Hi Ric, thanks for taking the time to chat with Beat. How are you and what are you up to at the moment?
I am well and up to my eyeballs with the final planning of the festival. Arranging a one day festival for 8000 people is fairly complex when you consider the logistics required.
How did the festival first come to be? And can you tell us how the festival has evolved over the years?
It was originally started by four individuals, each with their own area of specialisation. Now that I am the new festival director, I work closely with Kate Burrows, the event manager and one of the originators. The festival has always been about craft beers, a safe and fun family environment, and great music. This coming festival sees a stronger emphasis on independent craft brewers and a huge band lineup.
What are your thoughts on the growth and appreciation for the craft beer industry?
The explosive growth of craft beers has been phenomenal over the last decade, with new brewers popping up monthly around the country as well as many venues switching to a craft beer emphasis and new venues created to cater for the craft beer movement. It’s almost like a new religion.
What do you think is the perfect way to drink a beer, fast or slow, at a BBQ or a gig et cetera?
Craft beers are like wines in my opinion: not to be consumed in a guzzle, but to savour the flavours and aromas. There are so many varieties to try and to have a festival environment around you, relaxing in the sun with friends, and listening to awesome bands, it just doesn’t get any better than that.
With over 100 different craft beers at the festival, do you have a favourite?
My favourite styles are generally in the IPA range and I do have some favourites, depending on what time of the day it is. The top three for me come from Pirate Life, Feral Brewery and Temple Brewery.
Of course there are bands at the festival as well. How important was it for you to include live music in the experience?
Live music to a craft beer festival is as important as having a bottle opener to me. Music creates the vibe and the hardest part of organising the festival is the band lineup. In 2016 we are trying to have quite a few genres of music to satisfy all the punters, but obviously that is nearly impossible. In conjunction with Power FM in Ballarat, we have been running a Homebrewed Battle of the Bands and the winner of that gets to open the festival and receive a $500 prize from Coopers, our major sponsor. Coopers and I are both passionate about supporting new musicians.
What did a band have to encompass to make the cut for the festival?
Stage presence, talent and fun. With a lineup as we have – The New Savages, The Bakersfield Glee Club, The Rechords, Kylie Auldist, Dallas Crane and the iconic You Am I – I believe this will be a fantastic festival, packed into nine hours of pleasuring taste buds, stomachs, ears and dancing your legs off.
Thanks again for having a chat with us, are there any last words of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers?
Book in early – this will be a sellout.
