Did you enjoy the final Block Party?

asher said :

LAST year – a paying punter at the block party last year was not allowed pass outs! inside the gates, on a hot hot day, there was 15 square metres of shade under one tent, a single hot dog stand by way of food, and trinity itself reserved for VIP guests.

can you imagine the 19 year old rocker, perspiring from the 30+ heat, drunk from the vodka red bulls, no food for 12 hours unless you want to try a sausage, wishing he or should could sit somewhere, in the shade for just 2 minutes – but unwilling to move from the heat, on the black tarmac, because if they leave, they’re not getting back in.

It rained for 90% of the concert last year. Poured even. Do you mean in 2007?

Damo/CoffinRX2 here

I was there as an invited guest VIP of the guys from Lexington Music and the staff from Trinity Bar.

The setup as always was awesome, and the team really try to make it fun, and in the spirit of a “Ghetto Style” Block party, old couches, clotheslines hanging between the light poles and the vibe there is great.

Ticket Sales were extremely good and were moving great numbers in the leading few days prior, i even saw about 50 tickets sold over the bar last thursday night.

The Passout issue is something that Lexington has always done with their events as far as I know, always the same, Bag Checks and No Passouts! its for many reasons one of which is to prevent trafficking of drugs into events like this.

I’m guessing there are many reasons for the political sides of block party being the last one at trinity, … but knowing the guys from Lexington, i’m hoping another suitable venue will be found for next year.

Every single person I knew that went there, VIP or non VIP all had a great time, including many friends of mine from Brisbane who came specifically for the gig.

ANgryHenry, … I’m not too sure that Canberra could sustain a festival with such diversity as BDO with its smaller population. Which is why I think all the Lexington/Friction events cater for a certain demographic each time and why they are so successful

The email did reek a bit of “Ticket sales are struggling, lets say its the last block party so more people will go”. It was mentioned on the night that it will be back next year, possibly with a different name (not sure why that would make any difference). In terms of there being no shade etc….yes it can get a bit uncomfortable during the day, but it is trying to emulate a “block party”.

asher said :

i’m VERY much a proponent of music in the ‘burbs, this city needs it. and I didn’t attend Block party this year, BUT:

LAST year – a paying punter at the block party last year was not allowed pass outs! inside the gates, on a hot hot day, there was 15 square metres of shade under one tent, a single hot dog stand by way of food, and trinity itself reserved for VIP guests.

can you imagine the 19 year old rocker, perspiring from the 30+ heat, drunk from the vodka red bulls, no food for 12 hours unless you want to try a sausage, wishing he or should could sit somewhere, in the shade for just 2 minutes – but unwilling to move from the heat, on the black tarmac, because if they leave, they’re not getting back in.

it may have improved this year, but i think this city needs better festivals than the trinity block party.

Fair enough. I haven’t been to any because it doesn’t float my boat. That does sound truly horrible and not my idea of a good day out. There are definitely better venues than the Trinity car-park for a small scale festival. And pass outs are a must.

I think the festivals we are getting are great, but it would be good to see some BDO style diversity in there to mix the corwds and the performances up a bit. I kind of look at festivals for a way of being exposed to different music and crowds and sometimes when I look at the bills for these shows I think they get stuck in a particular niche.

I should add that I’m not missing the point of why they did that – they don’t want people nipping out for a cheap round at O’neil’s and dinner at the noodle house. But the fact that they hold Block Party in the restaurant district should be their problem.

i’m VERY much a proponent of music in the ‘burbs, this city needs it. and I didn’t attend Block party this year, BUT:

LAST year – a paying punter at the block party last year was not allowed pass outs! inside the gates, on a hot hot day, there was 15 square metres of shade under one tent, a single hot dog stand by way of food, and trinity itself reserved for VIP guests.

can you imagine the 19 year old rocker, perspiring from the 30+ heat, drunk from the vodka red bulls, no food for 12 hours unless you want to try a sausage, wishing he or should could sit somewhere, in the shade for just 2 minutes – but unwilling to move from the heat, on the black tarmac, because if they leave, they’re not getting back in.

it may have improved this year, but i think this city needs better festivals than the trinity block party.

…and Perth.

I hate it when this happens, regardless of scene or genre it always sucks to see an event that people loved come to an end.

I don’t understand how noise from Block Party can be any worse than, (dare I say it) Summernats? Both are held in or extremely close to residential areas.

People used to road-trip over here from Adelaide for MftB.

Metal for the Brain finished because it became too much work and expense for Alchemist to organise. It wasn’t that well patronised – usually around 2,000 paying punters, and the cost in terms of time and effort did for the event in the end, which is a huge shame.

Or the Birdman Rally and the Food and wine Frolic.

Typical. Here’s an event that is well patronised, adds some much needed life to our city, and raises money for charity, shut down by the Fun Police.

(I was going to say “just like Metal For The Brain”, but I can’t recall exactly why that stopped.)