Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
IT WAS the weekend of food, booze, fun, friends and music.
Whatever the drawcard, thousands flocked to Meredith Music Festival over the weekend.
“Is there a stage here?” festival goer from Buninyong Josh Cunningham said.
Meredith Leading Senior Constable Greg Kitchen said most of the crowd was well behaved but there were a few mishaps.
“We had one arrest in the early hours of Saturday morning, when a man, who appeared to be heavily affected by drugs, assaulted a police officer,” Leading Senior Constable Kitchen said.
“Another man was arrested late on Saturday trying to gain access to the premises with large quantities of what’s allegedly amphetamines, white powder and cannabis.”
A few poor judgements from some didn’t stop the rest of the crowd from enjoying themselves, the music and the atmosphere.
Melbourne band Haitus Kiayote performed yesterday morning, following a session of Tai Chi.
Singer Nai Palm said it would be fun to perform to a crowd of people who had just participated in meditative sport.
“It’ll be really chilled out.”
Haitus Kiayote was one of about 40 acts during the three-day festival.
Big names that performed included Primal Scream, Regurgitator, Sunnyboys and Saskwatch.
The City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band also performed for the seventh consecutive year.
For Melbourne’s Michelle Kruse, this was her second year attending the popular indie festival.
“I just love it. It’s the only festival I go to now and I wouldn’t miss it,” Kruse said.
“There aren’t girls in bikinis here – it’s just laidback.
“There isn’t a year that stands out as the best – but two or three years ago it just rained the entire weekend – that stands out as the worst.”
Although the skies didn’t open for a downpour, the weather was still a barrier.
American jazz/blues singer and saxophonist 85-year-old Big Jay McNeely performed in the thick of the heat after lunch on Saturday afternoon.
That didn’t stop the crowd from enjoying his performance – people danced away in the dusty heat refreshed by water guns as they were continuously sprayed in the air.
The fans’ clothing choices proved to be another popular supporting act to the musical entertainment.
One group of friends from Melbourne took to dressing in denim. Jess Young said a group of 15 last year went with the double denim theme and enjoyed it so much they decided to do it again.
“We actually were supposed to be triple denim – but it’s too hot to put another layer on,” Ms Young said.
nicole.cairns@fairfaxmedia.com.au