Festival puts kids front and centre
THE Lost Lands festival is a true family affair for founder Simon Daly.
His wife, Mella Morgan, is a co-organiser of the unique event, which returns to Werribee for its second offering this weekend with a more eclectic and broader program.
Their nine-year-old daughter Lyla is also a key voice. As a program consultant, she helps deliver the arts, music, theatre, workshops and performances that appeal to all ages.
“I run it all past her, she loves it,” Daly said.
Having a child’s perspective is vital in nurturing The Lost Lands concept, which has created a two-day camping festival for parents and their young kids.
“We are aiming for a Womadelaide-meetsWoodford Folk Festival,” Daly said.
Daly admits he had grown a bit stale after 20 years at the helm of the massive Falls Festival, which had grown from his family farm at Lorne into a multi-state behemoth.
With Daly in Victoria and Morgan overseeing the Tasmanian leg of the event, family life was becoming increasingly difficult.
Daly was also finding it harder to cater to an 18-25year-old demographic that he had largely grown apart from.
After taking a hiatus from the festival scene for a couple of years, the couple realised there were few options for them and their three kids to engage with art and culture together.
Hence the idea of The Lost Lands was born.
They set about creating an immersive experience for families to enjoy together and that would engage kids in the arts from a young age.
The second annual event, which returns to the Werribee Mansion, builds on the success of its launch in 2017.
“It landed really well in its first year,” Daly said. “We have just been building on the programming. There’s a lot more different spaces and activities.
“The program in place is far greater than you’d normally get for a festival of this size.”
About 6000 adults and children are expected to attend the festival, with the majority of those camping in the mansion’s sprawling grounds.
As you would expect from the mastermind of Falls, there is a wealth of musical talent on the bill.
“The main stage of acts is very much targeted at adults, but it is stuff that you would love children to be exposed to,” Daly said.
Headliners include Tim Finn, You Am I, Alice Ivy, the Jungle Giants and All Our Exes Live in Texas.
There is also a wealth of entertainment and interactive activities for the younger generation. Patrons can indulge in music, circus acts, “funshops”, arts and crafts, gymkhana and come-and-try events.
The Lost Lands will be held this Saturday and Sunday.