Ladies and Gentlemen, can I please have your attention. I have just been handed an urgent and horrifying blog post. I need all of you, to stop what you're doing as listen. FESTIVAL!
So Dan and I heard a Festival was in town; so of course acquired tickets, by no regular means, and attended. Dan went about the acquisition of the tickets via. eBay. The transaction took place outside The Treasury Casino, where a suited man approached us from the side entrance and ushered us away from any security cameras, as he could not be seen to take any tips, for his and our own safety. $270 later a brown envelope is exchange and a peculiar man gifts us with 2 tickets to the greatest electronic music festival Brisbane has to offer. The figure then disappeared into the mass of people in Brisbane City, never to be seen again.
Ok so all of that was a slight exaggeration on the intensity of the situation but the events did occur as written.
So, Saturday 7th March arrives and Dan and I proceed to consume as much alcohol and RedBull, prior to our departure, as possible. Half a bottle of vodka and rum later we're on the train to Brisbane Central!
Once in the City, I naturally didn't feel complete without donning some form of festival attire. A purchase of an Australian flag (which became my cape), a pair of big white rimmed sunglasses and half a bottle of vodka and coke poured down my white T-Shirt I was set to go!
We arrived at Future and couldn't have asked for more from the event. Chilled out atmosphere, incredible sound quality, an EPIC line up and alcohol. WIN!
Our first stop on entry was the bar. Two cans of Smirnoff (yes, I know it's not a boys drink, but hey it was cheap! lay off!) we were on our way to the Main Stage. En route a girl tried to hang me using the flag that was wrapped around my neck and offered to get naked in exchange for it. I smiled politely and held on to my flag as though my life depended on it. Nobody was prizing this thing from me today!
From about 13:30 until I left, I was at the front of the pit; in front of the stage, dancing, drinking and making an idiot of myself, along side several hundred like minded people, doing exactly the same. The DJ line up was incredible: Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, Paul Oakenfold and Grandmaster Flash! Electro at its best followed by a mash up from one of Hip Hops mixing/scratching/cutting pioneers. Everybody went crazy.
(please note: true to form Danny and I lost each other around the time Paul Oakenfold arrived on stage and then didn't find each other until the next morning when I was dying on the sofa and Dan was rummaging for some none alcoholic drink in the fridge. I ended up spending the day with a guy dressed up as a Nerd for N*E*R*D, an Ozzy guy named Hamish and a girl called Chantelle)
Once Flash's set was finished the crowds gathered, the crushing against the metal barrier began and several unconscious/injured people crowd surfed their way to the front to get medical attention, as N*E*R*D and more importantly Pharrell Williams came on stage! Literally meters away from me was Pharrell! Everyone went ballistic. Several bruised ribs later and a foot that still hasn't healed, N*E*R*D called about 50 girls out of the crowd up on stage to rock away and Brisbane went mad. What a show!
Just when everyone thought the main event was over and it was time to chill out, more equipment was rolled out on stage. A new DJ booth. More lights. And then...
'But baby wake up! You're so totally deluded!'
BASEMENT JAXX!
What a show! Seriously, I had heard good things but wasn't expecting too much, but this was an incredible show. If you can see them, do!
At some point during Basement Jaxx i gave in and climbed over the barrier to be ushered to the back of the crowd. I was totally convinced only one water station existed and so queued up for some water for about 20 minutes, all the time looking at about 5 other water stations without queues...
A free bus journey to the Valley, several more alcoholic drinks and a lift home from a random, I found myself in bed, covered in dirt, legs aching, arms falling off, ears ringing, having had one of the best festival days ever!
I'm still suffering, four days later with bruised ribs from the 10 million people crushing me against the metal rail and something rather random happened to my right foot which means it's difficult to walk on at the moment, but it was more than worth it!
Another great Brisbane day.
V-Festival tickets have now been purchased. The Killers, Razorlight, Snow Patrol and The Kaiser Chiefs await us! Sunday March 29th! Come On!
Footnote: It is important to note; that from the purchase of the 2 cans of Smirnoff, I was already drunk. This may be a true re-collection of events from the day or just a random dream I had whilst suffering from alcohol poisoning. Either way, Future Music Festival 2009 was awesome!
