In the Green Room: High Fever Festival, Vol II
Showcasing some of SA’s best psychedelic, rock and indie artists, High Fever Fest is bringing talent to the regions. Here, we chat to festival runner Todd of Sixteen Hands High about the day.
Image Jim Grimwade
Congratulations on curating such a wonderful lineup for the second edition of High Fever Festival. What should audiences expect from the day?
Last year's festival was a total blast! The good vibes were definitely flowing between the bands and the fans... lots of dancing and just having a good time with good friends. So, with another killer lineup of Adelaide bands, I'm hoping for more of the same this year.
What inspired you to create and curate this festival?
I had run several solo acoustic and country/folk style gigs around SA, and was wanting to put on something that was more of a celebration of psych rock and a bit more on the experimental side. It's turned out to be not strictly psychedelic, but more of a fun balance of party rock, psych and indie. I also wanted to create a festival where everybody felt welcome, despite what music they’re into, or what scene they’re a part of, or whether they live in the bush or the city. I think I've managed to do that if last year's event is anything to go by. I had a lot of punters telling me they'd never heard any of the bands before, but had such a fun time that they couldn't wait for the next one!
The lineup’s sound has been described as “hippy psych noir”. What drew you to curating a festival with such a distinct sound?
I kind of answered this in the previous question, but the main attraction was that a stack of my favourite Adelaide bands just happened to make this kind of music. It was basically one big excuse to have all my favourite local acts play together on one day!
What artists on the lineup are on your must-see list?
Ah, that's an easy one; all of them! Even though all of the bands fit perfectly under the High Fever 'genre umbrella', they all have unique sounds and personalities, and bring their own thing to the live stage. Pomegranates kick off the day with their riotous and raucous femme-punk energy and The Sundials will wind up the party with their all-out rock ‘n’ roll mayhem. And in between, you have some of the coolest psych blues, post punk and indie vibes Adelaide has to offer from Badland Caravan, Grace Vandals, Sons of Zöku and Ella Ion - a smorgasbord of yumminess! I wouldn't miss any of it, so get there early!
The festival clearly prioritises showcasing South Australian artists. Why is local representation such a crucial part of High Fever’s mission?
We have such an amazing array of musical talent in Adelaide and SA, so it only makes sense to show it off! I'm convinced that spending $50 on a local festival where you get to see six of our city's coolest bands up close and personal at one of the hills' oldest pubs with a bunch of your best mates, is a way better investment than dropping $300 to see some big over-hyped, international act from the back of some vast, impersonal, concrete and steel stadium. And playing these multi-act festival gigs helps to develop a stronger scene within our local music community. It's a win-win!
Three Brothers Arms has become central to High Fever’s identity. What is it about that venue, and Macclesfield, that makes it the right home for this festival?
Three Brothers Arms is one of the few 'country' pubs that consistently support original live music. Publican, John Jagt, is a musician himself with a long history of opening his doors to artistic endeavours that bring the community together, especially around quality live music. The pub doesn't have pokies or seven different big screens with seven different channels all playing at once behind the musician. It's old school with old school charm and hospitality. It also just happens to have one of the best beer gardens and open grassed areas (for camping), and Macclesfield is such a cool and welcoming village. I live only about 15 minutes from the town so I reckon I can just about claim local status.
What do you hope punters walk away with after a night at High Fever Festival, beyond the music itself?
With so much turmoil and division in the world, I'm hoping everyone comes together without judgement or angst, so we can all escape our troubles for a day and just have a really great time. I'm also hoping punters make new connections with other punters, or they find their new favourite band and walk away feeling a renewed sense of community and are inspired to go out and see local bands every week.
What role do local festivals like High Fever Festival play in the Australian music festival landscape?
A lot of bands start playing these local festivals and end up playing the bigger national festivals. So, it's a great breeding ground for our next big bands, and I think the smaller-scale, boutique festivals provide a unique opportunity to support and focus on community, and celebrate the culture and people of a particular place.
High Fever Festival Vol. II takes place on February 7 at the Three Brothers Arms Hotel in Macclesfield. Tickets on sale now via humanitix.com.
