Where do I begin, A festival nestled in a small village off the main road of the south west highway, a cosy little culture of families and Woodstock vibes awaiting. Imagine transporting twenty years into the past and surrounding yourself with creativity. Children as young as six learning to entertain a passing crowd, busking by the side of the footpaths. Stall owners and food trucks feeding and clothing hungry folk goers, choirs emitting their soulful sounds between stages, glitter filled faces stating colour upon the village grounds.

Well the music… you could say it’s more than a tribe, it’s a communion of diversity, new faces and old. This time capsule of circus tents, creative spaces and fiddles had an effect on it’s attendees. With indigenous culture calling spirit to the land, a bond of frequency levels sharing their art. A junk filled band of recycled goods enriched an audience of hundreds as a gospel symphony propelled families to new realms. Their name, Junkadelic, a brass culture of jazzy gypsy swing featuring Steve Hensbey on guitar accompanied by two didgeridoo’s. As your feet lead you between stages the rhythm section of each five-piece synced itself with your heartbeat and you found yourself surrounded by elders.

Travellers who weren’t shy of a small town in Pinjarra were enriched with European culture at the Djindalux stage with

Ten Strings And A Goat Skin, a Scottish three-piece who knew how to work a crowd pulled two nights of music for hundreds. Surviving the weather one could say these stages were meeting grounds for shelter, the large circus tent being a temporary commune during hectic light shows sent straight from the heavens. You were a committed Fairbridge addict if you were present, reminiscing on my experience in 2015 the weather was never a deterrent. witnessing an evolution of music. You would struggle to feel anything but peace in such a homely, festive surrounding.

Jacob Diamond congregated emotive listeners with his blissfully dynamic vocals, it was a pleasure to bear witness to such enthusiasm and heartfelt tales. I’ll definitely see him again in a venue close to home

Waking up to circus play on the Sunday morning with Sarah Healy and Gaea bringing the wild mischievous animal out in every individual, their childlike nature led a strong chord of acrobatics with death defying feats. This crazy duo had prepared months in advance for the masses.

If you had visited Fairbridge in the past and stayed for the Sunday, you knew a highlight of the weekend was the closing parade. The almighty Junkadelic brass band with an essence of samba, together guided the parade onwards. A steam punk inspired funk jazz act joined the group preparing their beards and horns. Turn around and be hit by three fantasy lands at once. The ever enticing eco fairies gathered a pack of next generation conservationists with their upcycled umbrellas and red dreadlocks which sent you on a daze throughout the grounds. A spontaneous tribe of entrepreneurs brought their fur real vibes to a float near you, walking in choreographed fashion, nestled between the fairies and the samba, entertaining enthused parents. Bringing upon social change.

You battled the weather and you survived the diverse frequency shifts. Well I guess Fairbridge was your place to discover another self you never knew was there. Farewell Fairbridge village, until next year.

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