Constructed in 1976, the Coburg Velodrome is home to the Coburg Cycling Club, but has not ordinarily been considered anything more than a sporting carousel. Nonetheless, in 2015, it welcomed Freedom Time – one of Australia’s most inventive one-day music festivals – into its space. For event organiser Edd Fisher, the stars aligned after his co-organiser Jamie Bennett slated one of Britain’s most celebrated DJs for an Australian tour.
“Jamie called me up one day and said, ‘Edd, I’ve got Floating Points locked in for an Australian tour and I want to do something really special for him in Melbourne. Do you want to be involved and know any suitable outdoor spots for a party?’ ” he recalls. “I had recently spoken to a friend of mine that’d seen the velodrome and said that it’s incredible. It’s designed for throwing a music festival – it has existing fencing, it has an existing toilet block, it’s like a little natural amphitheatre. People can sit along the walls of the velodrome and it’s a perfect spot.”
The inaugural event took place on a carpark corner in Perth and with the help of Bennett as a promoter, immediately spruiked interest because of its locally constructed sound system.
“It actually started with a guy called Ben Taaffe over in Perth. Crown Ruler was touring Tako and Invisible City and Ben was doing the Perth leg of the tour. He came up with the name and concept of using a local handmade sound system in a unique outdoor setting.”
All things considered, it’s shaping up to be the biggest year yet for Freedom Time as the festival becomes family-friendly and expands to three stages for the first time.
The sun sets over the Velodrome.
“There’s going to be a family friendly area that’s going to feature food trucks, a Ferris Wheel and a small market,” says Fisher. “Entry will be free for children under 12 and they will have views of the main stage from side of the velodrome. There’s going to be three stages for this one, so the site’s been expanded. It’s very exciting and the biggest event that we’ve done so far.”
In previous years, the date of the event has been carefully aligned with artist touring schedules. This time around, the stars have aligned allowing Freedom Time’s fourth incarnation to go down on New Year’s Day in a huge coup for the organisers.
“New Year’s Day is obviously an important day on the calendar for parties so it made sense for us to move it onto that date,” says Fisher. “It’s been a really positive response so far. We’re on track to have a sell-out event. “
Three festivals in and it’s still a baby, but Freedom Time has already welcomed many of the world’s most sought-after electronic luminaries, with the likes of Jeremy Underground, Sadar Bahar and Hugo Mendez taking to the stage. In 2017, the event will welcome its most eclectic lineup yet and Fisher believes there’s one act in particular to keep an eye on.
“One of the DJs we’re really excited to invite is Nick The Record from the UK. He’s one of the world’s most incredibly knowledgeable record collectors that everyone goes to for new cuts. He’ll be playing in an intimate setting for an extended set on the Wax’o Paradiso stage.”
Get psyched for Freedom Time with our comprehensive playlist below.
By Tom Parker
