2005 — Meredith History

2005 came around and the first thing that should be said is that after the terrible weather of 04, we had the finest weather the festival had ever enjoyed across all three days.

Maybe as a result of the 04 rains, people brought more elaborate camping set-ups, more furniture, more tarps, and more cars. Everyone turned up earlier than ever before, and stayed later on the Sunday.

So it was a busy Meredith.

Many thought it was the best Meredith ever, but it did feel awfully… easy… after the emotion of the previous year.

Not that anything went wrong, in fact everything went right. The mirror‑ball cow that got rustled up the year before spent the weekend swingin’ in the breeze.

Skipper, James, Rob and The Lighting Dept out‑did themselves. Out of ten, Aunty Meredith gave them 1.5 million.

They had turned the site into a wonderland.

A Royal Tennis Court was built near the vicarage and the vast field of canola were harvested and made into fine cannoli.

2005 was the first year without our General Manager of several years, Stoopin’ Benny Sideways, our resident cannoli‑eatin’ champeen.

Coooommme baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack Ben, coooome baaaaack.

Meredith FM was installed; on a certain FM frequency within several miles of the site patrons could tune into a broadcast of the acts on stage. So you could listen whilst in your car on the way, or at your campsite. I’m sure it was illegal.

Very handy for traffic updates though, via our Eye in The Sky Kristie.

Musical highlights included Blackalicious, who could only play on the Sunday due to their touring schedule, King Marong, Matt Walker and Ash Davies (in fact it was my fave Sunday ever), Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, Sons and Daughters, Wolfmother, Airbourne, Cut Copy, Peeping Tom, The Grates, and perhaps best on ground at the mystical 2am Friday timeslot: You Am I, in form.

The Mystery Act was tried in 05, Mr Bob Log III flew all the way from Tucson Arizona to be that guy. He fell victim to the expectations…
by the time the event came round, folks were expecting The Beatles to reform and play at 10pm Saturday night.

He put in the most committed, action‑packed rock and roll performance you could wish to see and won many new hearts.

Thankyou Bob.

A giant circus tent was installed by a troupe of Brazilian clowns (true story), which provided shade, shelter, warmth and massages. It was called Heaven.

A 24-hour convenience store was set up inside called Heaven Eleven. Dry cleaning was available on the third floor.

City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band played for the first time.

Everything went extremely smoothly.

Notes to self for the following year included update the recycling system, reducing the crowd size by about a thousand, and can’t remember the other one.

Sunday night of Meredith saw the first of two-only Car Park Festival (was there two, or one?) happen in yes, a car park in Melbourne CBD.

Who Played?

The Avalanches DJ show Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks City City City J-Live Sons and Daughters You Am I Eddy Current Suppression Ring The Grates The Kills Architecture in Helsinki Billy Childish and The Buff Medways Matt Walker and Ashley Davies True Live Cut Copy Bollywood Spectacular The Mess Hall Airbourne King Marong and Safara Peeping Tom British India Okkervil River The Nextmen Johnny Idem Hoodangers Young Professionals Blackalicious Clare Bowditch and The Feeding Set Wolfmother Legends of Motorsport Bob Log III City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band Special Guest MC: Greg Fleet Gift Mistresses: The Town Bikes

Poster

Playing Times

Website