Goths at Folk Festivals 2012 Editions Part 2

What should I bring?

This question may seem a bit odd, or even too obvious, but I can assure you that going to a Folk or 'Hippy' festival (I trust you know what I mean here) is very different from a Goth festival or any other festival really, and can be a really new and different experience for newbies.
(These answers are not directed at Goths specifically, but rather people doing the whole camping thing in general. Specifics will come later.)

The basics...

Most likely, unless you happen to know someone who has room in their house, you will have to camp. This may be entirely off putting for some, but I actually like for short periods of time. Many places don't allow cars or other vehicles close by so your best bet is to go with a good quality tent. Make sure it is waterproof! Also, consider the number of people you'll be sharing a tent with. A two person tent, I believe, fits about 1.5 people and no gear. I'm exaggerating here, but seriously remember to allow adequate room for people to sleep, access their belongings and get changed. A tent that is overly big will be very heavy. You will probably have to lug so gear around to find a campsite that is suitable, so excess baggage is something to avoid! Still, a tent will be your hub, and should be a place for recovery after hitting the bar for too long! =P
You could also opt for a swag if you have one. Sleeping under the stars sounds lovely, but in a crowded area, you could get stepped on! Seriously, there are a lot of odd or unsavoury characters at festivals (just like everywhere else in the world) and leaving yourself outdoors in just a sleeping bag may make you vulnerable.

Other sleeping gear.
A sleeping bag at the very least to protect against the cold night air, but for those who don't enjoy have rocks-in-the-back while getting some shut eye may want to look for a blow up matteress or sleeping mat. Again, this really depends on space, but also your budget. Sleeping mats tend to be no more than a few centimetres of dense foam. This is actually more comfortable that you might expect, but it is still not much padding between you and the hard earth.
A blow up matteress is more pricey but a comfortable option. Just remember to bring the bellows and appropriate fitting nozzles! So many times we have forgoten a nozzle that fitted and just had to improvise (or borrow, but don't rely on that)! Check for leaks too. You don't want to wake up a 5am after a long hard night of getting your dance on to find your matteress completely deflated and you resting on the hard ground. (Another experience of mine!)
Oh and if you like having some neck support, pack a pillow or two. One pillow can be shared between two people (you'll have to get cosy, so maybe considering sharing with a partner or best friend. I'm sure two sisters would be fighting over how much pillow each has!) and this really saves on packing space. If you forget, or decide you don't have adequet plush, you can fill the underneath section or just under neath your pillow with clothes for extra padding. I have done this in the past. It's not so much fun but it does work!

Clothes and Toiletries- I think I'll be doing another post on this, as this can be a Goth-specific area.

Food and cooking utensils.
Honestly, I'm pretty rubbish at this point of the organising process.
It's very important though, if the festival doesn't provide food or you don't want to pay for it; it tends to be a little overpriced and questionable quality. After all, after a few days in the baking sun, possibly surrounded by a water source like a river, things may go sour. Just a warning to be aware.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan, most likely at folk festivals this will be catered for, due to the large percentage of folkies having similar dietary choices. However, if you are gluten intolerant for example, you may want to do your own thing. Also, keep in mind things like Halal or other choices if needed.
Warning! If you are anaphylactic or really allergic to certain foods then you need to contact the festival organisers about this! Of course, I trust you're all very responsible and would do this anyway. =)
Remember something to cook with, ie. heat. This is something that can really be shared if needed to save on packing space, but look for a hot plate or cooktop, or mini stove. Gas is probably the best choice. Or you could use an open outdoors fire, but check the fire regulations first. I live in a serious bushfire area, and open fires that are even secured can be dangerous. Really though, if your going to do any cooking you don't want to forget this!
Of course, you own crummy 2 minute noodles, with no soy sauce, don't look as tempting as a hot cone of stir fried fresh vegetables and noodles, but I would recommened DIY if you have already purchased and lugged the food. Save your coin for other trinkets or clothes at the markets, hot cups of good coffee or chai, or go all out and don't spend a thing. Use this time to be in touch with nature and not so dependant on earthly possessions.

Items for entertainment
Naturally while at a festival the last thing you need is a distraction from the festival itself, but bringing an iPod or .mp3 player with you can help with dealing with the travelling to and from your destination, especially if you are going by public transport. Also, if you are bringing tiny little ones to the festival (many are family friendly), perhaps some small toys would help keep their attention spans in check. (On that note, I appologise but I don't have children of my own so I cannot really comment on their requirements in regards to packing. Please remember to bring everything you need, and check the festival if there are any regulations regarding disposal of nappies ect. More on this later though)

Reacurring themes in this post have been plan ahead and be sensible and organised. If you keep these in mind you should have a smooth, worry free festival. Posts to come are; Appropriate Attire, and the Behaviours of Folkies (including yourself)
Enjoy!

xxx Lilly

Goths at Folk Festivals 2012 editions Part 1

Hello dear readers. Sorry for not posting again- I'm now at the beginning of my SWOTVAC week which means that exams are literally next week. I'm no longer able to afford the luxury of wasting time reading blogs and watching YouTube videos until I'm completely finished with my exams. That should be in about 2.5 weeks! So soon! I can't believe how fast my first year of university have flown by! I'm been so busy with assignments, homework and music preparation. If you weren't already aware, I've now completed 1/3 of my Bachelor of Music. Recently I had to choose my major. At the moment I've decided to major in Music Performance, but I may decided to change that if it becomes too demanding- I tend to suffer from jaw problems relating to my flute playing, and so I haven't been physically able to complete enough practice. Also, this year at uni has really opened my eyes to what is required and expected from a professional musician. I've really had to examine and change my music related habits.

Anyway, if you will remember a post or two of mine from way back in 2010 in this blogs humble beginnings, I posted about Goths (me, specifically) and their reaction and interaction with folk festivals. Particularly this post. Now, my writing style has certainly developed since then; some of it just makes me cringe. I'm tempted to go back and edit things, but it's more honest if I just keep it all the same, maybe adding some obvious tangents if I want to.
The festival in question is held every two years, and in a month or two I shall be returning once again this year in the first week of December. While I won't be repeating myself again about the features, this time I shall intend to capture and document the life of a Goth (again, me) at a folk festival, and everything that involves. It's very different to a Goth festival, to say the least. I may also be heading to a few more in the near future, depending on my plans to celebrate the New Year.

Earlier this year, in March about a week after I turned nineteen, I attended the Port Fairy Folk Festival. While I don't remember much about the festival now, something exciting did happen... At 0.25 seconds into this video, you'll see me noodling around on a whistle that was on sale. I was so excited when I found this video. One of my sister's friends had noticed it while browsing through YouTube. This gives you just a glimse of the variety of characters found at folk festivals. Each festival is different, and has it's own mix of interesting music and folks (pardon that pun. I literally didn't even notice until a few mintues after! It is staying though! XD)

I can't believe all of the attention my Tumblr has been receiving lately. I've gained at least 17 follows in the past week alone! Please go and observe my activities there, and if you like what you see then please follow me! XD

More posts on these topics will follow in the near future.

xxx Lilly

Goths at Folk Festivals part Two

Earlier today I got home from a weekend festival in North East Victoria. Overall I had a reasonable time, which was a good thing I believe.
This was my first time attending this particular folk festival, but I have been to many others over the years.

The biggest thing I remember was wearing Demonia (or your particular favourite brand of rather impractical yet amazing Goth boots) in mud and bad weather. In the city, this is a completly fine thing to do, but when you're in the middle of a paddock with trees and grass and a lot of much things get pretty messy quickly. (However, my feet did stay dry and comfortable while I was wearing, which was not the case for some people...)
This may seem like a very silly thing to mention first up, but in all honesty it was the biggest thing in my head for most of the weekend. I think this was because it would have been my Demonia boots in question's first 'country experience' and I wasn't sure if they'ed survive.

In a different aspect, the music at this particular festival was the most varied. There was some folk, rock, techno, funk, cabaret, punk, celtic, fusion and a Hell of a lot of other styles mashed together. My favourite performance was by a local band called Rapskallion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq_kPISO9fI&feature=related

This obviously wasn't the performance I saw, but there aren't many examples on the internet.
 They have just returned from a tour of Europe which included places like Camden in London (I believe) and France.
I had seen this band earlier this year in Canberra over Easter which was amazing.

Another thing that happened to me that wasn't particularly enjoyable was once, while I was walking from the festival arena to my campsite (Yes, camping...) a little lady stopped me and asked me what I was wearing. "What is it? Something like Goth?" She asked.
"Er, yes. Goth with some other things" Was my reply. (She didn't actually ask me if I was even Goth, just my clothes. I could have been some tracksuit wearing gansta and she wouldn't have known...)
"Like what?"
"Goth boots, socks, punk stockings..." I hurriedly listed what I was wearing...
The little lady kept following me and talking to me, even though I was a complete stranger to her. Later in the night while I was slightly more intoxicated and not in the best of moods (I am currently suffering from a particularly uncomfortable back pain which is severly inhibiting my ability to play the flute) and the woman, who had by this stage forgotten my name, came up to me and asked if I had remembered her. I had, but I said no just to be casual. This may seem fine, and it did to me, until the lady came up and approached me for the third time. I believe she may have had some sort of 'special substance' due to her dazed expression and forcefullness. Needless to say that after the third encounter with the Little Lady I felt that it was time to avoid her. I did not feel comfortable around her.

Lastly, upon arrival in Olde Melbourne Towne, after checking some emails, I had a delicious hot shower. After not being able to have a proper wash for three days, (there was a creek, but you cannot wash your hair for example), the First Shower really is the best shower you will ever experience.

xxxx Lilly
Listening to The Band Who Knew Too Much (Who played at this festival. It was insane!)- The Rent

Goths at Folk Festivals

This is a potentially irrelevant subject for some Goths because they wouldn't dream of going to a Folk Festival (There's an awful lot of tie-dye). There are some, however, who do occasionally embrace the happy hippies and folkies for a week or so. I've been to many in my life. Quite a  few of the festivals I've attended have been when I didn't really realise that I was a Goth (More on this later. XD Of course I wasn't a Goth when I was a child...) and I have seen others around. Arguably, a particular festival would have been one of my first encounters with a Goth (which is different to being exposed to the Goth subculture which happened many years before) and I believe that that is a rather notable event in a Goth's life.
So, how does a Goth survive at an event where there is a focus on merrymaking and folk music?
It's not particularly easy. The music performed is mainly Folk, but there is also other styles. It depends on the festival in question, but from my experience I have witnessed World, Country, Old Time, Blues, Roots, Jazz, Ska, Latin and some crossover.
In other words, nothing that would be considered Goth, unless you are lucky and there is some Dark Cabaret or similar. Luck is involved here. Not that that necessarily means that there will be no music that there would be no music that appeals to Goths. Not in the slightest. But it does mean that there may be some music that may be unusual or not to your tastes. Here, there are two basic options that you can chose from. One would be to sit through and listen to some music that your may not be enamored with entirely. Or you could enjoy other aspects of the festival culture. There are many other aspects of folk festivals that make them unique from other festivals. However, please remember that in this regard I can only report on personal experience and every festival is different.
In regard to attire I really must emphasise that there is absolutely no reason why you should abandon your spooky attire and switch to fisherman's pants and leather head bands. Actually, consider a festival as a chance to really dress up. You wont regret it. Also on this note, remember to consider the weather, and bring lots of clothes as washing is nearly impossible. Some festivals may also have a reaccuring theme each year, such a circus, cabaret or dancing. Learn as much as you can at the workshops and such available. It will be highly benificial overall.
In regard to general politeness, the folkies are not that different to other people, so just be yourself. However, use your discretion because there are some incredibly sleazy old men at folk festivals who are disgusting and have no sense of decorum. If there is some dress up party, please remember that you don't have to look sexy to have fun, and there may be some unwanted attention from old men who are desperate. I'm talking from experience here. When I was fifteen, I, quite literally, was asked for sex by strange men over the age of forty about five times... EW!!!!!!!!!


I sincerly hope that everyone enjoys their festival season and enjoys themselves!

xxx Lilly
Listening to the Prince Caspian movie with my mum and brother XD