Parties are a lot more fun when everyone's able to join in.
It’s rare to leave a festival without taking some damage. Usually, you’ve tired and hungover, sore from being jostled by a sweaty crowd, eyes burning from seeing some shirtless guy do a heinous act you wish you could soon forget.
But that’s not the spirit of Ability Fest.
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As Australia’s first all-inclusive music festival, the event is a singular experience. The non-for-profit event uses ticket sales to raise money for the Dylan Alcott foundation. Prior to this year’s event, the festival had already raised nearly $500,000 for the foundation which supports young disabled Australians by helping them gain the confidence to follow their dreams.
The event has all of the hallmarks of a great festival and then some. First, a prime location – hosted in Birrarung Marr, the mainstage had the stunning background of the city skyline and was only a short stroll down the river from Flinders Station.
Next, a banger lineup – this year’s roster featured a hearty mix of local and international live acts and DJs, including Shouse, Hilltop Hoods, Sampa the Great, Broods, DZ Deathrays, Mashd n Kutcher, Paris, Alex Lahey, and Meg Mac.
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As well as the expected festival accouterments (a host of food trucks and bars to keep visitors happy), it also featured a glitter salon where workers bedazzled the cheeks of patrons, stalls selling vintage clothing, a ping pong table and a brand-sponsored lounge giving away free ice cream and popsicles.
When I first heard about the festival being fully inclusive, I imagined it being a hefty undertaking. But in reality, the steps taken to make it accessible were not that drastic at all.
For those in wheelchairs, there were plastic pathways made over the grass, lowered bars, and ramp-affixed risers so everyone could see all the action. There was a slight incline from the entrance of the festival to the main stage, so speedy golf carts were available to traffic guests back and forth – talk about good service.
There was also a dark and quiet sensory room, accessible toilets, lyric videos, Auslan interpreters, and a personal favourite: a silent disco featuring vibrating vests. Designed to give the D/deaf community the ability to enjoy live music, the vests had a powerful vibration that synced with the music, making for an immersive experience that, as a happy bonus, doubled as a back massage.
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Even the brand activations helped elevate the experience. One of the sponsors, The Field, is an online job market for the disabled community – the first of its kind. Another, BindiMaps, helps guide users with disabilities through indoor spaces.
Ability Fest showed that subtle changes can make a massive difference. You could both feel it and see – I’ve never seen more hugs at a festival. What’s more, the adaptations to the space allowed better access for disabled writers, photographers, and service workers as well.
“As a disabled artist, I can tell you we’re not on stages even nearly enough,” said Daine, performing in front of a backdrop of a twirling wheelchair graphic. “Fuck yeah to booking disabled artists.”
Both Auslan interpreters, dressed in matching black pleather pants, killed it (as they always do). Seriously, why doesn’t every festival have an Auslan interpreter at this point? They serve as both a translator and a hype man and are guaranteed to pump up the vibe, as immortalized by the iconic Kim Petras interpretation at Sydney World Pride.
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I must admit when DJ Cooper Smith dropped the beat, I cried. Real tears. Prior to his performance, a video played on the screens showing Dylan Alcott surprising Cooper, who has cerebral palsy and has always dreamed of being a DJ, with a set of Pioneer decks.
Two years later, at age 18, he came on the Ability Fest mainstage to the loudest cheers I had heard all day. With his family waiting in the wing, he played a banging set that had everyone on their feet before Hilltop Hoods and Shouse took us home.
The whole day was truly a moving experience. Among all the doom and gloom of our current day, it was such a delight to be surrounded by so many people who are actively trying to make the world a bit better. Take that wholesome energy and pair it with some world-class music and merriment – Ability Fest, you have my heart.
To find out more about Ability Fest, head here.
