The Great Escape (TGE) is a semi-alternative music festival which has been held in Sydney for a few years. It started off as the Cockatoo Island festival until the organisers probably realised how ridiculous it was having a 3 day festival on a tiny little island in the middle of Sydney Harbour. They’ve moved everything to the much larger Newington Armoury with 6 stages and 3 days of pretty awesome music, great food, interesting stalls and much art and culture.

Soph, myself, my sister and one of my friends Becky volunteered for the Australian Orangutan Project and we looked after a stall. Check out the AOP website, it’s a great little organisation.

As I was working, I didn’t get to check out all the bands but I tried to get out to a few while Soph, Becky and my sister looked after the stall. One of the bands I did see all of was Sydney locals The Mares. The drummer Nick is a mate of mine from high school and we played together in a band for 4 years a few years ago. They’ve been described as “Iggy Pop meets Frank Black” so if you’re into that kinda thing, check them out.

As with every good festival, there is a shiteload of rain, as there was this weekend. For a city in the worst drought in 100 years, we’re getting quite a bit of it at the moment which I think is great. Too bad TGE organisers decided to put the stalls in the lowest lying area of the venue, resulting in our little stall getting well and truly drowned. Thankfully our merchandise and stuff didn’t get too wet because of the straw we had underneath. The straw was everywhere, including out front of the main stage. This could only mean that eventually someone would start throwing it at someone else and when it did, chaos ensued.

This was all happening during a great performance by Sydney 2 piece The Fumes. Another cool little moment was this young fella on his mum’s shoulders. He couldn’t have been much more than 4 or 5 years old.

There were plenty of other cool photos I can’t quite weave into a narrative at the moment so I’ll just stack them up.

A cool lighting installation in one of the bunkers. You couldn’t really tell how far away the lights were, very deceptive. The girl in the middle is Becky, the guy doing the ballet move on the side, I have no idea.

Sideshow performers of some description I think. Or perhaps just slightly strange festival goers.

Soph and Becky’s hand enjoying a Fizzer, childhood memories obviously.

Wolfmother accompanied by the Easter Show 9pm fireworks.

Overall, a pretty cool experience and something I’d do again. Just as long as they can figure out how to get some hot water to the mens’ showers.