Theatre Reviews

The ArkThe ArkDavid O'Brien

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Raucous Behaviour. House and Grounds, Carclew. 16 Mar 2024   There’s [ ... ]

Skye Scraper: The Life and Times of a Drag Queen AccountantSkye Scraper: The Life and Times of a Drag Queen A...Kym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Bally, Gluttony. 17 Mar 2024   Sky Scraper (aka John Hugo) is [ ... ]

Time MachineTime MachineKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Elizabeth Streb & Streb Extreme Action. Her Majesty’s Theatre. 16 Mar 2024   Time [ ... ]

BerlinersBerlinersKym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Studio, Holden Street Theatres. 16 Mar 2024   Berliners is a [ ... ]

WayfinderWayfinderArna Eyers-White

Adelaide Festival. Dance North. Space Theatre. 14 Mar 2024   Waiting in an overheated foyer for [ ... ]

Antigone in the AmazonAntigone in the AmazonSamela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Mio Rau/NT Gent & MST. Dunstan Playhouse. 15 Mar 2024   Implanting Sophocles' [ ... ]

MarrowMarrowAlex Wheaton

Adelaide Festival. Australian Dance Theatre. Odeon Theatre. Choreography: Daniel Riley. 13 Mar 2024   An [ ... ]

The BacchaeThe BacchaeSamela Harris

★★★1/2 Riverland Youth Theatre. The Arch, Holden Street Theatres. 12 Mar 2024   Brush up [ ... ]

MoistMoistKym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Bunker at Fool's Paradise. 7 Mar 2024   If it ain’t broke, [ ... ]

Qui a tué mon père (Who killed my father)Qui a tué mon père (Who killed my father)Samela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Schaubuhne Berlin & Theatre de las Ville Paris. Dunstan Playhouse. 9 Mar 2024   Despite [ ... ]

The PromiseThe PromiseJohn Wells

Adelaide Festival. Wende and the Royal Court Theatre. The Space. 7 Mar 2024   This shouldn’t [ ... ]

Station J – An MI6 ComedyStation J – An MI6 ComedyKym Clayton

★★★ Adelaide Fringe. The Arch, Holden Street Theatres. 7 Mar 2024   It is almost axiomatic [ ... ]

Daylight Express - Anthony Romaniuk: PerpetuumDaylight Express - Anthony Romaniuk: PerpetuumKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Elder Hall. 7 Mar 2024   Perpetuum is part of the Adelaide Festival’s [ ... ]

Is this the gate?Is this the gate?Chris Reid

Adelaide Festival. Nicholas Lens and JM Coetzee. Elder Hall. 8 Mar 2024   Elizabeth Costello is [ ... ]

I Am The BossI Am The BossAlex Wheaton

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. 0471 Acro Physical Theatre & Cluster Arts. The Bunker, Fool’s [ ... ]

VirtuosoVirtuosoKym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Basement. 6 Mar 2024   Virtuoso is a one-man comedic routine [ ... ]

Diana Nguyen: Sunny Side UpDiana Nguyen: Sunny Side UpArna Eyers-White

★★★★ Diana Nguyen. Spiegel Zelt. 5 Mar 2024   Bodily functions (of various permutations) [ ... ]

The Threepenny OperaThe Threepenny OperaSamela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Berliner Ensemble. Her Majesty’s Theatre. 6 Mar 2024   No longer the “Wunderkind”, [ ... ]

The Ukulele ManThe Ukulele ManArna Eyers-White

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Marcel Cole. Star Theatres. 5 Mar 2024   In his heyday, the music [ ... ]

The Rest Is PoliticsThe Rest Is PoliticsJohn Wells

Adelaide Festival / Adelaide Writers Week. Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart with Sarah Ferguson. Adelaide [ ... ]

Meredith ArwadyMeredith ArwadyKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. In recital with Michael Ierace. Daylight Express. Elder Hall. 4 Mar 2024   I [ ... ]

GuurandaGuurandaSamela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Insite Arts & Adelaide Festival. Her Majesty’s Theatre. 2 Mar 2024   Here [ ... ]

007 Voices Of Bond007 Voices Of BondKym Clayton

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Regal Theatre. 2 Mar 2024   007 Voices of Bond is a celebration [ ... ]

The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of OzArna Eyers-White

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Adelaide Academy & Theatre Bugs. 1 Mar 2024 (Oz cast)   There [ ... ]

The Nightingale and Other FablesThe Nightingale and Other FablesKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Festival Theatre. 1 Mar 2024   From the moment the performance of The Nightingale [ ... ]

Uke Springsteen – Nebraska & The HitsUke Springsteen – Nebraska & The HitsArna Eyers-White

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Ben Roberts. Grace Emily Hotel. 29 Feb 2024   During this performance, [ ... ]

Goodbye, LinditaGoodbye, LinditaJohn Wells

Adelaide Festival. Dunstan Playhouse. 29 Feb 2024   In a sparsely-furnished, grey-walled room, [ ... ]

BlueBlueKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. State Theatre Company South Australia and Celsus in association with Adelaide Festival [ ... ]

ApricityApricityAlex Wheaton

★★★★★
Adelaide Fringe. The Vault at Fools Paradise. 27 Feb 2024   It is the hottest [ ... ]

RailedRailedArna Eyers-White

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Head First Acrobats. The Vault, Fool’s Paradise. 27 Feb 2024   Money, [ ... ]

Jon & Jero: Stuff!Jon & Jero: Stuff!Arna Eyers-White

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Kingfisher at Gluttony. 25 Feb 2024   As the Neighbourhood [ ... ]

Future CargoFuture CargoAlex Wheaton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Future Cargo at Garden of Unearthly Delights. 21 Feb 2024   The [ ... ]

Behind the SongBehind the SongSamela Harris

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Sandi McMenamin. The Arch, Holden Street Theatres. 25 Feb 2024   Perchance [ ... ]

DemagogueDemagogueKym Clayton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Studio, Holden Street Theatres. 23 Feb 2024   Demagogue is a [ ... ]

OrpheusOrpheusKym Clayton

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. The Yurt at The Courtyard of Curiosities, The Migration Museum. 17 Feb [ ... ]

Two of ThemTwo of ThemChris Reid

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Shifting Lives Theatre. Lecture Gallery at MOD, University of South [ ... ]

Yuck CircusYuck CircusArna Eyers-White

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Umbrella Revolution, The Garden of Unearthly Delights. 22 Feb 2024   There’s [ ... ]

Sh!t-faced ShakespeareSh!t-faced ShakespeareArna Eyers-White

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Roundhouse, Garden of Unearthly Delights. 21 Feb 2024   If [ ... ]

GodzGodzAlex Wheaton

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Head First Acrobats. The Vault / Fools Paradise. 20 Feb 2024   One [ ... ]

Circus The ShowCircus The ShowArna Eyers-White

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Showmen Productions. The Moa, Gluttony. 19 Feb 2024   The Moa is [ ... ]

Signor BaffoSignor BaffoArna Eyers-White

★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Interactive Theatre International. Ukiyo, Gluttony. 18 Feb 2024   The [ ... ]

Justin’s BIG Balloon ShowJustin’s BIG Balloon ShowArna Eyers-White

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. Presented by Showmen Productions. The May Wirth, Gluttony. 18 Feb 2024   As [ ... ]

Crème de la CrèmeCrème de la CrèmeAlex Wheaton

★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. The Vault / Fools Paradise. 17 Feb 2024   After queueing for quite [ ... ]

Fafi D’Alour UncutFafi D’Alour UncutAlex Wheaton

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Ukiyo / Gluttony. 17 Feb 2024   This is burlesque in a pure and [ ... ]

Hamlet in Fifteen MinutesHamlet in Fifteen MinutesSamela Harris

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Holden Street Theatres, Barbara Hardy Garden. 18 Feb 2024   No [ ... ]

Ham and PineappleHam and PineappleSamela Harris

★★★★1/2 Adelaide Fringe. Holden Street Theatres, The Arch   Peter Goers is back doing [ ... ]

We Have All the Time in the WorldWe Have All the Time in the WorldDavid O'Brien

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. SAYarts. The Gallery at The Courtyard of Curiosities, Migration Museum. [ ... ]

England & SonEngland & SonKym Clayton

★★★★★ Adelaide Fringe. The Studio, Holden Street Theatres. 17 Feb 2024   England & [ ... ]

Music Reviews

Symphony Series 2: HorizonsSymphony Series 2: HorizonsKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 22 Mar 2024   The physical horizon is almost mystical. [ ... ]

Gladys Knight: Farewell TourGladys Knight: Farewell TourAlex Wheaton

Frontier Touring. Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre. 21 May 2024   This might be one of [ ... ]

Víkingur Ólafsson: Goldberg VariationsVíkingur Ólafsson: Goldberg VariationsKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Adelaide Town Hall. 15 Mar 2024   Every now and then, one is fortunate enough [ ... ]

Recitals on the Fringe: Esmond ChoiRecitals on the Fringe: Esmond ChoiChris Reid

★★★★★ Recitals Australia. Esmond Choi, Piano. North Adelaide Baptist Church. 24 Feb 2024   A [ ... ]

Symphony Series 1: MajestySymphony Series 1: MajestyKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 9 Feb 2024   The ASO’s first Symphony Series [ ... ]

FragmentationFragmentationKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Grainger Studio. 2 Feb 2024   The Adelaide Symphony orchestra’s [ ... ]

Eternal BeautyEternal BeautyKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Grainger Studio. 8 Dec 2023   “Welcome to this unique listening [ ... ]

Smoke And MirrorsSmoke And MirrorsKym Clayton

Adelaide Wind Orchestra. Elder Hall. 25 Nov 2023   The Adelaide Wind Orchestra is a musical gem [ ... ]

Wildschut & BraussWildschut & BraussKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 15 Nov 2023   What does it mean to compose a piece of music for [ ... ]

A Symphony of SpaceA Symphony of SpaceKym Clayton

Woodville Concert Band. Woodville Town Hall. 20 Oct 2023   Community arts is alive and well in [ ... ]

Considering Matthew ShepardConsidering Matthew ShepardKym Clayton

Soundstream New Music. Elder Hall. 14 Oct 2023   Considering Matthew Shepard is billed as a “…modern [ ... ]

Vision String QuartetVision String QuartetKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 12 Oct 2023   On occasion you know that what you are hearing in [ ... ]

Symphony Series 7: DreamsSymphony Series 7: DreamsKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 22 Sep 2023   What’s in a title? The ASO’s [ ... ]

Emily Sun in RecitalEmily Sun in RecitalKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Elder Hall, The University of Adelaide. 9 Sep 2023   Violinist Emily [ ... ]

Matinee Series 3: CarefreeMatinee Series 3: CarefreeKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Elder Hall. 9 Aug 2023   This reviewer has previously remarked that [ ... ]

A Stroll Around EuropeA Stroll Around EuropeKym Clayton

James Huon George & Philippa McAuliffe. Urrbrae House. 30 Jul 2023   There is a relatively [ ... ]

Symphony Series 5: VitalitySymphony Series 5: VitalityKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 28 Jul 2023   After a measured performance of [ ... ]

Chopin’s PianoChopin’s PianoKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 26 Jul 2023   Chopin’s Piano is Musica Viva’s current [ ... ]

Symphony Series 4: EmbraceSymphony Series 4: EmbraceKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 7 Jul 2023   Tonight’s audience for the [ ... ]

Matinee Series 2: EleganceMatinee Series 2: EleganceKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 28 Jun 2023   The second concert in the ASO’s [ ... ]

Symphony Series 3: SkywardSymphony Series 3: SkywardKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 23 Jun 2023   Styled Skyward, the third concert [ ... ]

Garrick OhlssonGarrick OhlssonKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 8 Jun 2023   Garrick Ohlsson speaks from the stage at various [ ... ]

Henry Rollins - Good To See YouHenry Rollins - Good To See YouAlex Wheaton

Thebarton Theatre. 8 Jun 2023   I’ve attended Henry Rollins performances for over 30 years [ ... ]

UtopiasUtopiasKym Clayton

Australian String Quartet. Adelaide Town Hall. 22 May 2023   The power of music is indisputable. [ ... ]

Among The Birds And The TreesAmong The Birds And The TreesKym Clayton

Musica Viva. Adelaide Town Hall. 26 Apr 2023   Musica Viva can be relied upon to present the uncommon, [ ... ]

Symphony Series 2: WildSymphony Series 2: WildKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 21 Apr 2023   Dubbed Wild, the second concert [ ... ]

Matinee Series 1: RadianceMatinee Series 1: RadianceKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Elder Hall. 5 Apr 2023   Presented in the recently refurbished Elder [ ... ]

Symphony Series 1: PanoramaSymphony Series 1: PanoramaKym Clayton

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Adelaide Town Hall. 31 Mar 2023   The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s [ ... ]

CelestialCelestialKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. St Peter’s Cathedral. 15 Mar 2023   The Adelaide Chamber Singers is one [ ... ]

Music for other WorldsMusic for other WorldsSamela Harris

Adelaide Festival. Alex Frayne and Paul Grabowsky. Adelaide Town Hall. 15 Mar 2023   Adelaide Town [ ... ]

Kronos Five DecadesKronos Five DecadesKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Festival Theatre. 13 Mar 2023   The Kronos Quartet is not your usual string [ ... ]

Cédric TiberghienCédric TiberghienKym Clayton

Adelaide Festival. Adelaide Town Hall. 6 Mar 2023   Presented in association with Musica Viva, [ ... ]

Visual Arts Reviews

Between the Details: Video Art from the ACMI CollectionBetween the Details: Video Art from the ACMI Colle...Chris Reid

Flinders University Museum of Art, Bedford Park. 15 Mar 2024   Between [the] Details is an engrossing [ ... ]

Dana AwartaniDana AwartaniWendy Walker

Samstag Museum of Art, University of South Australia. 12 Mar 2024   The Samstag Museum of Art reopened [ ... ]

NeotericaNeotericaChris Reid

Adelaide Festival. Northeastern Concourse, Adelaide Railway Station. 7 Mar 2024   Adelaide railway [ ... ]

Eighteenth Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art – Inner SanctumEighteenth Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art – I...Chris Reid

Inner Sanctum. Art Gallery of South Australia. 4 Mar 2024   Title image: Lawrence English. Photo [ ... ]

News & Opinion

Interview: Another Stroll in the ParkInterview: Another Stroll in the ParkMurray Bramwell

Murray Bramwell with Ian Scobie and Annette Tripodi. 20 Feb 2024   As WOMADelaide 2024 draws closer, [ ... ]

Story: Womadelaide 2024Story: Womadelaide 2024Paul Rodda

From the bustling streets of Paris to the serene landscapes of Tibet, from the rhythmic beats of Senegal [ ... ]

Opinion: David O’Brien’s 2023 Top TenOpinion: David O’Brien’s 2023 Top TenDavid O'Brien

Sociopolitical theatre/dance loomed large in mind through nationally and locally produced work in 2023. [ ... ]

Interview: Vonni Brit Watkins on Priscilla, The MusicalInterview: Vonni Brit Watkins on Priscilla, The Mu...Samela Harris

She's known simply as Vonni. Vonni Brit Watkins is Adelaide’s most vivacious transgender identity. Indeed, [ ... ]

Interview: The World Returns to Botanic ParkInterview: The World Returns to Botanic ParkMurray Bramwell

Murray Bramwell talks with Director Ian Scobie and Associate Director Annette Tripodi about the rapidly [ ... ]

Interview: Yungchen Lhamo’s WOMADelaide return.Interview: Yungchen Lhamo’s WOMADelaide return.Samela Harris

It was 28 years ago that we lay beneath the starlight in Botanic Park carried into a reverie as an ethereal [ ... ]

Interview: WOMAD musician shares the joyInterview: WOMAD musician shares the joySamela Harris

There he is, in home territory, Mumbai, sharply depicted against a pristine Zoom greenscreen. But it [ ... ]

Opinion: David O’Brien’s 2022 Top TenOpinion: David O’Brien’s 2022 Top TenDavid O'Brien

This year 10 just wasn’t enough; the 2022 Top Ten contains 11. Yes, there could be 50 in this list. [ ... ]

Interview: Laughter expected on the Reps 23rd floor this monthInterview: Laughter expected on the Reps 23rd floo...Samela Harris

Post covid lockdowns and pre a predicted new wave, what we really need is laughter.   And who best [ ... ]

Interview: Annette Tripodi & Ian Scobie on WOMADelaide 2022Interview: Annette Tripodi & Ian Scobie on WOMADel...Murray Bramwell

Back to the Park: WOMADelaide 2022 Returns to Full Strength.   Director Ian Scobie and Associate [ ... ]

Story: Artists Petition SA Government to increase Fringe FundingStory: Artists Petition SA Government to increase ...Administrator

An unprecedented groundswell of pressure has erupted from the direction Fringe artists, summoning [ ... ]

Interview: Balkan Ethno OrchestraInterview: Balkan Ethno OrchestraSamela Harris

Out of these difficult few years of negative, comes a resounding positive. It is the Balkan Ethno Orchestra [ ... ]

Russell Starke OAMRussell Starke OAMSamela Harris

Russell Starke OAM.   He was one of our own, an early member of the Adelaide Critics Circle and [ ... ]

Interview: Reb Fountain for Womadelaide 2022Interview: Reb Fountain for Womadelaide 2022Samela Harris

In itself, her name rings a sense of gentle beauty with firm resolve. And, in herself, so it very much [ ... ]

Interview: Kelly Vincent on UnSeen and disability advocacyInterview: Kelly Vincent on UnSeen and disability ...Samela Harris

Are disabled people “unseen” by the able-bodied? Kelly Vincent thinks so. Indeed, she [ ... ]

Interview: Anchuli Felicia King on White Pearl for OzAsia 2021Interview: Anchuli Felicia King on White Pearl for...Samela Harris

How seriously do we dare to take the promises of the cosmetics industry? And, what is beauty, anyway? Such [ ... ]

Story: Holden Street's innovation for Ed Fringe Award in 2021Story: Holden Street's innovation for Ed Fringe Aw...Samela Harris

In this dire time of pandemic  Adelaide’s Holden Street Theatres is making thrilling history [ ... ]

Wings 2 Fly Theatre Announce Further Scholarship SupportWings 2 Fly Theatre Announce Further Scholarship S...Paul Rodda

Local South Australian youth theatre company Wings2Fly Theatre have announced an extension to their scholarship [ ... ]

WOMADelaide 2021: Re-inventing for the PandemicWOMADelaide 2021: Re-inventing for the PandemicMurray Bramwell

Murray Bramwell talks with Artistic Director, Ian Scobie about the challenges of planning a music festival [ ... ]

Story: Claire Della and the Moon prepares to LaunchStory: Claire Della and the Moon prepares to Launc...Samela Harris

Move over Little Prince. Claire Della is coming to the sky.   She’s using a ladder and she [ ... ]

Story: COVID Theatre Sees S.A. Lead The WayStory: COVID Theatre Sees S.A. Lead The WaySamela Harris

South Australia leads the way - again.   From a world of confused, demoralised, and struggling [ ... ]

Story: Her Majesty's Theatre; Stunningly New, Resplendently VacantStory: Her Majesty's Theatre; Stunningly New, Resp...Samela Harris

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide’s new triumph of the arts, has been one of the great victims [ ... ]

Interview: Dave Brown; Patching the PaperBoatsInterview: Dave Brown; Patching the PaperBoatsSamela Harris

The man is indomitable. The only thing that Dave Brown may have failed at is retirement. He lasted about [ ... ]

Earth Station Day 2

The predicted rain and thunderstorms for the second day of the inaugural Earth Station festival stayed well away, instead Belair National park was coated in a warm and bright summer days sun.

The traditionally popular festival Saturday saw a much larger crowd pour into the venue, armed with cushions, chairs, sky's and more, to see some of the most anticipated performances of the whole weekend.

The gates opened at 10am and the morning started with a 'Friends of Belair National Park' weeding session. The first stage performance of the Yearlings took place at noon, as well as an interesting speech from Professor Lesley Hughes on The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity.

At 1pm the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra gave a rendition of some traditional Chinese music on the main stage accompanied by Pipa virtuoso Wu Man. A large crowd gathered on the grasses, desperately seeking a little shade from the warm afternoon sun to listen to the Chinese string and wind instruments and be transported by the meditative sounds.

The debate on Greening Australia's economy with Professor Mike Young, Sue Richardson, and Paddy Manning had people overflowing from the University of Adelaide Pavilion to hear what was on the agenda, and the start of the Pacific Curls performance at 2pm drew a large crowd to the Karka stage. Opening their performance with a Maori introduction, the Pacific Curls played a combination of instruments including electric violin, guitar, banjo and beat box, revving the audience up with their unique pop sound and drawing the cutest little crowd of jumping, dancing children to the front of the stage.

Ian Lowe gave a popular talk on the state of the Australian climate and its current political significance, which drew a large audience. Listeners lined up to ask questions on population growth, the use of genetically engineered crops and the impacts of climate on Immigration, fuelling a positive debate.

Sadly the much anticipated performance of Toumani Diabate and Band was cancelled, as the group was unfortunately caught up in an immigration battle that meant they weren't able to make it to Australian shores - but the much loved Vika and Linda Bull stepped in at the last minute with their band for an impromptu performance of their own songs and covers which were immensely popular. Cartwheeling children, hoola-hoopers, and dancers made the most of this warm afternoon, others just sat around soaking up the lively atmosphere as many, again, clambered for the shady spots to lay out their rugs and enjoy the plethora of food and drink on offer.

After a short break in the program Iwantja, from central South Australia, took to the Karka stage and rocked the crowd with their unique and award winning variety of music. At the same time in the Willows pavilion a crowd had gathered to listed to experts in wind and solar power talk about opportunities to grow Australia's renewable energy interests. The audience was heard cheering when it was announced that South Australia currently hosts the largest percentage of wind farms in the country.

The much anticipated performance from the Audreys at 5.30pm took place on the Internode (main) stage drawing a massive turnout on the grasses out front. The band, who have not played live for some time since the birth of Tash's baby, were absolutely on song for the afternoon performance.

At 6.30pm, and as the sun started to set, Wu Man took to the stage for her second performance of the day, this time playing solo on the Karka stage. Feeling lazy from the full on day of activities, much of the crowd lay out across the cooling grass to listen to the gentle rhythms of the Pipa. Wu's control of her instrument was phenomenal, and most were aghast as her fingers adeptly moved over the strings.

The afternoon speeches continued, with a talk about moving Beyond Ideology: The Politics and Policy of Climate Change, and How to Feed 9 Billion Mouths - Forever, but the biggest drawcard of the day was Zakir Hussain and The Masters of Percussion, who started a little late after some troubles getting the sound check complete, but then had the audience totally pumped as three energetic dancers opened the set with a Dhol drum display which was both acrobatic and musically skilful. The audience then settled in to hear the masters on a variety of traditional Indian instruments including Tabla and Sitar.

The popular Story Time kicked off again at 7.30pm for the second night in a row, with ever appropriate hay bales for seats, many youngsters gathered to hear their favourite books read to them. The final stage performance for the evening was Mista Savona with upbeat Jamaican music for the diehard festival lovers who hadn't yet jumped on the bus to start the journey home. Once again the night closed with a DJ, this time DJ Wipod, cranking bass beats for the stayers in the University of Adelaide pavilion, before the close to a long day with the last bus heading back down the hill at Midnight.

This festival, whilst appearing a little low on overall numbers has been incredibly popular with those who have made it up to Belair. The hype of the even seems to be overflowing too, with many more interested in making it to the Festival before the weekend is out. Tickets are still available at the door, and parking just a short free bus ride from the event can be purchased for the day for only $10 per car.

With one day left of this event, and weather forecast as high as 31 degrees, a great turnout is expected. WOMAD Earth Station Festival should definitely be checked out!

Paul Rodda

 

 

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