We arrived around 5ish ,grey clouds were marching along the ominous looking sky. We quickly set up camp, and stocked our eskies. The landscape was perfectly suited for camping, there was plenty of room and good access roads. I was lucky enough to have friends of friends who had brought couches and a massive tarp for shelter from the elements. Dear. I missed the first band but made it in time to see the Young Professionals, these highlighter leotard clad girls jumped, squealed and screamed through their set. By this time the clouds had thinned out, the suns rays were peeking through a hole in the clouds, beams of light shone down onto the stage and audience like some religious painting. A few drops of rain were felt but nothing more.
The British India cranked into it. A  band of fresh faced looking rockers. The on stage energy was great, “we are the counter culture”
the crowd chanted aloud with the band, City City City were up next, they were a mostly instrumental band who started with two drummers, then one of the drummers switched to guitar. The set was like going on a musical journey.
The Mess Hall a two piece power house of guitar and drums took
to the stage. Swampy sounding grooves that were impossible not to
dance to,the bass drum had a great whoooop to it. They skipped from
song to song without stopping to pause.
J live cut it up next, there was a D.J. and M.C. Some of scratching and beat chopping was awesome. The M.C. got behind the decks, rapping and scratching at the same time.
You Am I graced the stage, from what I could gather they don’t perform much anymore. Having never seen them play I thought these guy were magnificent, blusey rock. Tim Rodgers was on fire, breaking out some funky dance moves. Russel Hopkins the drummer was phenomenal, A brilliant set! It was 3am ‘better get some sleep,  big day tomorrow’. Arising to a clear blue sky and a refreshing breeze. It didn’t take long for the tent to warm up,
Dawn at the Stage was welcomed by the Ballarat brass band, then Eddy Current and the Suppression Rings a punky fast rocking way to gear up the morning. The Grates a three piece (2 girls 1 guy) played a mix of pop rock a great sound for just vocals, a guitar and drums, lovely melodies that the crowd warmed to.
Due to my grandma nap I missed a few of the bands ,but only to reserve my energy for the long night ahead.
The Kills were the band I caught first a 2 piece of vocal and guitar with wicked sequenced backing tracks.
Airborne descend onto the stage with all the 80’s rock attitude you could imagine. The crowd raised their tinnies while the vocalist shredded out an extended guitar solo.
Wolfmother played next, the guitarist sporting one of the largest afro's for a white guy I’ve ever seen. Well-orchestrated songs, with nice mellow interludes. The surprise guest was Bob LogIII , adorning a mask with a breathing tube. This freakish man from Texas was playing a bass drum with his right foot and a metal  clanger with his left foot while riffing away on slide, groovy and bluesy, At one point he got the crowd to heckle him There was an arousing boo! He sung songs about all sorts of things ie. The titty clapping and boob scotch.
Sunday another cracker of a day , The Hodangers played a blend of Jazz and hip-hop using a double bass, drums and two horns, nice and groovy. Clare Bowditch played a beautiful and haunting set, great to chill out to.
King Marong & Co lit up the stage with the colours and rhythms of Africa, outrageously good dancing and crowd involvement.
  The masses made room for the brave and daring 40 or so woman and men who where competing for the golden underwear. The ground thumped as they charged down the gauntlet to snaffle the undies that would decide the winner.     
The Legends of Motorsport were the last band to play .They kicked out a solid  set of rocking tunes the stayers revelled in the dance pit for one last time while the sun beat down.
During the festival I didn’t see a disappointing act, everyone I met were really cool. All in all it was a Tru Aussie rock Experience one which I hope will not be my last.

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