Review - Rainbow Serpent 2008
Author: Danni B
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Being a bit of a princess - loving to be able to shower and rest in my own bed after clubbing - has kept me from experiencing this festival over the last 10 years.
This year, I thought it was time to leave my inhibitions at home and to trek out to Beaufort, tent and sleeping bag in tow, to see what the all the talk was about.
From the moment we drove in to the site on the Saturday morning of Rainbow, the vibe was electric.
People wandering around with smiles on their faces and the music in their veins. No matter if they were at one of the four stages or just chilling at their campsites with friends, there were good times everywhere.
We caught the bus down to the Pool Party during the afternoon where we were blessed with sunshine and saucy beats from a local line up that included Andrew Dannnaoui, Zok, Andrew Till and The Cook & the Chef. Seeing punters splashing around in the pool and raving in bathers was a definite highlight.
For our crew, the market stage was where it was all happening. The line up was amazing and we ended up here for most of the festival. The first stand-out set for me had to be Ripperton, as he really set the mood for what was going to be an amazing Sunday night of music.
He could read the crowd perfectly and was driving the dancefloor crazy with a mix of driving techno and some classic favourites in there too- can you say, 'Dark & Long'-
Next up was Melbourne's favourite techno master, Dave Pham, one of Melbourne's busiest DJs. If you've seen him play, you will know why.
He has a signature sound that many aspire to and gets the floor pumping with ease. What impresses me most about Dave is he is one of the only DJs that still uses Vinyl only and watching him at work is a treat.
Being at Rainbow is like being in a little village - even if you are not really into dancing for hours on end, you can always find something to occupy your time. It proved to be an escape like no other, offering tapas of delights fit for anyone's palate.
From a hypnotic array of DJs and live acts, spiritual education, to relaxation and healing, art and holistic activities, you could even check out a movie at Rainbow's own cinema or get something to eat at one of the many great food stalls.
After grabbing something to eat, I rushed back to the market stage to check out one of my favourite local DJs, U-One, a DJ fast becoming one of the most sought after acts in town. Everyone who saw him play at Rainbow would have to agree.
Out of interest I asked friends and people I met what they thought was the stand out set at Rainbow and there was only one person who didn't say U-One!
I could barely contain my excitement watching him absolutely own the crowd, playing such a fresh set of music, most that I had never heard before. Stand out track had to be Sasha's new floor number, 'Mongoose'.
Monday lived up to the anticipation from a musical perspective. Gavin Martin, Minilogue, Dousk and Kasey Taylor all served up a satisfying fusion of progressive and tech sounds that seemed to satisfy all punters.
The vibe was thrilling as the day came to an end, with Kasey playing the closing set and living up to the hype before him.
As we left Tuesday morning after a fun filled weekend, sadness came over me as I realised I would have to wait another year to experience the magic of Rainbow Serpent again. Tags