Hi Rikki, thanks for taking the time to chat with Beat Magazine. How are you and what are you up to at the moment?
I’m really well and super busy with the festival – I love the energy at this time of the year.
Are you able to give our readers a little run down of your role with BMF? And how did the festival first come about?
My role is mainly organisational and logistics in the background while my partner Lex is more on the frontline – he curates the lineup and everything to do with the site. A long held pipe dream of Lex’s, we discussed the dream into the very late of many nights whilst listening to vinyl and knocking back a couple of cold ones. We later chanced on the opportunity at Mayday Hills and just said to each other, “Let’s start a festival,” and we did. Lex has been an avid music fan, festival goer and involved in community radio since the year dot and is extremely passionate in regards to all his musical meanderings. I’ve got some organisational and other events experience and the partnership just works.
It’s quite interesting the festival is located in the hills of the now decommissioned Mayday Hills Lunatic Asylum. Have you heard many stories from the Asylum?
So many of the locals have either worked there over the years or have had relatives work there. My father and sister both did. They all have different stories and many swear there are ghosts in most of the oldest buildings. It does have a fairly dark past so who knows.
It’s a beautiful location regardless of history, but what made it the perfect spot for BMF?
It’s an intimate but open space on farmland with amazing views and sunsets. There’s so much room in the campground you can find your own space and it’s in a little valley that overlooks the stage and catches the sound – the music just floats through or you can get up close and really get into the music. The bar and food is close by and no queuing for anything. The former Mayday Hills farm is still a working farm but it’s just a minute’s drive to the centre of town.
There’s so much history in general at Beechworth, what with Ned Kelly and it being a mining town. What would you recommend for first time visitors to check out?
The award winning Burke Museum, Ned Kelly Vault and historic precinct is the obvious best choice, but there’s also amazing and isolated bush walks on the edge of town, great cycling, swimming in Lake Sambell and the fabulous food and wine culture of Beechworth. The list goes on.
Back to the festival, do you have any advice for those heading to BMF for the first time on how to get the best possible experience?
This year we have free camping on Friday and Saturday night so people can make the most of the long weekend. There’s great local food and a community run bar. It’s all about immersing yourself in the local community. We want everyone to have a great and safe time. We’ve also engaged the best possible sound technicians and have already earned a reputation for quality sound production so people can really enjoy the music experience at our event.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with Beat, is there anything else you’d like to add before we finish up?
Our Eight Ideals (on our website) were carefully thought out from the beginning. We are determined to stick to these and make sure we always produce an event with fantastic music that also supports local and up and coming artists and the local community.
