reality won't hurt for longer than it should.

Happy New Year, friends! I hope you rang 2008 in with style…and a drink or two or course!

I had the most incredible celebrations, stretching over about five days of traveling, camping, music, drinking, friends and love. I couldn’t have possibly asked for a better way to end one year and begin another.

Alex and I woke up bright and early on the 28th, just in time to pack Michael’s car and meet everyone else at one of Craig’s friend’s houses. ‘Everyone else’ turned out to be quite a convoy of Craig’s friends – at least six or seven cars! We left at about 7:30am, and traveled for almost 12 hours to a town called Colac in Victoria (with stops at Keith and Horsham along the way). After setting up, we enjoyed a few drinks and then I spent my first night in a tent! I actually thoroughly enjoyed my first time, much to Alex’s surprise.

We left Colac the next morning, and arrived in Lorne’s Otway National Park just past 11am. After a long drive down a dirt road and a small amount of freaking out about getting alcohol confiscated, we made it into the Falls Music and Arts Festival! Alex and I set up camp with Bec, Jenna, Thea and Kim – it was lucky we had our own friends, and didn’t have to chill with Craig’s friends, because I was not much of a fan. But we were still right next to them, so it was good to see Alex’s cousins throughout the festival.

I’ll cut the in-between bits short – let’s just say there was a lot of alcohol, gross toilets, happy herbs (lol), food, mess, laughter, falling over, male genitalia drawn on everything, and some very hot days. I’ll skip to the artists I managed to see over the three days, because that’s a bit more exciting to everyone else (and also what it’s all about).

The first artist I saw was Sarah Blasko, whom we were right at the front for. It’s a little odd to imagine all of us ‘moshing’ to her, but it happened! It was really awesome to be at the very front of the stage with everyone, and I definitely appreciated her music more live than I have in the past. She’s a weird one, but I thought she was an incredible performer; she got a lot of people involved who I’m sure haven’t really listened to her music in the past.

Sarah Blasko

I think I was the most drunk possible on the first night, because I remember very little of the following artists. We saw New Young Pony Club (who I thought were pretty good), Magic Dirt (total crap) and Groove Armada (fabulous lights show!). I remember lots of dancing, falling over, and laughing…then waking up incredibly uncomfortable in our slopey tent!

Woke up not only uncomfortable, but also a little hungover – I was better than most, though! In between some more drinking during the day, I saw The Pipettes (super cute and fun) and Lior (meh). As the evening began, we all loaded up for The Waifs, who were definitely a highlight. All of their songs were good, but ‘London Still’ is one of my favourites of all time – and apparently most of the crowd, too! As soon as the music started, almost EVERYONE started singing, and the lead singer just stood in shock for the entire first verse and chorus, before starting again with vocal. It was an incredible moment, and quite eerie! Over the rest of the night we saw Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Blackalicious, Dukes of Windsor, and The Go! Team. Neither of the first two were particularly impressive, but the latter put on a good show each. I was exhausted and almost passing out by The Go! Team, and barely remember it at all…

New Year’s Eve was definitely the best day of performers – it was pretty much full of artists I would pay to see separately. First we saw Angus & Julia Stone – I had high expectations, and they exceeded them easily. I don’t understand how two siblings can be so talented and good-looking! It was an amazing show, and definitely a good set. I was only disappointed that they didn’t play ‘All of Me’, but I guess I’ll catch it next time…

Angus and Julia Stone

In the late afternoon Jose Gonzalez played…gosh, I have no words at all for him. It was what I went to see, and he was absolutely wonderful. All of my favourite songs were played, and I think I fell more in love with him in that short hour. He’s a god, and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world!

Jose Gonzalez

The evening went like so: The Beautiful Girls, Built to Spill, Girl Talk, Kings of Leon. Fucking brilliant line-up! I wasn’t particularly looking forward to The Beautiful Girls, but they were very good – one of my highlights in the end. I was totally pumped for Built to Spill, and was incredibly let down. I almost cried when they didn’t sing ‘Car’. Their whole set was a major disappointment, unfortunately. I knew that Girl Talk would be fantastic though, and he was! Barely anyone had heard of him, and they were all really surprised. It was awesome to see such an unheard of DJ up there getting the crowd dancing to a bunch of songs they’d never listen to otherwise. People were raving the next day, and rightly so!

Kings of Leon rang in 2008…there would’ve been no other way. Every single song was unbelievable, and they were even better than I expected. Enough said!

So that was my new year, and it was the best yet. I only missed a few artists I would’ve liked to see, but that’s a sacrifice I readily made. I saw so many people I never though I’d get the opportunity to experience live, and I feel so lucky. Not only that, but I got to end the new year with friends, and the person I want to spend every day of the rest of my life with. It was one of the most amazing trips ever!

Peace out x