2011 — Meredith History

The 21st birthday.

Usually a raucous time. This one was no exception.

Also the year of the caterpillar, which, outstandingly, coincided with the site being covered in Monarch butterflies (which makes sense, scientifically).

The forecast thunderstorms also didn’t eventuate – thankfully.

Just enough rain to dampen the dust that had reached annoying levels on the second day.

Apparently a certain hardware store had sold out of gumboots at its metro locations by the Thursday afternoon owing to the forecast.

Speaking of rain, this was also the first year of the misting showers up near the Pink Flamingo.

By golly they have been handy over the years.

Quite a lot of work was done between the 20th and 21st editions.

2011 was the first year that Eric’s Terrace was in operation.

Turned out to be a luke-warm reception, with a few Pink Flamingo fanatics (including Aunty) bemoaning the end of the ‘one-stage, one-bar’ policy that didn’t really exist.

And Tom Mankeys campground also made its debut, taking its name from the paddock that was there previously.

Inspiration Point underwent a bit of a makeover too, becoming more inspiring and less pointy.

So, to the artists. King Gizzard kicked things off at 4pm on the first day.

Relatively unknown at this point, they won many new fans. Finished their set with a cover of I Wanna Be Your Dog, which the singer sang with the microphone in his mouth to get the proper Iggy-doggy effect.

Future of the Left went big and won on the first night, closing with some classic mclusky tracks.

The Friday night also featured a somewhat legendary performance from Barbariön, with lots of pyrotechnics and other heartwarming buffoonery.

The Saturday afternoon featured a very special set from Adalita, whose Magic Dirt had played The Sup’ a hundred or so times previously.

This was Adalita’s first time playing here without Dean Turner, and you could tell there was a lot of emotion on stage, particularly with Dean’s daughters up there jumping around for much of it.

What an icon she is.

Adalita - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2011

Barbariön - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2011

Side note: there’s been a few suggestions over the years that we sell some ‘Magic Dirt’, i.e. the broken down waste from the composting toilets, at the Gift Shoppe.
Haven’t quite got the permits for that yet.

What else happened?

Well, Grinderman played what would be their last show, ending with the lines:

“That’s it for Grinderman; it’s over. You might see us again in 10 years when we’re older and uglier, or you might not.”

But the set was huge, Cave immediately heading to the punter barrier and spending plenty of the set provoking all manner of feelings amongst the faithful.

There was also a Nick Cave rocking horse getting around the Amphi that many enjoyed a ride on.

Straight after Grinderman was the somewhat ill-fated lunar eclipse, which, if it wasn’t cloudy, would’ve been viewable for 51 minutes and 8 seconds.

In the end we showed some footage of what it would have looked like on the screens (lame), before Angus Sampson was raised up in a crane dressed as an astronaut (raised twice in fact, cause’ the microphone didn’t work the first time), and led the still chuffed crowd through a rendition of the national anthem of the moon, Total Eclipse of the Heart.

The Lunar Eclipse - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2011

Cut Copy - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2011

The cloud cover was not to be bemoaned, however, as it brought the rain that began at the exact moment Cut Copy launched into Lights and Music, with many greeting the rain with cheers.

Saturday night’s other notable happening was the appearance of Big Freedia in the early hours, accompanied by twenty or so of Melbourne’s hardest bouncers (the good kind).

Holy smokes what a blast from left field! Was certainly something new for The Sup’, and carved out a bit of a path that many artists would follow in the years to come.

This is what long-term photographer Mia Mala McDonald had to say about it a few years later:

“I was a staff photographer at the time (for maybe ten years?), and I usually kept to myself backstage, enjoying a rest with a warm pastie and a cup of tea. I noticed this wild, brilliant group come in—Big Freedia’s crew—and the vibe was incredible. My brother Woody casually mentioned Big Freedia was looking for dancers to jump on stage. My not-so-secret show-off side took over: I threw down my camera, rummaged through my tent for something glittery, had a quick whisky, and suddenly found myself on stage wiggling my white butt as hard as I could. It was a hot sweaty frenzy. I suspect my brother might have regretted mentioning it to me!”

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2011

Dennis Cometti - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2011

Unknown Mortal Orchestra were spotted on the Ferris Wheel sometime after their set.

And Dennis Cometti warmed many hearts MCing the last day and commentating The Gift.

Special indeed.

Who Played?

Grinderman Cut Copy Kurt Vile & The Violators Mudhoney Icehouse Gang Gang Dance Explosions In The Sky Ladyhawke Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears A Total Lunar Eclipse OFF! Adalita Future Of The Left Unknown Mortal Orchestra Joelistics Graveyard Train Oscar + Martin Frank Fairfield Harmonic 313 (DJ Set) Big Freedia Cash Savage & The Last Drinks Barbariön Virgo Four Juiceboxxx King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Eagle & The Worm Tim Sweeney Abbe May The ReChords Dave Graney & The Lurid Yellow Mist Matt Sonic & The High Times The Juan Pablo Family Hour City Of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band Silence Wedge Gift Mistresses: The Town Bikes Special Guest: Angus Sampson Special Guest MC: Dennis Cometti

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Playing Times

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