical acts appeared in the backdrop of the luscious Corin Forest.
This was a festival that was geared at all ages. Allowing Under 16’s in for free made Corinbank the perfect family outing, and what a great opportunity for parents to expose their youngsters to culture in a safe and enjoyable environment!
The perfect example the festival’s varied timetable was a set from Australian Hip-Hoppers ‘Astronomy Class’. Performing an hour set on Saturday at the main Billy Billy stage, the group presented a groovy, reggae-influenced set that combined infectious tunes with hard-hitting delivery.
However, as the final song began a crowd member climbed up on stage and asked for the microphone and began to freestyle. Almost as surprisingly as her stage ambush, was the fact she actually had the ability to rap! The scenes became even more crazed when a ten year old boy then rose to the stage to show off his dance moves.
Great music was also shared by some brilliant Canberra artists on the Gibraltar stage, which was run magnificently by the Canberra Musicians Club. Highlights on this stage included the groovy horn -lines of Dub Dub Goose, the heart-wrenching lyrics and melodies of the Ellis Collective, and the self-depreciating yet seasoned performance of the Night Parrots.
Over the course of the festival, many of the workshops also took my fancy. A personal favourite was the ‘Acoustic Herbs and Spices’ workshop lead by Canberrans Simon Atwood and the band the Night Parrots. It was an enthralling workshop that was both humorous and inclusive and attended by young and old.
I could comment on the big names like the rock-star performance of You Am I, or the soulful set of Clare Bowditch, but it was the little things that made this festival magnificent.
The little things like free massages. Yoga. Environmental conservation. Jacinta’s poetry. Learning how to juggle. Food from the Hare Krishna stand. The Chai tent. Mountain bike rides.
The list could be endless.
It is now up to Canberrans to give there support to ensure that this wonderful celebration of life and the environment can continue to prosper.
