High Noon
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High Noon

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While he states, “music is obviously an important part of it,” he wants to make it clear that there is far more to the day than just a collection of artists making the most of the dawn of spring to get out in the sun an celebrate. Alongside the musicians of diverse approach, Matywk notes that High Noon is a celebration of everything Northcote, be it, “arts, food or retail. It is just going to be crazy bohemian street fun.”

“The challenge putting it together was making a daytime event.” With the event running from 10am to 6pm, Matywk and the rest of the High Noon team knew that they had to ensure that the event had enough appeal to pull the punters away from their beds on a Sunday morning. “Because the event needs to close by sundown, we had to make sure we packed plenty of fun and engaging stuff in right at start of day.” With Northcote’s reputation as a hub of creativity firmly established, he was aware that the event would have an automatic draw but would that pull be strong enough on a hopefully sunny Sunday morning? “We knew it would be easy enough to fill up a lineup with great music, food and stalls. The challenge was always going to be enticing people to come down early.”

With Northcote as celebrated for its taste-bud teasing selection of restaurants and cafes, it did not take too long to stumble upon the perfect remedy. “Everyone will be getting up in the morning and having breakfast, so all we are suggesting is that instead of trying to squeeze into a packed cafe, then why not come and enjoy breakfast sat out on a carefree street packed with entertainment?” he notes.

The solution they stumbled upon seems a sensible one. With an awareness that entertainment will be high on people’s agenda at a festival, the simple come-to-Northcote-for-breakfast idea is of course far more detailed than it first sounds. “There are two main components of the High Breakfast. The first is being able to sit out in the car free high street. On the high street there will be a tasty jazz band the one end, a bit of wild gypsy stuff up the other and in the middle a showcase from Northcote Kids Festival,”Matwyk explains.

With the festival brimming with diverse ingredients, Matwyk’s analogy centresaround taste. With the breakfast as its central feature, Matwyk explains that the morning is spent picking flavours, or even testing your taste. “So first you get to pick flavour in terms of food you eat. You walk down and pick your food flavour then decide your entertainment flavour by simply pulling up a chair in the middle of the car free high street.”

“By all means do not miss noon, but some of the highlights of our programme are in the morning. Especially for families as the Northcote Kids Festival showcase is a snapshot of the best of the event. The families are less difficult to get down early. It is our other punters we are hoping will come down.”

Clearly aware that a Sunday morning is more normally the domain of the young family, Matwyk knew that the challenge the team faced was finding a way to make the event hold enough appeal to get those who have been out in Northcote the night before to face the morning sun rather than hold out for the afternoon activities. “Bars are also operating for breakfast. If Bloody Mary and pancake are what tickles your fancy for breakfast, then that is on offer as well,” he enticingly adds.

Though Matwyk urges you to get along bright and early, the remainder of the day is brimming with equally entertaining options. “At 12 midday – High Noon – is our musical showdown. The red and blue brigade will be going head to head. It is our take on a street parade but very different. It is a musical face off, with the bands marching towards each other.”

“This is the time we are saying ‘let’s get together now and do this thing’”. Rather than slink quietly from morning to afternoon, the “’Battle of the Brass’ as we’ve been calling it,” will kick the day from one phase to the next. “We have a jam-packed lineup, three stages on the street with musical showcases from our venues. They are curating the outside music. There is all sorts of quirky stuff going on.” With music unquestionably holding a dominant presence within the event, it is the off-beat opportunities that the festival presents that in Matwyk’s eyes align most accurately with Northcote’s personality. “There will be dance workshops and the Greek community doing workshops. There is plenty of on street entertainment even somebody escaping from a straight jacket at one stage!”

BY DAVID HUNTER