The hallmarks? Quality, quality, quality. Fun fun fun fun. Legendary legends. Kingpins. Giants. Dreamweavers, Tour Guides, Partystarters. Islands. Pirates. Lifers. Special Ones. Hit-makers. Fun-makers. All lovingly hand-picked and bespookenly programmed into just the right time of day or nite with collective mood in mind across an Epic Long Weekend for your absolute enjoyment.

GOLDEN RULE

Golden Plains is BYO with no commercial sponsors, a No Dickhead Policy, world’s-best-practice facilities and the lush, spacious purpose-built, relentlessly-refined Wonderland that is the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre. Ticket price stays no more than last year: $289 plus booking fee.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Best way to get tickets is to enter the second round of the Ballot at www.goldenplains.com.au before it closes at 10pm Sunday 23 October, now welcome to all comers new and old.

WHO’S PLAYING?

Bon Iver

He’s one of Planet Earth’s natural musical resources; he flows, he soars, he taps into It: yes, the giant Bon Iver will be playing a special extended Sunset set with his nine-piece band in amongst the Ghost Gums and couches of the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre at Golden Plains Sixxx. “BON IVER” means “GOOD WINTER”; more like “ASTONISHING AUTUMN” I’d say. This will be a once in a lifetime experience, seeing the musical man mountain and his band play in, well, as sweet a natural environment as you could wish to see him in, out there amongst the giant trees in the Bush Brigadoon as the day turns into night and he winds his way through an extended set of soulful, emotional, uplifting, cathartic music, sweet music. Lots and lots of people have lots of deep, deep love for Bon Iver. Little wonder. If Planet Earth had to send one singer-songwriter to represent Human Beings at some crucial Intergalactic Expo, he’d be a good choice.

Learn: http://boniver.org/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/boniver

CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers

Good Times! Dance, Dance, Dance! Still can’t believe this is happening. This show comes with a reputation as being one of the best things you could wish to experience and Golden Plains will witness it as a ninety-minute funk disco r’n’b soul rolled gold extravaganza. Chic is the ultimate disco band -- disco before it got hijacked. Their massive, enduring, global hits are the building blocks of disco’s DNA: Le Freak, Good Times, I Want Your Love, Dance Dance Dance and stacks more. The iconic Nile Rodgers was in the engine room of Chic and he will be leading the big crack band through a bunch of bona fide blockbusters that he wrote or produced including all of the above plus We Are Family, Upside Down, I’m Coming Out, and many more. He produced some of the world’s biggest ever hits, like Let’s Dance for David Bowie, Like A Virgin for Madonna and this show reprises some of that canon. Nile Rodgers’ own story is incredible and it comes out in his music. A big funky finale to GP Sixxx. Not to be missed.

Learn: http://www.nilerodgers.com/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/nilerodgers

Roky Erickson

Hazy Sunday Afternoon! Triumphantly, The Godfather of Psychedelic Rock Mr. Roky Erickson will land on these shores for the first time ever to unwind minds at Golden Plains Sixxx. AAAAAAAAHHHRRRYYEAAH! Roky Erickson’s music makes your body tingle, makes you come alive. For the first time ever, the legendary legend of psychedelic rock will be Here playing songs from throughout his rock-n-rollercoaster lifetimes. If the popular history and the secret history of music were flipped Roky Erickson would be The Beatles. He hit big cult fame in the 60s with 13th Floor Elevators and the classic You’re Gonna Miss Me (which he wrote aged 15); that he is here forty years later is a total triumph of spirit. A drug arrest and sentence to a State Hospital saw him subjected to electroconvulsive therapy, diagnosed a paranoid schizophrenic and end up destitute. At one point he believed he was an alien. But he never stopped making amazing music and his legion of fans consider him a demi-god. Roky Erickson in the Supernatural constitutes a full-sensory luxury of the highest order; the rarest of four-dimensional treats. HOLY SMOKES.

Learn: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roky_Erickson

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/rokyerickson

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy featuring The Cairo Gang

Whoever said “no man is an island” hadn’t heard of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy aka Will Oldham aka Palace Brothers/Music/Songs.  We ask each artist on Golden Plains for a photo and some bio info. Here’s an edit of what came through for the great man:

“Bonny’s parents performed intercourse merely once, but it was deeply tantric, lasting so long they conceived and birthed 3 children during the single act. Bonny was born Siamese twins, conjoined at every part of the body--overlapped perfectly on top of one another so he looked like just one guy. During puberty, Bonny’s Other began to itch, so he underwent a procedure to be surgically separated from himself, cell by cell. When doctors attempted to reassemble the extracted Boniface, they wound up with just two frogs, a jaybird, and a monkey holding a banjo. 

Determined to forge his own scrappy sonic path, Billy invented a brand new musical note out of just a bottle cap, a sack of raisins and a lawnmower engine, all held together with dried duck sauce and twine.”

“They say the great ones are misunderstood in their time?  Bonny Prince Billy can’t even tell time.” -KY Daily. 

“He has beehive pubic hair.” -Vanity Fair

One of his songs was covered by no less than Johnny Cash. Apparently he now tours the world based on places he’d like to camp, and his band is chosen primarily on whom he’d like to hang out with. Island continent.

Learn: http://www.dragcity.com/artists/bonnie-prince-billy

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/bonnieprincebilly

Black Lips

“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity.” -Charles Mingus

Leaders of their scene, Black Lips make gloriously simple rock’n’roll. The spirit of the stuff before Sgt Pepper made all the rockers into arghtistes. Black Lips don’t get down other than to get down; the party doesn’t stop for anything. Sure, they’ve been run out of India & Tijuana but they are welcome anytime in The Sup.

Learn: http://www.black-lips.com/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/theblacklips

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Ariel Pink is a Special One. He’s an Outsider, a visionary. Did you know his monster hit Round & Round is actually from his eleventh record? Did he singlehandedly revive the cassette? Did the LA Tourism Board thank him for making LA the cool place to live again after his classic Life In LA? Who cares: his real gift is knowing what makes the best music of the past fifty years tick, and rather than just ape it, he draws on that vast internal music library to create irresistible neuvo-classics by the earful.  Ariel Pink is sublime, a Master, and just so thoroughly enjoyable to listen to.

Learn: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ariel-Pinks-Haunted-Graffiti/53610951290

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/arielpink

Charles Bradley

A Daptone Records founder stumbled upon Bradley’s show one night. Blown away by his show he offered him the chance to record some original music with the all-star Menahan Street Band. Discovered at the ripe age of 62, Bradley takes us to the music of his childhood. The sounds of the civil rights movement, Apollo Theatre, the sound of America changing forever, when James Brown was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. It’s that raw, rugged soul that if ya don’t dig, one must ask, “do you have one”?

Email came thru a few months ago: “Charles Bradley can play your festival with a crack band of Menahan/Budos providence, do you want him?” No-brainer! Another five-star rolled gold total entertainment package from the Daptone roster. Raw, rugged soul, a surefire Amphihit.

Learn: http://thecharlesbradley.com/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/charlesbradleymusic

Roots Manuva

For the first time in The Sup! Witness the Fitness! Roots Manuva is an Originator. A game-changer. He was that first guy, before Dizzee, before MIA, to bring a truly individual non-American flavour to hip-hop, and blazed the trail for the last ten years of UK bass music. His new album 4EVEREVOLUTION is considered by many to be his best. He’ll be evolving Sunday evening. Again and Again.

Learn: http://www.rootsmanuva.co.uk/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/rootsmanuva

Urge Overkill

Golden Plains, You’ll Be A Woman Soon. Among the myriad wonders of the modern musical world, Urge Overkill is a breath of fresh air. Old school Rockstars with a cartoony aesthetic but fantastic rock chops and ballsy songs with crunch and pzazz. Nash Kato -- and his gold voice -- commands the stage like the rockstar son of Christopher Walken while buddy King Roeser delivers the most mercurial of counterpunches. They approached Saturation by supporting Nirvana on the Nevermind tour across the US, then likewise the Pearl Jam Vs tour, then Tarantino chose Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon for Pulp Fiction. So many fully-realised killer tunes: Sister Havana, Positive Bleeding, Dropout, Stull, Emmaline, etc etc. Resistance is futile.

Learn: http://urgeoverkill.com/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/urgeoverkill69

Wild Flag

Sleater Kinney weren’t just a band; they were almost a ‘movement’ in themselves. They didn’t sound like anyone else and their demise left a great hole in the musical landscape. The return of Carrie Brownstein & Janet Weiss is a very welcome one. Shifting their respective focus from ‘Portlandia’ and The Jicks to join their friends Mary Timony & Rebecca Cole in their new group WILD FLAG. They still don’t sound like anyone but themselves. Let it fly.

Learn: http://www.facebook.com/WILDFLAG

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/wildflag

First Aid Kit

Our introduction to Swedish teenagers First Aid Kit came via their (two)million-streaming YouTube of a Fleet Foxes song. It was a brilliant version; they filmed it in ‘the woods’ and wore some cool lumberjack outfits. But what followed, their own original tunes, floored us. The Knife signed them to their label and they starting releasing some of the sweetest, country folk since Gram & Emmylou. Musically beguiling. They move Patti Smith to tears.

Learn: http://thisisfirstaidkit.com/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/thisisfirstaidkit

Seekae

Seekae have achieved success on their own terms without large-scale media championing. Their large cult following is made up of passionate, passionate fans, because what Seekae do is as good as you’d hear anywhere. Some call it thinking person’s electronic music…it satisfies your head as well as your rump.

Learn: http://www.facebook.com/seekaemusic

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/seekaemusic

Low

There’ll be plenty of excited people ’bout this. A true band; there is always time for things of natural wonder at Golden Plains. The weight of Al Sparhawk and Mimi Parker’s voice is heavy. I say ‘voice’ not ‘voices’ cos they blend so nicely -- not dueling but dualing, straight from the heart (being married and all). A testament to the power of the human voice, LOW have nineteen years of awe-inspiring music behind them…two decades crafting a precise, deliberate, uplifting brand of music. Listening to Low feels like flying.

Learn: http://chairkickers.com/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/low

Kisstroyer

Rock And Roll All Nite, and Party Every Day.

Learn: http://www.kisstroyer.com/

The Celibate Rifles

I don’t surf but listening to the Rifles gives me the feeling that I imagine surfing gives surfers. Getting on board their live show is like riding giant energy. Their intensely natural songs are sometimes taken higher by Damien Lovelock’s acerbic blowouts, and sometimes eased back by his laconic enlightenment. But there’s enough there to floor you before he evens starts. Simply one of the best rock bands the planet has produced -- and distinctly Australian. At risk of being a grumpy old woman, it’s a national disgrace that the Rifles aren’t on an even higher pedestal! A phenomenal band! Bill Bonney Regrets, Johnny, Tick Tock, Electravision Mantra, Killing Time. It’s Such a Wonderful Life. It’s no turgid miasma.

Learn: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Celibate_Rifles

Naysayer and Gilsun

Finding a good party DJ these days is a little bit like finding a simple, no-frills sandwich in the inner city. Y’know when you just want a cheese & tomato sandwich and all they offer is celeriac & fennel pide? Naysayer and Gilsun isn’t whitebread though -- it’s a whole(meal) lotta fun. Hits the spot and much, much more.

Learn: http://naysayerandgilsun.com/

Listen: http://soundcloud.com/naysayer-and-gilsun

Harmony

Harmony grabbed us on very first listen. The band commenced, in legally binding terms, on November 7th 2009, when Tom (from The Nation Blue) and Alex were married. Jon (McLusky) then joined, as did Amanda (Ukeladies), Quinn and Maria. Their songs coast through verse, chorus and coda like a tropical cyclone, their sound a mongrel concoction of gallows blues and balladry offset by…. a gospel vocal ensemble OF COURSE. Bitter, sweet.

Listen: http://harmony.bandcamp.com/

Dexter

Dexter began his DJ career as teenager, dragging his mobile system in his parents’ car to house parties across the western suburbs. Became DMC champ, Avalancher, Amphitheatre master and Sup’ legend. Those who have witnessed a seminal set at Meredith, GP or the Prince might be hoping for a reprise…and they’re luck is in. It’s rare that The Champ plays a Classic Set, it only Happens on special occasions. But he accepted our invitation to do just that at Sixxx and will Reclaim the Night.

Learn: http://www.djdexter.com/

Lanie Lane

Pronounced “Lannie”. Sassy, sultry, stylish, with a bluesy sexual swagger. Imbued with the spirit of Muddy Waters and channeling the grit of Billie Holiday. Earthy, with the elbow grease to get the job done, but tied up with a colourful ribbon and handed over with grace and charm. Jack White produced two tracks and they’re great: Ain’t Hungry and My Man.

Learn: http://lanielane.net/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/lanielanemusic

Endless Boogie

Does exactly what it says on the pack.

Learn: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Endless-Boogie/31128877690

Listen: http://www.last.fm/music/Endless+Boogie

Lost Animal

Some punx grow up wrong. Jarrod Quarrell did just right. It’s a tropical fruit, coconut dub and gravel smOothie. Can’t keep it in stock. Record of the year. From St Helens & new season, a lifer. Great songwriter. His songs cut deep. Band so strange & funky we assume he found them on the streets of Japan or Brazil. Or Drumcondra. Lort Smith.

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/lostanimal76

DJ /rupture

The eternal globetrotter, Rupture is whole-wide-world music. He went off the beaten path with his groundbreaking Gold Teeth Thief and Minesweeper Suite records and never returned. So danceable you won’t debate whether it’s “mash up” or “sound collage”. He’s a pre-eminent bootlegger/mindboggler, who never resorts to cheap tricks. Come apart.

Learn: http://www.negrophonic.com/rupture/

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/deejayrupture

Canyons 

They came to us as a tropical dream and just kept on evolving. Peaks and valleys. Feelgood and fascinating. Longterm collaborators WA pals Tame Impala appear on the album (which DFA released, no less). Canyons at Golden Plains will be an all-new live band experience, not seen before. Grand. Chasmic.

Learn: http://www.modularpeople.com/artists/canyons/50.html

Listen: http://www.myspace.com/thecanyonsinfo

This Thing 

What is a Wooshie? An Electric Sea Spider? Do they play Pink Notes on the Dream Kit? We could Rambl on but we won’t. We wanted late night beats; we asked the selectors for the State Team and got This Thing.

Learn: http://www.thisthing.us/

Learn: http://www.facebook.com/thisthing

Hunting Grounds

The Sup’ has a long history with bands from the ’Rat. It’s where Aunty and Uncle Doug do the grocery shopping after all. Ballarat High band. Always was plenty to admire about Hunting Grounds, from Howl to now. Very happy to have them. Something pretty cool going on here.

Learn: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hunting-Grounds/129087147157083

Listen: http://soundcloud.com/redcat-sounds/hunting-grounds-in-colour

Two Bright Lakes DJs

Tig & Blake hoist the TBL flag in The Sup yet again. World-Record-holding Speed Painters, purveyors of late night delicacies. Yummy.

Learn: http://twobrightlakes.com/

PREMIUM MODE

The Supernatural Amphitheatre and Campgrounds will be set up so you can sprawl out pretty much however you like. Bring tents, caravans, motorhomes, igloos, couches, chairs, side tables, whatever. There’s a whole new campground for ultra-luxurious sprawling, there’s Eric’s Terrace Wine Bar, there’s everything, I think. If you think of anything you’d like there, let Aunty know.

GOLDEN PLAINS SIXXX

Presented by Triple R 

Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre

10-12 March 2012

www.goldenplains.com.au

Ballot Open Now until 10pm Monday 24 October.

BON IVER at Sunset * Disco legends CHIC feat NILE RODGERS * Psychedelic Godfather ROKY ERICKSON * BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY feat The Cairo Gang * BLACK LIPS * ROOTS MANUVA * ARIEL PINK‘s Haunted Graffiti * URGE OVERKILL * CHARLES BRADLEY * WILD FLAG * LOW * ENDLESS BOOGIE * FIRST AID KIT * DEXTER * LANIE LANE * KISSTROYER * SEEKAE * THE CELIBATE RIFLES * CANYONS * NAYSAYER AND GILSUN * HARMONY * LOST ANIMAL * HUNTING GROUNDS * THIS THING * TWO BRIGHT LAKES DJs * DJ /RUPTURE * couple more.

@harvestpresents posted yesterday at at 12.13pm: 

“Strapped in? The gloriously zany psychedelic, bliss-out band to end all bands, THE FLAMING LIPS announce ONLY 2 Australian theatre sideshows”

“THE FLAMING LIPS > Wed 16th Nov Adelaide (Thebarton Theatre) Thurs 17th Nov Melbourne (The Palace) – On Sale FRIDAY OCTOBER 7 at 9am Local”

The last time The Flaming Lips were here was to headline Splendour In The Grass 2009, and that was a highly memorable show. This year the Oklahoma band have been busying themselves with releasing music in Gummi USB’s and collaborating with Nick Cave.

The Flaming Lips will perform at The Palace in Melbourne on Thu Nov 17 and Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide Wed Nov 16 with supports TBA. Tickets go on sale Fri Oct 7 and 9am local.

Block out your diaries for March 9 – 12 and prepare yourself for the annual, long-weekend showcase of traditional, roots and just plain fine music at this eclectic festival which  presents a staggering line up of world-class (if not always world-famous) musicians from both here and abroad.

Early Birds tickets are on sale now for the 2012 Port Fairy Folk Festival and those who are keen for a bargain can save themselves $35 off the gate price ticket if they buy now!

There’s no doubt Australians enjoy a good festival and they’ve been lovin’ the Port Fairy Folk Music Festival for a long time now……35 years in fact!

In the unique setting of an historic fishing village the  Port Fairy Folk Music Festival hosts world class music acts from the four corners of the globe including the best Australian talent to create a festival that is internationally recognised as one of the best folk music festivals in the world. No small accolade!

With a bill that ranges from traditional to cutting edge contemporary in a single evening you can catch wildly different styles of folk, roots, blues, jazz, bluegrass, Celtic roots, crossroads, country and rock, and music of the world.

Not famous just for its song, sun and sand alone at Port Fairy punters enjoy a festival of storytelling, dance, comedy and street theatre, with many special festival highlights and events. These include the Festival of The Streets, Festival Craft Fair, Markets and Food Festival, The Instrument Makers Exhibition, Buskers, Theatre, Sessions, Sing-along’s, Special Awards, Street Performances, The Poet’s Breakfasts and much more. All presented on five large and five smaller stages in The Arena and at 12 more venues throughout the town.

HOW TO BOOK

Book Online:                       
Follow the links at www.portfairyfolkfestival.com

Book By Mail:                         
Use Booking Form & mail to P O Box, 176, Port Fairy, 3284

Book by Phone:
Box Office             03 5568 2227

Book by Email:
pfff@hotkey.net.au

Regular updates:
www.portfairyfolkfestival.com