Punters pumped for paddock party as final festival kicks off
The three day program of the final edition of Tasmania’s Party in the Paddock music festival kicks off on Thursday.
The Northern Mercury
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PADDOCK punters are getting the final party started as the popular three day music festival Party in the Paddock kicks off on Thursday at White Hills near Launceston.
Organisers announced in December that the February 2020 edition of Party in the Paddock would be the last.
MUSIC FESTIVAL GOES OUT ON A HIGH NOTE
The announcement was met with disappointment from loyal fans, but excitement at the promise of “the most epic Party in the Paddock in our history”.
The Australian-music heavy three day music program kicks off with favourites like The Chats, Jack River, Odette and Dear Seattle.
PARTY IN THE PADDOCK: ‘FUNNEST LINE-UP WE’VE DONE’
Friday will see Dune Rats, Cosmo’s Midnight, Mallrat, Mahalia and Lime Cordiale take the stage.
Punters will be treated to heavy hitters on Saturday like Matt Corby, Hermitude, Broods, Sneaky Sound System and Briggs.
Hobart indie-rock group the Tinderboxers were announced as Triple J Unearthed competition winners last month, securing themselves a set on the festival’s main stage.
“We’ve always wanted to play at the festival and to be able to send it off in its final year is a huge opportunity,” a spokesman for the band said.
“We’re incredibly heartwarmed.”
Organisers recently made good on a previous promise to “snip fences” to allow extra punters to snag a ticket.
They announced on Sunday an extra paddock had been secured from a local farmer enabling an extra 150 patrons to grab tickets to the event.
More than 60 St John Ambulance personnel will volunteer their time over the three-day festival to ensure revellers receive medical attention in a “judgment free zone”.
Emergency specialist doctors, registered nurses, first aid and responded staff will make up the highly trained medical services team at the festival.
Members of the St John Party Safe crew will also be on hand to provide a valuable service to patrons and ensure they have a safe and enjoyable festival experience.
They will be provide hydration and other festival essentials such as safer sex packs.
Party in the Paddock, now in its eighth year, was conceived at founder Jesse Higgs’ birthday party in 2012.
He said it was always a dream of his to start a music festival and what Party in the Paddock has grown into is a “constant humbling surprise”.
“The whole team is super grateful for it, because it’s been super rewarding, but it’s been also a massive learning period in our lives,” he said.
“It is almost like we’ve done an off-road course in event management at the Vibestown Party in the Paddock University and February 2020 is when we graduate.”
Mr Higgs said putting on a party for 8000 people came with pressure and responsibility.
“A lot of those people are looking to have some of the best times of their lives and that’s why things like harm minimisation tools are so important and we’ve learnt a lot about that and mental health and so many things that actually have quite a bit of impact on our community.”
Mr Higgs said new projects were brewing for life after the paddock, including a “potentially bigger” festival, and “something a bit more like the origin of paddock and a little bit more soulful”.
“We know that we’re onto a good thing with the team that we’ve been able to refine over the last 10 years,” Mr Higgs said.
“When one door closes, other doors open. And this being a pretty big door, I think there’s going to be lots of opportunities.”
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