Parklife Music Festival ‘09

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Parklife Music Festival ‘09

By matt ⋅ October 12, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment

As the security got tighter the crowd got looser

Parklife Music Festival '09

PARKLIFE is one of Australia’s premiere touring music festivals, with is iconic party image and the ability to draw amazing crowds and artists, Parklife Australia is a must-do for any partier. Or course this year’s Parklife was no exception! With a stellar line-up including TIGA, A-TRAK, LA ROUX, BUSY P, AUTOKRATZ, THE RAPTURE, EMPIRE OF THE SUN, THE COOL KIDS, EROL ALKAN and MSTRKRFT (to name a few) it was certainly going to be an eventful day!

Thanks to Fuzzy.com and Future Entertainment I received a VIP pass to this once in a lifetime opportunity. Speaking up close and personal with the artists and watching some of Australia’s best partiers going crazy for the worlds best party makers was an amazing experience. Fortunately I also had an amazing crew with me to share the experience – Deadly Photographer Ryan Wheatley (www.sirwheatley.com) and Melbourne underground videographers, Vivecoolcitys – Ryder Susman and Harvey Miller (www.vivecoolcity.com). Let’s start the day…

2:00pm – We begin the day with a few beers to relax, waiting with the other crews to gain access, the excitement builds. But before anything… we witness a spectacular feat: 40 fence jumping partiers run through a blockade of security guards into the closest dance pit, forever lost in the massive crowds… this was going to be a good day.

3:00pm – Vivecoolcity are working the crowd, interviewing and capturing the energetic fans going crazy for the balaclava wearing BENI (BANG GANG DEEJAYS). We were lucky enough to receive backstage access and were able to jump on stage to take this all in. wow. The highlight: BENI gets it all going with the crowd pleaser ‘My Love Sees You’.

3:30pm - While the Vivecoolcity boys are hunting for interviews and Ryan is standing up on the photographers barrier contemplating crowd surfing, I am taking in the dance/electro UK rockers AutoKratz in there first Australian Tour. Amazing.

4:00pm - Ryan and I decide it’s a good idea to get back stage, and thanks to our security friend ‘Armin’ we get to meet the dance music legend: Busy P. Waiting in the wings I approached him apprehensively not wanting to disturb what looked like a pre-show meditation. But upon getting within a close proximity he sparked alight and was more than happy to have a quick chat and photo. But of course I had to pull a stupid face (to hold my excitement in really). Awesome guy!

5:00pm - Busy P certainly rocked the day shift! The crowd was massive and growing hungry. While Ryan and I were filling my bag full of the artist’s beer we decide to get the hell outta there and see what the crowd had to offer.

5:30pm - As the security got tighter the crowd got looser, right in time for the Canadian DJ masters (pardon the pun) MSTRKRFT. With their latest dance floor hits ‘Vuvuvu’ and ‘Bounce’ blasting, the crowd certainly started to get messy.

6:00 - As the sun began to fade over the Melbourne skyline it was only just starting for LA ROUX’s front women Elly Jackson. Mustering one of the festival’s biggest crowds so far, she and her four-piece let loose on the unsuspecting Melbourne citizens. With hits like ‘Quicksand’ and ‘In for the Kill’, it was a spectacular Australian debut for the UK icons.

7:00pm – Overcoming his fear of flying to play in Australia EROL ALKAN made the most of his time in Melbourne playing a show the previous night, he didn’t seem to be slowing down, and neither were his supporters.

8:00pm – Now just hang on… this is what half the people at Parklife are waiting for… the long awaited live stage show of EMPIRE OF THE SUN. With Luke Steele taking up the sole responsibilities of the duo, (Nick Littlemore had prior commitments with PNAU) he certainly did not disappoint. With the largest crowd I’ve seen and a visually spectacular live show he was definitely one of Parklife’s biggest and brightest. ‘Walking on a Dream’ and ‘We are the People’ sent the fans into a crazed dancing frenzy.

8:30pm How to finish up the day? Why not TWO of Canada’s best DJ’s? DMC World Champion A-TRAK and Producer/DJ dynamo TIGA… Done. The night was just beginning for some, A-TRAK on one side of the festival spinning tracks like ‘Say Whoa’ and this summer anthem ‘Heads Will Roll’ by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. While on the other side TIGA played his new hits ‘What You Need’, ‘Shoes’, ‘Beep Beep Beep’ and ‘Mind dimension’. Fireworks in the background, A Ferris wheel spinning and the lights of Melbourne city buildings as a backdrop… it was the perfect way to end a brilliant festival.

Wolfcallowww!

All your exclusive Parklife media:

For Ryder and Harvey’s brilliant and hilarious take on Parklife check out –

www.vivecoolcity.com/episode/247

For all your Photo needs – www.sirwheatley.com

And for me! check out - www.myspace.com/wolfcallowww