Not so Groovy Moo

As someone who had never gone to a music festival, months before the event when I had bought my ticket to Groovin’ the Moo, I found myself continually looking at the lineup and generally finding myself anxious and excited.

Two of my favourite bands were playing and it was going to be a wonderful time with my friends, we had organised pre-drinks and how to get to and from the event without bothering our parents. We all had decided to wear what appears to be a common attire of cow onesies.

I realise now I was very naïve and had no idea about what was to come and you can imagine my  shock when I  entered the area and saw someone being resuscitated by ambulance officers.

Welcome to the Jungle

Reports by The Canberra Times following the festival state that there were few arrests and the crowds were well behaved for the most part. This was not the case however with several people reporting the clear smell of vomit and illicit substances wherever you went particularly by the main stages.

Security was also lacking unlike at the much larger festivals where it’s a common occurrence to see sniffer dogs patrolling the area.

The report also failed to recognise the severity of the litter that also plagued the oval where people were generally found to sit, although an incentive was brought in to help combat the rubbish (collect 5 cans and get $4 off your next alcoholic purchase) this did little to help and instead encouraged consumption of alcohol.

Sadly there were no other reports of the horror that was present in the area of GTM 2015. There were no reports of the state of the portaloos or the broken condoms that had clearly been used to smuggle drugs in or of the litter and vomit that was everywhere or even of the sick bay where at 12:00 in the afternoon there were people being escorted from the festival due to overconsumption of alcohol.

No news article has been released stating any of this occurred.

By 3 o’clock I was tempted to leave GTM after being there for a mere 2.5 hours due to the disgusting litter and vomit filled oval, general invasion of personal space, beyond feral toilets filled with who-knows-what, smoke filled air and the pure shock of seeing someone being resuscitated in the early the afternoon.

My friends encouraged me to wait and watch Hermitude and Ball Park Music who both played amazingly. I had never been exposed to their music but the day after GTM I downloaded several of their albums and now listen to them on repeat. I am glad I waited for them but the true acts that stole the show, making the  the bad experiences worth it were Charlie XCX and Hilltop Hoods.

Charlie XCX lit up the stage with her vibrant personality and interaction with the audience who clearly loved every second of her performance. HTH had the crowd both nearly in tears and it stitches with their outstanding performance including crowd favourites Through the Dark and The Art of the Handshake.

Lessons from Groovin’ the Moo 2015

I did enjoy GTM to a point but I can’t say it’s something I will be going to again unless I really like the lineup. Now I am “slightly” more experienced with festivals I can safely offer these points of advice for anyone new to festivals.

1. Go to something like GTM for your first festival, it gives you a taste for what the bigger festivals are like.
2. Don’t be naïve, there will be alcohol, drugs and a lot of other stuff you may not like or believe in but don’t let it spoil the time you’re spending there.
3. Food is cheap but alcohol is expensive. If you’re going to drink do it beforehand and save yourself the lineup and the expense.
4. Don’t wear nice shoes to the event, you’ll likely wreck them.
5. If you’re against drug use I recommend not going unless you really like the lineup because not everyone will have the same stance as you.

By Erina Fletcher.