Review: Track & Field
Words: Sophie Hart
Pictures: courtesy of Andrew Wilson from Dirty Love Photography
Track and Field, Brisbane’s latest music event took place last Saturday 4th of June, to run away success. The first of what we hope will be many boutique mini festivals, started strong with a sell out line up to make any event planner green with jealousy. As Brisbane starts to emerge from behind the shadow of Sydney and Melbourne as a creative centre, we are seeing more and more events, just like Track and Field catapulting into existence. I for one am pleased that more and more bands are getting chances to play to bigger crowds and those in the crowd, more chances to get out.
With the overall intent to create a music event that sat between a club night and festival, the creative minds behind Track and Field, Stu McCullough and Ben Preece, certainly achieved this. With performances by The Jungle Giants, The Belligerents, Ball Park Music and The Last Dinosaurs teamed with DJ set from favourites Hungry Kids of Hungry, The John Steel Singers and The Honey Month to keep people dancing, the night went from strength to strength. All bands gave their indie-pop all, complete with Hawaiian shirts, ironic eyewear choices and the occasional bouts of nudity (well done to The Belligerents for sticking to your Facebook word). In my opinion, Ball Park Music were the highlight of the evening, providing the crowd with a high energy performance full of feel good tunes and an excitable Sam Cromack leading the pack.
The night was a huge success overall – a mixed audience of young and old, hanging off each bands every song. However, it did feel like something was missing. After all the organisational work, the preparation and PR the event took; small steps could have made the whole experience a little more professional.
Everyone loves a ‘Low Fi’ approach, but the trick is to give the appearance of not trying, whilst having all the bases covered. The most important point is to always have enough beer. Never underestimate a dude in skinny jeans ability to put back the beer.
The other criticisms I have, may not seem important, but when you book a venue that has many other events, it’s important to take steps to stop it feeling like a warehouse party, or worse, school dance. The simplest steps, like taking down the Zen Zen Zo posters advertising Wednesday night classes, to the more complicated finding a better ticket check then a foldaway table. It is these small things, next to the great acts and wonderful idea that makes the event a boutique festival and not just another event. By fixing the glitches, the next Track and Field can only prove to be even greater than the first.
holy shit this is the first review I’ve heard that actually commented on the vibe. so accurate.
the event felt awesome, great bands, performances, and lighting, but yes it really did lack that extra personal touch. would have been great to see more couches, more beer, some decorations to absorb the track and field sporty theme. even a projector playing old olympic footage would have been badass. i hope the organisers read this