Festival celebrates lost son’s life
2019 marks 10 years since the Temperton family of Katikati lost their beloved son and brother Ben, who sadly took his own life after a decade long struggle with mental illness.
The family, in association with The Project Collective, are hosting the River Sounds Music festival at their Woodland Rd festival grounds in Katikati on January 4 in support of mental health awarness. It is a not-forprofit music festival about mental health, finding hope and choosing life and is supported by Lifeline Aotearoa and The Mental Health Foundation of NZ.
The Tempertons are hosting the festival to celebrate the life of Ben
(1984-2009) and to raise awareness around mental illness and suicide in the hope that doing so may save other families from the grief they have suffered. They hope that by sharing their story it will encourage others to share their stories too and as a community it will help to reduce some of the stigma that continues to surround mental illness.
“There is this preconception that because mental illness is a serious issue it cannot be spoken about freely without darkening the mood,” said Sophie Temperton, one of the festival’s organisers.
“We want to challenge this perception by creating a fun and positive festival environment that inspires open conversation about mental illness.
“Ben would want us to remember him with a smile on our faces. He would want us to encourage others to speak freely without fear of judgment and he would want a day and night filled with music, joy and gratitude for life.”
The 2019 line-up features a diverse array of acts, spanning a number of genres including folk, soul, blues, rock and more. Louis Baker will be bringing the soul with his captivating vocals and timeless melodies. Sure-to-be crowd favorites, Swamp Thing, will have everyone on their feet dancing throughout their energetic blues set. The Bay’s own Joseph & Maia will charm the crowd with their honest songwriting and raw, emotional vocals. And there’s a host of others like Solomon Cook, Molly & The Chromatics, 90 Days, Great Bull, M*A*S*H*, Rubita and Raw Deal.
SYD Workshops will be hosting the ‘shine bright’ tent, a place to get jazzed up for the festival, whether it is face paint, glitter, or a fun costume. The festival will also have a dedicated safe space for conversations about mental health, known as the Yurt of Truth. There will also be an area to get crafty and add to the Tree of Remembrance, a place to hang a memorial for a lost loved one.
■ First release tickets are $65 and are on sale now at https://www.everyonehurts.com/theriversounds-festival.