As well as the main stage’s acts, twisted citizens were on hand to lure you in to Happyland – a kaleidoscopic, trippy playground urging you to whack a mallet on the classic high striker, or test your luck by throwing a ring onto a stick attached to a man’s jockstrap. And as you dawdle around the stunning Werribee Park lake, your path was often obstructed by one of many of the charming installations popping up around the site – maybe a group of shimmering costumed dancers, a giant robot dancing in syncronisation with his laboratory girls, or a marching band playing renditions from bands featured at the festival.
Doing a good job of beckoning the punters out of the belting sun and into the shade of the Campfire Stage was Irish-born Aindrias de Staic with his amusing, foulmouthed storytelling and intricate gypsy fiddle playing. At times his rambling dragged on, but his energy, musical virtuosity and ‘workshop’ on magic mushroom jazz did enough to balance out his act well.
The League of Sideshow Superstars set Le Boudoir alight with a feast of cabaret acts and circus stunts. Intricate cigar box juggling, a live dislocation and relocation and Houdini-esque escapology were all brought out for the frenzied crowd, before a climatic ending saw one member lift a car battery with chains attached to his nipples, while simultaneously electrocuting himself. It may sound slightly nauseating, well…it was, but it was also strangely compelling.
Up next was razor-sharp London duo Bourgeois & Maurice, who shocked many with their devilishly cynical musical routine – putting an evil, but hilarious spin on many of life’s issues, such as global warming: “What’s so wrong with global warming…climate change is good”. And if that didn’t tickle you, a tune exposing the erotic side to tax paying surely did.
Capping off proceedings at The Campfire Stage for the day was The Comedy Picnic. Unfortunately, many of these local acts struggled to muster much of a laugh – David Quirk seemed unprepared, and his long-winded gags lacked any real direction, and Lessons With Luis and his awkward family game show really needed a more intoxicated audience to twist the bizarre show into some sort of humour. Pick of the bunch was Ryan Coffey, who cleverly used a loop pedal to create backing tracks live, and then displayed his impressive vocal range by singing his witty life-observations over the top.
Briefs was the act dealt with the unfortunate fate of competing with Beck for attention, but it didn’t seem to diminish attendance much at all. Fresh from recent shows in London, Edinburgh and Dublin, the very-camp, very controversial local cabaret troupe brought back with them an enthralling mix of comedy, high-flying circus stunts, hula-hooping, plate spinning and manginas. There was something for everyone to love, or hate.
Commissioned with the tricky job of shutting down the Melbourne leg of the arts program was Mikelangelo Presents. And what a show it was. The sultry burlesque dancing was delightfully backed by Mikelangelo’s crooning and the Woohoo Revue’s devilish horns, menacing strings and drums. The crew had an effortless ability to transform the tent into what felt like a prohibition-era speakeasy with their soundtrack of sexy swing, Balkan brass and gypsy jazz. It was a set delivered at a lightning-fast pace, and Le Boudoir’s attendants lapped it up, dancing and sweating until the very final note.
It seems that once again, Harvest is proof that although it’s the bands that draw the punters in first and foremost, it’s all things art that turns Harvest Festival from just a collection of gigs, to the magical wonderland it really is.
