Sydney Reviews

Left – Old school funk band featuring Tina Harrod and Verna Canzone. Cover – Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer. Photos – Kurt Petersen

Parking the car at the Mullumbimby Bowlo, we decide to walk up to the Civic Hall to collect our tickets. The Cassettes come sliding and groovin’ toward us and we are momentarily caught up in the act, busting a few old ‘80s moves and not feeling out of place at all. Such is the vibe of the Mullum Music Festival, now in it’s NINTH year – can you believe it? The Magic Bus hoots by, with hippy–as–can–be festival–goers spilling out of the windows, waving and singing at us: we haven’t even collected our tickets yet!

Old School Funk Band kick–start our evening at the Village Vanguard with the sax going off, drum solo clearing the cobwebs and a dance floor already full – it’s 6pm! Pop into The Courthouse Hotel to catch Ladyslug, a local band from Lismore, and WOW, what a surprise! Commanding performance from this four–piece young band: the female vocalist nails it, from head to toe and back again. Voice force TEN, she owns the songs and looks like someone from ‘Blade Runner’. This band is original and fresh with excellent musical delivery. Trying another venue, we hit the Civic Hall in time for Matt Andersen – big man with an even bigger sound: Close your eyes and guess how many muso’s are on stage. Only one? Ridiculous. Blues served up with Canadian style in Mullumbimby; “Have you ever been lonely in a crowded room....” – a lungfull of blues and the crowd go ballistic. Poignant, sensitive and timely, the ‘Coalminers’ Blues’ with “....black on my hands, black on my heart from these coalminers’ blues” brings the first of many a moist–eyeball moment, but with snappy repartee and a touch of the comic (I love Canadians) Matt has the audience in the palm of his hands, admitting to us, “it makes it a whole lot easier when the audience doesn’t suck....!”

Meanwhile, back at the Bowlo, William Crighton is busting a lung (which would prove a truism as he, sadly, missed his last slot on Sunday due to illness) and I am thrilled that we didn’t miss this storyteller with a voice as deep as the ocean. Hard–hitting ‘hollow–soul’ outlaw band of four beard’s worth, like the Kelly gang just got rhythm and rhyme. Mesmerising voice and heart–stopping (I could feel the bassline in my heartbeat) somebody call the doctor..... Unplugged and acoustic, ‘Riverina Kid’ and “...I’d never treat a woman like you like that....” outlined the diversity in a single act, in turn reflecting the diversity that is the Mullum Music Festival.

Saturday up bright and early (so much to do at this festival, from dance to yoga; vocal/drum/tin whistle for kids workshops; bush dance to storytelling) as we don’t want to miss any of it. Impossible, one can’t bear witness to everything, however, sage words were given earlier, “Don’t suffer FOMO – the fear of missing out, be in the moment and enjoy the now”. Wise words indeed, considering the fact that if we didn’t catch a band due to another band on offer, voila, here comes Tash Sultana as vocal back–up for Shelly Brown, and is that Liz Stringer backing Suzannah Espie? Isn’t that Tina Harrod with Hamish Stuart, up on stage together? And the Sonic Lab’s Bread and Butter session, playing tag–team with the essence of the festival acts: imagine if they all had children together!

Said before, this is a festival for musicians as much as it is for the punters as the cross–polination, the very collaboration between performers, all skilled in their own school–of–sound, is a learning curve and experience not often on offer, to musicians, let alone a hungry crowd.

The Biggest Little Town Choir invited Rebecca Ireland (one of Mullum’s rare jewels) to sing a tune written by Rebecca, bringing a swell of pride to many in the audience. From Mavis Staples to AC/DC, this little choir “shook us all morning long....” After choir one needs a good dose of Round Mountain Girls, splitting atoms in The Court House Hotel, pumping blood with Rabbit, many–times–fiddle winner, whipping the audience into a jiggy–lather.

Suzannah Espie, this year’s festival patron, lifted spirits with her beautiful voice and lyrics, culminating in “all her favourite singers” singing her original ‘Wish I Had a Sister’. With this stage full of women, all stars in their own right, harmonising like angels, there was not a goose–bump free arm in the room. On that note, Julia Jacklin, young and accomplished; gripping voice of experience, writing her own material, with melodies far beyond her years, introducing a song from her album, ‘Don’t Let the Kids Win’ with lyrics that made this mother cry. Gareth Liddiard also had a message for the kids, “Leave the room now as I swear a lot” and when nobody retreated, he added, “Seems we’re all in for a treat...” The man is funny, what can I say? He introduces another one, “Here’s a song about the end of the world, this one’s for the kids...” Comedy and balladeering at its best with a poetic look at life right now, scarey and heartfelt. Oh my. Lez Karski Trio brought us back to reality with the audience rocking out the door and spilling onto the lawn: I’ve never seen so many ‘blokes’ on the dance floor. Respect.

Just arrived from Vancouver, Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer ignited the stage at the Mullum High School. ‘Roll with the punches but the punches roll me...” and everyone else in the auditorium. They asked the audience, “can we get greasy”. You betcha, this is Mullum Music Festival, after all! Music that had the punters dancing to the dance floor; on arrival, they were already in full flight–mode. This is H and AM’s first festival in Australia, kick–starting their east coast tour. How lucky were we!

Sunday with Fourplay String Quartet delivering a heavy–metal string–play that spoke to the audience (how did they get their stringed instruments to sound like an angry mob trapped inside?) speaking messages of hope through virtuosity of string–sing. Unbelievable to hear and brought the Civic Hall down (and up in standing ovation). Diversity, did I mention diversity? Ajak Kwai from South Sudan made us feel at home and at ease, with soulful sounds that take you on her journey.

Expect the unexpected at Mullum Music Festival: we had missed seeing Madeline Leman and the Desert Swells but there she was, beautiful as sunshine, with a mix of so many genres and oeuvres and originality. Her band fitted like a glove, with beautiful harmonies (Leah Senior) vibrant, tight, innovative and together they made the complete package. Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel, a festival favourite, never disappoints, always poignant with stories that melt your psyche. She encapsulates the love and warmth of this festival, thanking Glenn Wright, for the festival opportunities, for Vitamin Records producing their albums, for sharing the love and passion that it takes to get such a festival happening.

Everyone wants to be part of something – small endeavours or larger commitment. Village atmosphere conjures up a sense of people and place; the ‘weirdo’ with the ‘do’ and the mature lady with the pirate outfit do not look out of place, nor do they stand alone. An event like a ‘whole–of–town’ festival affords the famous and the fragile alike a sense of being and belonging: in the case of the Mullum Music Festival, this all–inclusive festival offers everyone a place in the sun.

A major feature of the festival is the Youth Mentorship program, and to quote: “For young musicians seeking to find a path in the music industry, a mentor can be life changing. Over the past seven years Mullum Music Festival has nurtured and ‘grown’ new artists through it’s coveted Youth Mentorship Program, partnering the region’s musical youth with the cream of the festival’s talent.” With Nattali Rize, Carlo Santone (Blue King Brown), Shelly Brown, Suzannah Espie and Chris Mallory (Two Lions) providing mentorship, and ‘wild card’ entry, along with Director’s pick, the opportunities afforded by this festival are seemingly endless!

Sharing music gives us all a voice, be it with our own musical prowess or silent listening, as an appreciative audience. Festival organisers make this all happen, a huge endeavour, by all counts, bringing so many talented to one festival at one time. This commitment to live music gives all of us a chance to revel in the atmosphere, the vibe, the essence of what makes a music festival so special; we all ‘come together’ at these special events and without the spirit of music remaining alive in such people as Glenn Wright, Festival Director and organiser par excellence there would not be a Mullum Music Festival, and how sad would that be? Round of applause and take a bow, Sir Glenn.


2016 Mullum Music Festival

Venue: Through the streets, cafes, pubs, halls and clubs of Mullumbimby, Northern NSW
Dates: 17 – 20 November, 2016
Bookings/info: www.mullummusicfestival.com