KICKING off its inaugural run, Disconnect Festival took over Fairbridge last weekend for a few days of music, arts and crafts and frivolity.
Organising a festival debut is hard enough, but organising a three-day festival with a contingent of local and international acts in a fairly complex yet homely setting is one big feat.
While there were various issues with parking, setting up and time schedules, these can mostly be put down to the general pressure that’s tacked on to any big festival, and the whole “it’s my first time” vibe of Disconnect.
As for the music, there was very little wanting in the engagement and eclecticism of the bands on show. While crooning American troubadour Father John Misty held the maligned spot of 9pm on Sunday night, those in attendance were more than happy with the performance which was one of the highlights of the whole weekend.
For this scribe, the definite highlight of the weekend happened in the old Fairbridge Church, which by far offered the most emotive environment for music. Songstress Joni Hogan – aka Joni In The Moon – amazed the packed pews with her intense, direct voice and passionate songwriting.
It was a truly sublime performance backed up by the more-than-capable Tara John and Ofa Fotu, aka Odette Mercy, who has long made her own powerful stamp on the local music scene. The standing ovation at the end of the set proved how immense the experience was for the audience.
Any festival worth its salt isn’t just about the music anymore, though, and Disconnect had plenty of other events on offer, including circus lessons for the kiddies and one of the most gastronomic line-ups of food trucks seen in recent memory.
Greens senator and all-round cool dude Scott Ludlam hit on the zeitgeist of the festival with a punchy presentation, followed by one of his now-cherished but still slightly awkward DJ sets. DJ S-Ludz for PM?
Despite a few missed notes and what appeared to be an unfortunately low turnout, Disconnect proved Fairbridge is more than adequate as the setting for a major music festival. Fingers crossed it pops up again next year.
