A tranquil South Otago vale will be transformed into an outdoor amphitheatre at Easter. The Catlins River Festival is a gumboots-and-all celebration of local talent. Nigel Benson previews the weekend.
The inaugural Catlins River Festival in 2011 was as close as you could get to Woodstock, a marvellous weekend of music and camping in a sea of mud.
Festival organisers hope Otago's endless summer means concert-goers miss the mud this time round.
The idea for a South Otago music festival was conceived by former Ranfurly resident Glen Davidson, festival marketing manager and Knives at Noon drummer Tim Couch said this week.
''Glen was working as a roofer in Australia, when he fell off a roof and spent a week in a coma. He'd always wanted to organise a festival and that was his motivation to get well again. All of his family and friends helped him with it.''
The inaugural 2011 festival was an instant hit, with more than 1000 people flocking to the bush-clad site.
''It went really well. We managed to give bands a chance to play and made sure they all got paid,'' Couch said.
''We want to really push lower South Island music. At least 80% of the bands are from Christchurch, or below. We've got musicians from places like Balclutha, Gore, Owaka and Kaka Point playing this year. There are a lot of bands that do not often get the opportunity to play in their own backyard.''
The line-up includes everyone from Dunedin's Tamworth Music Festival-winning Kylie Price to Bats and Clean singer-songwriter Bob Scott. Dunedin troubadour Matt Langley performs before the release of his new album, Virginia Avenue, and Alazirin Lizard from its new album Oh Colour, while Owaka's Noise Complaint and Australian bluesman Ash Grunwald fill out the middle section.
Back on duty after performing international gigs are Left or Right, Julian Temple, Organikismness and Soulware, while Minuit and The Nudge will have the gummies jumping.
''For this year, we had a list of bands we wanted to get back from last time and other bands we really wanted to get on the bill,'' Couch says.
''We want to emphasise that it's all about the local south coast community and, especially, the music community. It's a real local event. The locals have even been helping us collect all the firewood.''
Tickets are limited to 2000 to keep the festival a relaxed, family-friendly event and include free camping on-site.
Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. Children under-13 are welcome with an adult, and ticket price is $1 per year of age with proceeds going to the South Otago Plunket.
The 2013 Catlins River Festival is on at River Ridge Retreat from March 30 to April 1.
Gates open at 10am on the Saturday and the music starts at midday.
The line-up
Ash Grunwald, Minuit, The Nudge, Organikismness, Soulware, Budspells, Left or Right. Mountaineater, MC Beau, Rhythmonyx, The Biff Merchants, Dave Boogie, Bob Scott, FazerFace, People of the Land, Julian Temple Band, Jo Little and Jared Smith, Oleh, Alizarin Lizard, Summer Thieves, Kylie Price, Tim Sargeant, Matt Langley, Osmium, Earthshield, Taos, Woosh and Sarah Callander, Tsubliminal, Ink Mathematics, Junglefari, Selective SoundSystem, Sunley Band, Ash and the Matadors, Noise Complaint, Tao's SoundSystem, Ghetto Blaster, Panther Claw, Hooves, Jason Kyle, Two Buck Titties, Tiedye, Matty T, Matiu The Hook, RayJah45, Superfood, Skull Dubbery, Soul Manor, 1 Drop Nation, The Shifting Sands, Soundboy Tom, Kotare, Dejavu, Serpent and Grudge Money.
Getting there
The Catlins River Festival is held at River Ridge Retreat, 348 Catlins Valley Rd, Purakaunui. If driving south through Balclutha, turn left into High St and follow the signs along the Owaka highway. At Owaka, continue south along the Papatowai highway to the Catlins Valley Rd turn-off, about 3km past the Owaka bridge. River Ridge Retreat is another 3km down Catlins River Rd.
What to take
Take: Wet-weather gear, gumboots, thermals, torch, tent, tarpaulin, ID if you are under 18.
Leave: Alcohol, glass, dogs, drugs, gang patches, aggression.
Freebies
The Otago Daily Times has two double passes to give away to the 2013 Catlins River Festival. Name three of the acts performing at the River Ridge Retreat over Easter and email answers to playtime@odt.co.nz or post to Playtime, Catlins River Festival ticket giveaway, PO Box 181, Dunedin.
