Peats Ridge Festival

Last updated

Peats Ridge Festival was an Australian sustainable arts and music festival, held in Glenworth Valley, Peats Ridge, one hour's drive north of Sydney and a 90-minute drive from Newcastle, New South Wales. Established in 2004, one year after the death of the founder of the Glenworth Valley Horse Riding facility, the Festival was recognised as one of the world's leading sustainability events. [1] It ran for three days around New Year's Eve, from 29 December to 1 January. The event organisers relied heavily on volunteer support, and volunteer service was rewarded with a free ticket. That type of employment strategy was one of many of the sustainable options chosen by the organisers of the festival.

Contents

The festival was a camping event and was open to all ages, with free entrance for children under six, and a full program of events and activities for families and children, in addition to family camping areas.

In addition to the music artists, the festival featured an arts program packed with visual and installation arts, performance, comedy, contemporary dance and theatre. Peats Ridge was recognised for discovering and presenting up-and-coming bands and artists, supported by an application process for emerging acts. In 2010 Angus and Julia Stone, previous up-and-coming artists, headlined on the first night of the event, showing the goodwill that the festival fostered between organisers and performers alike. [2]

Shortly after the 2012 festival, the company running it went into liquidation, citing poor ticket sales. [3] However, there were accusations that Matt Grant, the festival organiser, had embezzled $1.3 million and destroyed records. [4] Many creditors, including the John Butler Trio, were owed a total of $1.25 million. [5]

Awards and accreditations

The Peats Ridge Festival was recognised on both a national and international level for its focus and achievement in sustainability. The festival was awarded:

The Peats Ridge Festival was officially acknowledged by the UN for its work in environmental education, and in 2010 was the founding partner of the UN Music and Environmental Initiative. [12]

Glenworth Valley

Glenworth Valley is one hour north of Sydney and 15 minutes from Gosford, located in the hinterland region of the NSW Central Coast. A 90-minute drive along the freeway from Newcastle, the valley features 3,000 acres (12 km2) of wilderness and is situated around the winding Popran Creek, which leads to the Hawkesbury River. [13] The festival site was located in flat green meadows and was surrounded by a wooded escarpment 200 metres high. There were three designated swimming holes, two in the Festival precinct and one alongside the non-vehicle camping area, all of which had lifeguards on duty each day. In addition to the arts, music, workshops and performance programs, The Glenworth Valley Adventure Centre offered a range of activities aimed at helping people enjoy the natural surroundings of the valley.

Sustainability

Peats Ridge Festival was one of the first festivals in the world to promote, and continue to advocate sustainability. It was also the first major Australian event to run solely on renewable energy. Peats Ridge encouraged its suppliers to minimise waste from the festival. For example, stallholders were required to sort their waste into three different types: recycling, compost and general. Scraps were composted, recycling sorted and waste disposed of in a sustainable manner, in accordance with the Festivals guidelines. Just about everything bought or sold at the Festival was either recyclable or compostable. Volunteer staff collected the rubbish and sorted through it before it left the grounds. Though some flooding was known to occur at the site, the festival was generally unaffected by flooding problems. However, the 2007 the festival was cancelled for the only time due to extreme weather. [14]

The festival featured many initiatives for running a sustainable event, such as using composting toilets, a rafted reed bed grey water management system, source separated waste streams, composting, the use of low-impact cleaning products, using reclaimed materials for event décor, and a container return system for all drink containers and cups.

Other initiatives included:

As part of the sustainability program, Peats Ridge featured an Eco Living Village, which was an educational space promoting sustainability activities. There was a diverse series of workshops, running across the entire duration of the festival, examining a broad range of sustainability topics, including: waste reduction, grey water management systems, composting, community gardening and improving workplace sustainability. The Eco Village also features an organic shopping market with organic food and coffee outlets. Markets featuring clothes, crafts, music, toys, food and more are open every day.
The Peats Ridge team were involved in an educational capacity to promote event sustainability through university lectures, guest speakers to new event managers, event case studies and collaboration with government and community programs. In 2010 the festival was the only southern hemisphere founding partner in the United Nations Music & Environment Initiative.
The festival developed the online "Model Event" gateway on the Peats Ridge Festival website. This portal shared information on matters such as green procurement, waste management, grey water systems and emission reductions, for events of all sizes.

Indigenous program

The Peats Ridge Festival included a program dedicated to Australia's indigenous heritage and featured strong indigenous components within all elements of the program, including music, dance, food, workshops, movie screenings and artworks. An Indigenous Boardi Space [18] was organised and run by the local Darkinjung people, and was dedicated to their stories and culture. Workshops and knowledge sharing sessions were held, examining the stories of the land, bush foods, medicines and culture of Australia's indigenous people. The opening and closing ceremonies of the festival featured elements of Australian indigenous rituals, which are aimed at acknowledging the spirits of the land.

Children's program

In addition to the dedicated family camping area, the festival featured a children's program. [19] There were three areas that catered for all ages of children: ages 3 to 7, ages 7 to 12, and ages 13 to 17, each with a program filled with art, music, dance, performance and more. The youngest children could enjoy the Rainbow Garden, an under seven's children's play area, puppet shows, face painting, children's yoga, children's theatre, circus skills workshops, and many other children's performances. For young teens aged 13 to 17, the Chillout Lounge featured workshops on song writing, body percussion, cartooning, fashion and jewellery making. In the evenings, the Chillout Lounge was where young people could showcase their talent, and sing, recite, dance, juggle or perform. The Lounge also provided space to relax on couches, paint, and enjoy live performances and DJs.

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve was celebrated by a masquerade parade in which everybody at the festival, including performers and artists were involved. [20] Costumes and masks were encouraged, and there were mask-making workshops which provided the necessary fabrics and accessories. The New Year's parade kicked off in the early evening, and snaked its way through the festival, picking up people as it went. The remainder of the evening featured the usual musical acts and dance parties, and continued late into the night.

Workshops and healing area

The Festival featured a wide range of free workshops, all of which were designed to suit adults of all ages. [21] Workshops include Pilates, stand up comedy, taekwondo, poi, Bollywood, singing, yoga, African dance, juggling, laughter yoga, capoeira and more. The Healing Haven was a focused area for calm and healing, and included workshops and sessions with a focus on natural healing.

Arts and music programs

The Peats Ridge Festival was recognised for discovering and presenting up-and-coming bands and artists. There was an application process for artists and musicians which allowed new arts and music projects to apply to perform at the Festival. Hundreds of bands and thousands of artists performed each year at the festival.

Arts program

The Peats Ridge Festival featured a dedicated area for arts and theatre, called SideWays Alley, located along the riverfront. [22] The arts program featured over 1,500 artists, performing puppetry, mime, spoken word, dance, music, circus and visual arts. A main feature was the Bohemian Love Theatre, which was described as "a barefoot velvet vaudeville club, boho glam rock ‘n roll circus, a bohemian absinthe den, and lost-in-tie faerie tale speakeasy dream world," [23] and featureg a number of comedy, dance, circus, cabaret and musical acts. The backyard of the Bohemian Love Theatre is the Avant Garden is a space for painting, organic wine and Sangria and enjoying the surroundings. The application process provided opportunities for new artists to establish themselves in an internationally recognised arena.

Musical acts and line-ups

The Peats Ridge Festival appreciated different styles of music, and featured new and developing bands. Musicians could also apply via a similar application process to that for artists. [24] The festival featured eight stages of music, including the dub shack, and a disco tent, as well as partner stages with sponsors. Stages featured were:

Festival line-ups featured a combination of Australian acts and internationally acclaimed artists.

2005

2006

2007

In 2007, the Peats Ridge Festival was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. Improvements were made to the site, making a recurrence less likely.

2008

(This was 'take two' of the cancelled 2007 Peats Ridge Festival. A similar line-up of performers, as listed below, had been booked to perform in 2007. All artists apologised to the crowd during their performances.)

2009

2010

2011

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOMADelaide</span>

WOMADelaide is an annual four-day festival of Music, Arts and Dance, which was first held in 1992 in Botanic Park, Adelaide, South Australia. One of many WOMAD festivals held around the world, it is a four-day event that presents a diverse selection of music from artists around the world, as well as side events like talks and discussions.

The National Folk Festival (NFF) is a longstanding, Australian family friendly celebration of all aspects of folk music and culture. It is held every year at Easter in the national capital, Canberra.

The Hebridean Celtic Festival or HebCelt is an international Scottish music festival, which takes place annually in Stornoway on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Headliners to date include Runrig, Van Morrison, Deacon Blue, The Fratellis, The Levellers and KT Tunstall. Many other acts take part in the event, including visiting international artists, solo artists and local musicians. The festival regularly attracts over 16,000 attendees and provides significant economic and cultural benefits for its host area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nambassa</span> Festivals held between 1976 and 1981 on large farms in New Zealand

Nambassa was a series of hippie-conceived New Zealand festivals held from 1976 to 1981 on large farms around Waihi and Waikino in the Waikato. They were music, arts and alternatives festivals that focused on peace, love, and an environmentally friendly lifestyle. In addition to popular entertainment, they featured workshops and displays advocating alternative lifestyle and holistic health issues, alternative medicine, clean and sustainable energy, and unadulterated foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance Hub SA</span>

Dance Hub SA, formerly Leigh Warren & Dancers or Leigh Warren + Dancers (LWD) and then LWDance Hub, is a contemporary dance company based in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Formed in 1993 by Leigh Warren, the company toured internationally and won several awards.

Damian Woetzel is an American choreographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children's Museum of Pittsburgh</span> Childrens museum in Pennsylvania, US

The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh is a hands-on interactive children's museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is in the Allegheny Center neighborhood in Pittsburgh's Northside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberystwyth Arts Centre</span> Arts centre in Aberystwyth, Wales

Aberystwyth Arts Centre is an arts centre in Wales, located on Aberystwyth University's Penglais campus. One of the largest in Wales, it comprises a theatre, concert hall, studio and cinema, as well as four gallery spaces and cafés, bars, and shops.

Next Wave is a biennial festival based in Melbourne, which promotes and showcases the work of young and emerging artists. Next Wave encourages interdisciplinary practice and fosters the creation and presentation of works by emerging artists working across a broad range of art forms, including dance, theatre, visual arts, performance, new media, and literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boom Festival</span> Biennial transformational festival in Portugal

The Boom Festival is a biennial transformational, multidisciplinary, psychedelic and sustainable festival that happens every two years in Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal. Editions are in sync with the full moon. The only exception being Boom 2023 which is also the first ever consecutive edition, taking place during waxing crescent moon and with the theme "Radical Love".

Sunrise Celebration is an ethical living, organic arts and music festival that used to take place in Bruton, Somerset, England on an organic farm and has now relocated to Pontrilas, Herefordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Festival Napa Valley</span> Music, food, wine and lifestyle festival held in California

Festival Napa Valley is a music, food, wine and lifestyle festival held in Napa Valley, California. It is presented by Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit corporation governed by a board of vintners and local leaders.

Green Action Centre (GAC) Formally known as the Recycling Council of Manitoba and the Resource Conservation Manitoba is an environmental, non-profit organization based in Manitoba, Canada. It includes promoting greener living through environmental education for households, workplaces, schools, and communities. It also develops and advocates environmental policies for the Manitoba communities. Its primary areas of activity include; green commuting, composting and waste, sustainable living, and resource conservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairie Festival</span> Music and arts festival

The Fairie Festival is a music and arts festival currently held annually in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, that began in 1991. The festival's primary theme is to "celebrate the beginning of spring and all of the faerie and nature spirits' return to the warm world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep Sea Arcade</span>

Deep Sea Arcade is a psychedelic Indie rock band from Sydney, Australia.

The Cygnet Folk Festival, run since 1982, is a three-day folk music festival held in Cygnet in Tasmania, Australia, that occurs annually on the second weekend in January.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lit for Life</span> Annual literary festival

Lit for Life is an annual literary festival organised by the English daily The Hindu in Chennai, India. The festival was inaugurated in 2010, where it was part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Hindu's Literary Review. In 2011 the Lit for Life became an independent one-day event. It has over the years developed into a three-day festival of literature and thought, featuring notable authors and speakers from all over the world. In 2020, the festival, that always takes place in mid-January, will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Main initiator and organiser of the Lit for Life is Dr Nirmala Lakshman, Director of The Hindu Group of Publications, and Chairperson of the Board of The Hindu Tamil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nervo (DJs)</span> Australian musical sibling duo

Nervo are an Australian DJ duo comprising twin sisters Olivia and Miriam Nervo. After signing with Sony/ATV Music Publishing at 18 years of age, the sisters pursued careers as songwriting partners and in 2008 they signed with Fredrik Olsson and his Swedish music publishing company Razor Boy Music Publishing, which led to co-writing the Grammy Award-winning single, "When Love Takes Over", performed by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland.

Wonderfruit is an annual gathering for art, culture, music, and nature at The Fields at Siam Country Club, outside Pattaya in Chonburi Province, Thailand. The event features a farm, musical performances, art and architectural installations, talks, workshops, wellness activities, and feasts. The event was launched in December 2014, produced by Thai-based production company Scratch First; the second iteration expanded from three to four days and took place a year later. Wonderfruit 2016 was originally scheduled for 15–18 December 2016. Due to a period of mourning in Thailand following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, however, it was postponed to 16–19 February 2017. Wonderfruit returned later that year for its fourth iteration in its usual winter position over 14 to 17 December 2017. December 2018 saw the event move a kilometre east of the original site, to a larger, more topographically diverse space; the fifth edition took place from 13 to 16 December 2018. The sixth edition of Wonderfruit was staged from 12 to 16 December 2019, with a program stretching from midday Thursday 12 December to the afternoon of Monday 16 December, effectively spanning 99 hours without breaks. The festival announced it would return for its seventh year from 10 to 14 December 2020, before announcing a 12-month postponement to an undisclosed date in December 2021 due to travel restrictions and social distancing measures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. In lieu of a full gathering due to border closures, Wonderfruit created a smaller, localised event targeting domestic audiences in Thailand: Moobaan Wonder. The revised event was scheduled to be held across five weekends in December 2020 and January 2021, but ultimately ended after just two weekends following a resurgence of COVID-19 inside the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxwood Festival & Workshop</span>

The Boxwood Festivals and Workshops are a series of music and dance festivals and workshops produced by Boxwood Festivals, Ltd., which "aims to provide opportunities for the dissemination, sharing, presentation and celebration of traditional music." There are three multi-day festivals scheduled annually, and other one-off workshops throughout the world. During these three festivals participants are joined by the local community for music, concerts, dances, classes, and informal music sessions. The music workshops are open to players of any instrument and skill level. The three annual events include classes led by Boxwood's Director, wooden flute player Chris Norman, for which he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and Cape Breton fiddle and Baroque violinist David Greenberg. Other artists are invited to lead classes at the Boxwood Canada and Boxwood Williamsburg festivals.

References

  1. ↑ "Get Involved And Help WWF To Save Wildlife". Wwf.org.au. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2009 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "News". Peats Ridge Festival. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  4. ↑ Bella, Sarah (10 July 2013). "Peats Ridge Director Matt Grant Accused Of Embezzling $1.3 Million". Music Feeds. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Andrew (1 February 2013). "Artists chase money from failed Peats Ridge festival". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "A Greener Festival". Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  7. ↑ "News|Peats Ridge wins Greener Festivals Award|ArtsHub Australia". www.artshub.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "DECCW | 2008 Green Globe Award winners". Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "DECCW | 2009 Green Globe Award winners". Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  10. ↑ "Australian Event Awards". Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  11. ↑ "FasterLouder Festival Awards : 2009". Archived from the original on 8 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  12. ↑ "Education for Sustainable Development | EDUCATION - | UNESCO". Archived from the original on 3 July 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  13. ↑ "Glenworth Valley Horse Riding, Kayaking, Abseiling & Quad Biking. Sydney & Central Coast". Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  14. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2009 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  15. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2010 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  16. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2010 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  17. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2009 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 19 December 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  18. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2010 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  19. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2010 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  20. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2010 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  21. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2010 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  22. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2010 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  23. ↑ [ dead link ]
  24. ↑ "Peats Ridge 2010 Glenworth Valley". Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.