2015 — Meredith History

The 25th. Silver Jubilee. Was a superb one.

But also, funnily enough, not that memorable, as everything went really smoothly, despite the chill and a bit of rain and wind on the Friday.

We did go all out for the 25th birthday by painting the red tree silver, and using the computer to type up a ‘Happy 25th Birthday Meredith’ message, which was displayed on the screens a few times.

But the biggest talking point from the weekend wasn’t any kind of celebration.

In fact, it was the opposite, the ban on FUN, as some alleged.

This was the year Things-On-Sticks were banned from the Amphitheatre after complaints about views being blocked had reached a cacophony. Not that it was policed, but they were thinner on the ground at this one (the lone led-lit jellyfish looking resplendent nonetheless on the Saturday night).

This policy saga would continue all the way to Meredith 2019 (and then some) when an expert panel voted following that one to lift the ban after a series of geopolitical moves from key players, including a late night petition that managed to gather several thousand signatures – all illegible of course owing to its being passed around mostly in the hours between midnight and 6am.

So what became of the policy you may ask? Well, you can bring them into the Amphitheatre these days, but they can’t be any wider than your average head of cauliflower. And if they’re blocking the view of those behind you, those behind you have the right to pinata your stick into oblivion – in the nicest possible way.

2015 saw some upgrades to the facilities, including some heavy landscaping of Sunset Strip to provide some more space and less rock, which may have set the scene for Sydney DJ Levins playing Bieber in the early hours and creating a bit of a kerfuffle amongst those who don’t like Canadians – at least that’s what I think it was about.

Three rows of programmable lights were also installed around the perimeter of the Amphi to give it a bit more of hot bath surrounded by candles feel in the late night.

On stage, Power kicked the thing off and laid waste to any feelings of apprehension or easing into it.

Goat surpassed The Mountain Goats as the most aptly named band to play The Sup’. Wild outfits and even wilder tunes that cast some kind of spell over much of the crowd.

Friday night also featured sublime sets from The Thurston Moore Band and Shellac, the latter touring Oz for the first time since 1992, after having been asked every year for a decade if they’d please please please come along.

Big Daddy Kane came, conquered and brought the party, working the crowd with a level of mastery not often seen. Likewise the then 19 year old Tkay Maizda, who clearly had a big future ahead.

Friday night also featured, in a stunning upturn of programming normality, the famed Meredith Sky Show, which is usually reserved for the Saturday. Blue Monday as soundtrack, which was very well received.

Meredith Sky Show - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2015

Tkay Maidza - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2015

The Thurston Moore Band - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2015

On Saturday, Briggs debuted and became the 4,000 act from Shepparton to play at Meredith, winning many new fans, and providing some level of communal catharsis/statement of intent with closer The Children Came Back.

Another statement of intent was delivered by The Peep Tempel a few hours later. “This is a little love song I wrote.” Cue crowd going bat piss crazy to one of 2015’s anthems Carol.

There were shoes in the air, there were hugs and kisses on stage, there was a need to catch your breath when it came to a close.

The Peep Tempel - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2015

Briggs - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2015

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2015

Some other highlights from the weekend included Jessica Pratt and Julia Holter on the Saturday morning, the near perfection of GL on Saturday afternoon, and Father John Misty’s highly anticipated set delivering in oodles of spades.

Father John Misty - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2015

GL - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2015

Totally Mild - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2015

Floating Points had the hive-mind abuzz with a 2:30am slot on the Sunday morning, a sonic adventure into the darkest and fastest parts of the brain.

Any other notables from this one? Kendrick’s King Kunta as CleanUp song. Everyone got down instead of cleaning up.

Someone named Mystery Bag seemed to have won The Gift, only to have the decision overturned when it was revealed that Mystery Bag may have claimed what was not theirs. Apologies to Alex, the actual winner that year.

Oh, and there were two people dressed as flies on the Saturday, which still stands as one of the best outfits swatted in The Sup’.

Who Played?

Big Daddy Kane Bully City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band Drug Sweat Father John Misty Floating Points Fatback Band GL Goat Harvey Sutherland Jess Ribeiro Jessica Pratt Julia Holter Levins Lucy Cliche The Peep Tempel Master Khalil Gudaz Master Song Tai Chi Meredith Sky Show Mighty Duke and The Lords Briggs Moon Duo Neon Indian Optimo Pearls Power Ratatat Shellac Steve Miller Band The Thurston Moore Band Tkay Maidza Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats Unknown Mortal Orchestra Special Guest MC: Jane Clifton Gift Mistresses: The Town Bikes

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