Totally addicted to BASS: 14,000-strong music festival BASSINTHEGRASS a huge success for revellers, businesses

In the early afternoon of a perfect dry season day, Darwin’s Mindil Beach precinct was already buzzing with festival goers – but it would only be a fraction of the 14,000 punters who turned out for this year’s BASSINTHEGRASS festival.

Missy Higgins fans at BASSINTHEGRASS 2021. Picture: Che Chorley

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IN THE early afternoon of a perfect dry season day, Darwin’s Mindil Beach precinct was already buzzing with festival goers – but it would only be a fraction of the 14,000 punters who turned out for this year’s BASSINTHEGRASS festival.

Unlike previous years, about half of the punters travelled from interstate specially for the festival, eager to party and escape parts of the country with tougher COVID restrictions.

Two of those people were Brisbanites Courtney Holmes and Jen Long.

The pair said they had considered Darwin as a holiday destination but BASSINTHEGRASS “sealed the deal”.

“It’s got a good line-up, a good mix of acts,” Ms Holmes said.

“We’re going to do a road trip to Katherine and then Kakadu while we’re here.”

Chillinit at BASSINTHEGRASS 2021. Picture Glenn Campbell

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West Australians Ellie Naisbitt and Amy Strickland made the trip to the Top End for the festival, but have fallen under Darwin’s spell.

“I love it,” Ms Naisbitt said about Darwin’s weather.

“I live for this … and the scooters are amazing.”

“I think I’ll move here next,” added Ms Strickland.

The pair said they struggled to find accommodation when they started looking around a month ago.

The festival has also been a great opportunity for local businesses to reach interstate customers, including footballer turned entrepreneur Shaun Edwards.

Mr Edwards was flat out running busy stalls for both of his local businesses – his clothing brand House of Darwin and his coffee cart Olive Coffee.

Sydney Ryan, Lisa Puglisi and Luke MacDonald at BASSINTHEGRASS 2021. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“It’s (the festival) been good, they’re super supportive of local business and giving us opportunities,” he said.

“We’ve found today 50 per cent of ticket holders have been interstate, so there’s heaps of new people being introduced to the (House of Darwin) brand.”