Music keeps festival humming into night
Music fans are likely to grab sleep when they can with entertainers performing from 2pm to 6.30am at the Base Camp Festival, from Sunday to Tuesday. The festival was being held in a clearing surrounded by native bush next to Camp Taringatura on the South Hillend-Dipton Rd. Event promoter Matt Turnbull recommended people attending to bring ear plugs. ‘‘It’s going to be difficult to sleep without them [at night]. The neighbour on the top of the hill [a kilometre away] is okay about the music ... he’s sweet as.’’ Turnbull said 500 people had bought tickets but the number could grow to 600 or 700 by the time the festival starts. A diverse range of music appealing to the 25-35 age group would be played by a variety of musicians and DJs. Music students from the Southern Institute of Technology would be part of the entertainment. ‘‘We want to give people with talent the opportunity to perform,’’ Turnbull, of Bluff, said. It was the first time Base Camp had been held in Southland. Turnbull had wanted to hold a Southland music festival for two years and became serious about it after talking with the owners of Camp Taringatura in July. They own the six hectares the camp is on. ‘‘I did a private function in the [camp] hall in July, met the owners and had a few chats.’’ A short time later, Turnbull gained approval to arrange the outdoor festival on the property. Turnbull, who organised about 150 music events in Otago a year, was always looking for outdoor venues for music events. ‘‘We’ll be driving along, see a clearing in the bush and jump out for a look. We’ll look around and imagine different gigs that could go on it.’’ The stage being used was imported by Turnbull. Fire wardens, trained medical and security people would be at the festival, along with 40 volunteers. When the music was not playing, various workshops would be run for people interested in yoga, mental health issues, martial arts and other subjects. ‘‘It’ll be workshops during the day and music at night,’’ Turnbull said.