Project Description
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STRAWBERRY FIELDS
2022
(Live Review)
(9th April 2022)
Review by Sabrina Sutton
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Dirty. If I had to choose one word to describe the fantastical pocket of the world that was Strawberry Fields 2022, it would be…dirty. Dirty drops into dirty beats. Dirty faces lifted into grins, dressed in dust-muted colours. Essentially, it was everything an Australian bush doof should be. And, g-damn, I’ve missed it.
Split into two separate weekends this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time of organising, Strawberry Fields was admittedly a smaller, more intimate experience than maybe some expected. But bigger doesn’t always mean better. Nestled in amongst the trees against the backdrop of the Murray River, all the stages, sculptures and structures that made up the festival just seemed to… fit. They blended into the landscape so well that it seemed almost entirely natural to then have thousands of people come together to groove and pepper the dark with fairy-lit doof sticks.
But putting the doof to the bush aside for a moment (don’t worry, we’ll get to that soon), Strawberry Fields offered so much more than just an opportunity to dance in a crowd with your friends.
Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled to feel the dust on my skin again — cross-legged and barefoot on the ground, eating my food with my hands as the air pulsed with chatter and the earth shook from the bass of the nearby stages. But, you know what’s an even better feeling (arguably)? Getting clean again. Cue a dip in the Murray River. It’s the perfect hangover cure and the place to spend your late mornings before going for that first meal of the day from one of the many great food vendors.
Coldwater not your thing? No worries, welcome to the Bush Spa.
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What’s the Bush Spa? Probably the best addition to any of my bush doof experiences. Think of it like a mini Peninsula Hot Springs laid out on the bank of the Murray River. $25 for an hour of pure bliss while I avoid thinking about my bad choices from the night before? Heaven. Oh, did I mention you also get to have an outdoor shower and have the option to partake in a massage, clay mask or a cold plunge (if you’re a psycho), as well?
But the relaxing fun doesn’t stop there, friends. We also had the Mirage Motel for tired souls who just needed some…softer stimulus. This cushioned heaven had a stunning view of the river and was bathed in the sweetest splash of sunshine in the mornings. Another favourite spot was The Tea Lounge – a place you could go and re-centre yourself at almost any part of the day or night and enjoy some stillness with a soothing hot brew. With daily guided tea ceremonies and open serving hours, this could be your saving a moment of peace amongst the (fun) chaos.
Now, I wish I had been organised and inspired enough to give you a first-hand account of some of the festival’s workshops. I really wish I could say I found the yin to my yang in the yoga sessions or that I braved the ice bath workshop. Or, at the very least, I learnt how to hula hoop. Because let me tell you, people came out looking so zen after those yoga sessions. Those ice bath workshops? They looked like they could change a person’s whole state of mind. Alas, I wasn’t organised, and I am a self-proclaimed useless potato before midday. So, I regretfully didn’t partake. My advice for any future Strawberry Fields adventures is to jump on these opportunities – you won’t regret it.
Yes, the days at Strawberry Fields can be filled with all the creative, wholesome activities your heart desires. But as the afternoon sun starts to dim, and that smoky haze in the air amongst the gumtree branches settles, the real reason we choose to detach from reality for a glorious 3 days becomes apparent. The music. The crowd. The lights. The energy.
The first time I heard someone use “dirty” to describe a drop in electronic music, I paused. I paused because I knew exactly what they meant by it. Because to enjoy it so much – when the tension in the build finally breaks – almost induces guilty pleasure. It feels dirty. Taboo. But in the absolute best way. Maybe because there’s nothing quite like it in modern life anymore. That “tap-in” to our tribal centre in the brain. I’m not sure. But we’re all there to indulge in that feeling. So, I guess…there’s really no guilt at all. There were a lot of those moments for me at this festival.
From the jazzy dipped souls of The Rookies to Donny Benet’s post-disco party into Strawberry FM’s highlight that was MzRizk, my musical soul feasted. Now, of course, I couldn’t be everywhere at once. So, I can’t comment on every amazing human and group that graced the stages of the Tea Lounge, The Grove and Wildlands. But, what I can say is that people were happy everywhere I looked. Good job, Strawberry Fields. Good job.
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Closing out Wildlands stage on Friday night, Jennifer Loveless was relentless in her pursuit of those happy sounds the crowd makes when the mix hits just right. Carrying through the energy that Sleep D so beautifully built before her, Loveless started us off with a sharp build to slam us back down just as quickly. She set the tone for not only her time on stage, but for the rest of the night, as many kicked on into the early morning hours at The Tea Lounge for some Cinta T.
On Saturday, it felt like the Wildlands Stage had a chokehold on me. Wilma’s effortless blend of classical and electronic music was mesmerising. Have you ever seen a DJ casually whip out an electric cello in the middle of a mix and make it sing? No? Well, Wilma did just that. The Journey took the crowd’s hand after Wilma’s pump up and lured them into something darker and heavier that could have come as a bit of a shock if you weren’t prepared for it.
Ehsan Gelsi pres. Oolluu was the sensational cinematic sonic experience I didn’t realise I needed at a doof. Made up of synths, bass and drums, their ability to musically build and draw back while staying so perfectly in sync was a sight to behold. Closing out Saturday night at Wildlands was Mr Luke Vecchio, a man whose stage presence is almost as good as his beats. His mix in of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall made my friend absolutely lose his mind to my left. While his very last track of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, made my dear friend to my right turn to me to graciously let me know she was feeling unwell and proceeded to throw up by my feet… You can’t win them all, I guess.
Sunday was nothing short of groovy. Unfortunately, King Stingray had to pull out due to the big bad C. However, the Space Buoys bravely (and chaotically) took the baton on The Grove stage and ran a marathon and a half with it. Have you ever seen a 5-something piece band improvise an hour-long set? It’s fantastically chaotic and was a testament to their musical prowess. From this groove fest, my group made our way to Merve’s festival-closing set, and to the euphoric closing strains of Lola’s Theme, Strawberry Fields was done for another year. And what a long-awaited return for this magical place it was.
Whether you’re an earth wanderer, a hypno-beat finder, a hardcore doof gremlin or a disco bopper, Strawberry Fields will take your hand and guide you through a weekend of pure bliss. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.
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