2016 — Meredith History

The year of everyone’s favourite murky creek filter, the Cherax Destructor.

Didn’t see much sun at this one, day time temps remaining below twenty the whole weekend. But the nighttimes didn’t get too cold either.

The lack of rain meant the long feared (and sometimes forgotten, with nasty results) water-animal curse was finally lifted.

A new campground was christened, with much fanfare and public debate across the ever changing media landscape. Outer Space, a space on the outer flank of Top Camp, providing even more spacey space.

Not one for the ovinophobic.

More space was also made along the Esplanade, with the front boundary of Mulwaverly pulled back a bit and some large rocks installed to enhance the greenery.

In 2016 we finally managed to get the Pink Flamingo kegged, which has meant no more glass bottles being kept under lock and key at the back of the Flamingo.

Although the taste was a little off (too much saffron) at this one, which led to more testing and refinement prior to Meredith 2017.

The biggest thing to happen was the retirement of the old PA after 20 years of service. She had been added to, modified, face-lifted, rewired and replumbed many times:

“I’ve only ever had one axe. It’s had five new handles and two new heads but it’s the same axe”.

Almost every sound made on stage by an artist at the Supernatural Amphitheatre in that time came through her paper cones. Sad to see her go, but the need was there.

It was hard not to think of the old PA when Cable Ties got stuck into Say What You Mean at the end of their set, going hard on the line “I am not a production unit, I am a human being”.

Cable Ties - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2016

Sheer Mag - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2016

The Goon Sax - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2016

A blistering set, the long-time attendees unable to wipe the smiles from their faces for much of their performance.

Later in the evening The Triffids performed much of Born Sandy Devotional with a rotating cast of lead singers in the Dave McComb role.

A big moment in The Sup’, the band being one of Chris Nolan’s favs, one he turned Dad Jack onto many years ago as a good soundtrack to shear sheep.

The Triffids - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2016

Friday night also featured a scintillating display from The Gizz, appearing for their third time in The Sup’, and Sheila E’s Prince inspired and devoted set.

Sheila moved between not one but two drum kits whilst also providing vocals, performing her own hits, as well as Fundadelic’s One Nation Under A Groove, and Prince tracks Raspberry Beret, Red Corvette and Purple Rain.

At a certain point on the Friday, Interstitial collective The Crimpled Creek Record Club dropped Jamie xx’s country and western banger Gosh, which was a bit like using a bamix to blend soup. Auspicious.

Saturday featured a stirring performance from Archie Roach, who provided plenty of well honed life advice in and around his songs. The Congos also performed, with Aunty tweeting out the day before that ⅔ of the band were still stuck in Jamaica, which meant they were just The Congo for this one. The hired-in backing band didn’t miss a beat though.

Archie Roach - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2016

Angel Olsen - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2016

Peaches - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2016

Saturday night mostly belonged to a wild and life-affirming Peaches set, which had the place going bonkers amidst various forms of phallic castration.

Other honourable mentions go to Kelela on the Friday, and Angel Olsen (as a nice warm up to Fee B2 playing Champagne Supernova in the Interstitial and there being pandemonium) and BadBadNotGood on the Saturday, all three being saluted with various forms of footwear.

There was also Judith Lucy tapping into the Peaches theme for The Gift, CC:DISCO getting her Dad on stage for closer Under the Milky Way, and Terry (the band) taking the piss out of everyone and everything; “you’ve all got to go back to your marketing jobs tomorrow… so suck my dick, motherfuckers.”

And the legendary Fred & Toody Cole, less than a year before Fred passed away.

Fred & Toody Cole - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2016

Jagwar Ma - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2016

The timestamp 4:49 also became etched in plenty of minds after the Greetings to Saud build of the Ben UFO closer set early Sunday. 2.5 hours of joyous scenes, and an even more joyed DJ.

Thanks also to Andras’ Dad for supplying tea to anyone who wanted it during the vibrations and permutations of the Wilson Tanner set Sunday morning.

In early 2016, an old friend of Chris Nolan’s got in touch. Hi Cam:

Greetings,
My name is Cameron McLellan, from Vancouver, Canada. I met Chris in Costa Rica in late 1989. It was a long time ago- he may or may not remember. Along with a couple of other friends we travelled some of the country and developed a warm friendship that seems to come easily with travelling. We eventually parted ways, as my companion and I were due to sail out of Puntarenas, on the west coast, to Tahiti.
I never saw Chris again. But for whatever reason never forgot the brief friendship that developed, bonding quickly over music and a shared sense of humour. I think I remember our conversations because we were both intensely interested in music and would spend time drinking beer and discussing and debating the merits of various bands, concerts. etc. He was a Jesus and Mary Chain fan; I was a Joy Division/New Order fan and it went from there. I also remember him telling me about the family farm and how he would be going back to work on it in some capacity.
Well, I am also a great Dirty Three fan and happened to be listening to their live Meredith album recently. In the dialogue prior to the song Hope, Warren Ellis mentions Mary and Chris Nolan. On the slimmest of hunches I searched up the names online and realized it’s the same Chris I met in Costa Rica.
I’m sorry to hear of Chris’ difficulties but wanted to get in touch after all these years to wish him well – please give him my warmest regards. I have fond memories of traipsing through the Costa Rica countryside with him and sharing many laughs.
I have a couple of shots of Chris from that time, and have attached one. If you’d like me to send the few others, I would be happy to forward them. As I have no other contact, I am sending this to you, Aunty Meredith. Could you kindly forward this to the Nolan family.
Best regards,
Cam

Who Played?

Peaches King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Sheila E Angel Olsen BadBadNotGood The Triffids Kelela Ben UFO Japandroids The Congos Baroness Archie Roach Jagwar Ma Mount Liberation Unlimited Fred & Toody Cole Chiara Kickdrum Cass McCombs The Goon Sax Ross Wilson CC:DISCO! Cable Ties Wilson Tanner Silence Wedge The Sugarcanes Throwing Shade The Breadmakers Mondo Freaks Miss Destiny City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band Master Song Tai Chi Terry Sheer Mag Dungen Special Guest MC: Judith Lucy Gift Mistresses: The Town Bikes

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