fucktheradio

Fuck the Radio fans usually have their ears to the underground for the exciting things happening around Melbourne so the upcoming Paradise music festival may not be news to some. But for a quick refresher; running from November 29 to December 1st in the beautiful Lake Mountain area, Paradise is an independent BYO festival showcasing some of Australia’s most exciting musical acts (including a hefty chuck of the Fuck the Radio Collective and our friends from around town).

Festivals, while often marketing themselves on the premise of being a ‘party’ to connect with fellow music fans, can often-times be a quite impersonal experience. You rock up, are herded through the gates like livestock by apathetic volunteers; avoiding the over-zealous security guards, battle with the crowds to see a tiny dot on the stage and then head off home again exhausted. Paradise is a scaled-back version of the typical festival setting. With crowds just big enough to create that special festival energy, but not too huge as to become an ordeal. You can also expect to see the artists themselves enjoying the music of the other acts right next to you, not locked away in some VIP-fortress enjoying their $300 rider of grey-goose and ice tea.

I caught up with boss-man Andre who has been hard at work putting together his idea of an ideal music festival in-between working his full-time day job (he’s funding the entire thing from his own pocket) to see what it takes for somebody to say “fuck that, I’m going to do my OWN festival” and actually pull it off.

He describes the line-up as containing two loose categories of ‘indie bands’ and ‘producer/djs’, split up across two different stages. Choosing acts was not based around a particular genre or scene, or even on who sells the most tickets; Andre describes his method as “we just started booking bands who we thought were good” (so simple, yet so brilliant). The result is a 100% Australian line-up of contemporary independent music. The aspect of an entirely local line-up is part of the charm behind Paradise, Andre points out that international does not mean ‘better’, and that Melbourne festivals have often excluded the plethora of talent in our own backyard.

Andre’s Picks (in no order):
– Naminé
Really Love his new album
– Client Liason
I feel like there’s a sense of humour in their music and performances that I share
– Glass Towers
Great new album
– LUCIANBLOMKAMP
I’m yet to see him live, but I love his music
– Deja
For their song called The Outside

My Picks (in no order):
I’ve seen each of these acts multiple times, but I still can’t get enough
– Oisima
– Alta
– Squarehead
– Leaks
– Silent Jay

Full Line-up Poster: