2022 — Meredith History

It had been eight hundred and ninety-two days since the sun set on the previous trip round The Sup’, and twelve days before this one it seemed we’d be back on the furlough again.

The place was wet. So damn wet.

Plans were put in place to measure the soil wetness in various locations across the site, which were repeated day in day out for a couple of weeks. And it didn’t look good.

In fact, it looked like there would be no way to go ahead, as the first run of vehicles to enter the site were going to get stuck, preventing any more from coming in. We explored getting everyone on buses, we explored various campground configurations and parking possibilities. Which were all a bit iffy, and wouldn’t really have cut it.

The only thing that would save us was the ground drying out.

And dry out it did. Which was a nice turn of fortune after two years of down time and hand gel.

This one was a ride though. Not only dealing with facilities that hadn’t been used for two years and had been reclaimed by nature, but a set-up period in which many parts of the site couldn’t be entered owing to the wet…

…and parts that we thought we could enter ended up swallowing quite a few vehicles.

All praise to the site team for an incredible effort just to get the gates open for this one, and everyone really, for still being here.

When the countdown clock wound down, we were welcomed back, and to Wadawurrung country, by Barry and Tammy Gilson, along with the debut performance from Barry’s band Meninyan.

‘Geez it’s good to be back’, he began, as all manner of weight was lifted.

We had the wedgie as animal, Fee B2 on the Housekeeping mic, Yawung as Interstitial, and a lusher than usual Amphitheatre.

The smell of the Tucker Tent’s BBQs hit with an unexpected emotional resonance, and the Pink Flamingo had been revamped with a bit of an elevated platform from which one could enjoy a flamingo with enhanced views across the savannah.

Speaking of mixed ecosystems, did you spot one of the intrepid reverse mohawk haircut receivers?

All power to those involved in this mobile salon experience.

On stage, there was a nice moment during Surprise Chef when the drummer noted that he met his wife at Meredith, and they now had their infant in tow.

Also a nice moment was Erika de Casier faltering a little at the beginning of her set, and being wrapped in cheers, the stumble the thing that brought audience and performer far closer together.

This would be Courtney Barnett’s third appearance in The Sup’ and there was a noticeable thickening of the atmosphere as she prepared to take the stage on the Friday evening. Many of us seemed to be looking for and then finding some kind of release in CB’s tales of the racing mind, which had become extra racey with the pandemic.

It was a big set, something of a greatest hits, with plenty of sing alongs and straight up joy.

From there the night went supersonic; Yothu Yindi into The Comet is Coming into Shouse and their all-in choir (featuring none other than Uncle Barry Gilson) into BIG WETT (music for sluts), before OK EG wound it down some.

On the Saturday, Our Carlson alerted everyone to the problems with capitalism and strobes, with a little help from DJ Cash Daddy (Cash Savage), whilst CLAMM hit hard in both a musical and emotional sense, lead singer Jack shedding some tears when talking about how much the set meant to them.

As part of a new trend post pandemic, basically every act drew a large audience, with most attendees now spending their Meredith weekend in the Amphi rather than playing backgammon back at camp. Which is real nice.

Wonder what else had changed in terms of audience behaviour? Anyone notice anything?

As the evening approached, DJ Quik corrected the record on who was behind some very well known songs via his aural book report on recent music history.

And Nu Genea had many (including avowed non-dancers) dancing, whilst lapping up the adoration that came their way a long long way from their Italian homeland.

Sharon Van Etten’s star had certainly risen since she was last here for Golden Plains in 2015.

To meet the moment, some eager fans passed around several hundred copies of a lyric sheet with the words to Seventeen on one side and Every Time the Sun Comes Up on the other.

Not sure if anyone actually sang along – may have been too awestruck to move their mouths.

Speaking of being back on top, the Private Function set had been going along splendidly, the “WARNER BROTHERS MOVIE WORLD PRESENTS THE PRIVATE FUNCTION WILD WILD WEST EXPERIENCE” expanding what conceptual art could be. And then something truly remarkable happened.

There had been rumours circulating wildly for months if not the whole pandemic about Kylie playing Meredith. That rumour assumed concrete form when word went around that Private Function would feature a surprise special guest.

Not many things could have topped the actual rumour becoming actual, but Joanne striding out to belt out Jackie turned out to be one of them.

Private Function - live at The Meredith Music Festival 2022

Some other highlights included Tasman Keith getting everyone down in the dirt before Billy Bad Again.

Dan Snaith doubling up with Caribou and Daphni.

Darcy Justice cementing an already burgeoning reputation and Smooch closing proceedings with far more exuberance than the audience could muster on Sunday afternoon.

There was also a live radio cross from FBI’s Jack Shit on the Saturday afternoon.

And some frightfully thoughtful analysis from Daniel Lopez a few years later.

Who Played?

Caribou Yothu Yindi Courtney Barnett The Comet Is Coming Dry Cleaning Tkay Maidza Sharon Van Etten Nu Genea DJ Quik Erika De Casier Babe Rainbow Derrick Carter Private Function SHOUSE CLAMM Minami Deutsch Tasman Keith Surprise Chef Our Carlson Darcy Justice POOKIE Rot TV OK EG Allara Rubi Du BIG WETT Snowy Band Michael Beach LOU Smooch Uncle Barry Gilson & Meninyan Interstitial DJs City of Ballarat Municipal Brass Band Silence Wedge Daphni Meredith Sky Show Master Song Tai Chi Gabriella Bartonova The Huxleys MCs: Fee B2 & Aretha Brown

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