Posts in Events

Womadelaide 2019

Em and I embark our annual father and daughter WOMAD adventure. As usual, it’s a lovely and special experience. I think the best way to describe it is through word bites and photos.

Friday (the end of a long day). Dinner and first chai. Timberwolf. Modern folk. Gwenno. Political, feminist and passionate about the preservation of the Welsh and Cornish languages. Christine and The Queens. Brilliant stage presence, bold force of bravado and artistry in pop music.

Saturday. Planet talk: Can trees, talk, think and heal? Lunch. Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet. Classical and jazz harpist, chilled. Warm in the sun but lovely in the shade. Iced chai. Dangerous Song & Bukhu. Folk music of Mongolia combined with live loops of endangered animal calls. LaBrassBanda. Traditional and modern Bavarian folk, ska, punk and so on. Womade. Artisan products. Jamie Smith’s MABON. Welsh folk tunes. The Colour of Time. A vibrant explosion of colour. Dinner. Maarja Newt and Rumm. Playing the murky zone between light and shadow, vocal experimentation, violin and looper, abstract electronic soundscapes. The Correspondents. Hi-octane, genre blending dance music.

Sunday. Yoga. Lunch. Thelma Plum. Storyteller and creator, delightful folk-pop. Stalls and chai. Tara Tilba. Persian singing with jazz, Latin, flamenco, fado, folk and contemporary music. Ukulele Death Squad. Pushing the boundary of a humble four-stringed ukulele. Ephemeral City (construction). Epic monumental structure made of recycled cardboard and tape. Compagnie Bilbobassa “Amor”. A crazy, playful, savage and tenacious duel - with lots of flames.

Monday. Lunch. Sharon Shannon Band. Genre-defying accordionist. The Bells. Physical open-air productions, the bells must be rung. Iced chai and friends. Maarja Newt and Rumm (again). Ephemeral City (destruction). What goes up must come down. Dinner. Deeks . Classic soul and modern electronic soundscapes. Ollie English. Soulful rock anthems to gritty guitar solos.

EventsIan Barber14 March 2019Music, Womadelaide Comment

Vivid Sydney Day 4

The final day in Sydney was just for wandering around. The weather started off wet but cleared to a beautiful blue sky by early afternoon. I spent some time walking around and under the bridge.

EventsIan Barber12 June 2018Vivid Sydney, Australia, NSW, Sydney Comment

Vivid Sydney Day 3

The weather started to improve on my third day. I took the ferry to Cockatoo Island to check out the installations for the Biennale. It’s a great sit with some many things to see and so much character.

In the evening I ventured back to Circular Quay, but this time with my trusty tripod. I ended the night at Darling Harbour.

EventsIan Barber11 June 2018Sydney Biennale, NSW, Sydney, Night Lights, Vivid Sydney, Australia, Cockatoo IslandComment

Vivid Sydney Day 2

Day 2 was a bit soggy. During the day I visited some art installations for the Sydney Biennale and in the evening I explored Vivid in the Botanical Gardens.

EventsIan Barber10 June 2018Night Lights, Vivid Sydney, Australia, Sydney Biennale, NSW, SydneyComment

Vivid Sydney Day 1

In past years I've heard of Vivid, but always when it was too late to go there. But after visiting White Night in Melbourne earlier this year, I was prepared! I planned a short trip to spend the June long weekend in Sydney. Not only would I catch Vivid, but also the very end of the Sydney Biennale.

I arrived on the Saturday morning. During the day I visited the MCA and took a few snaps around the harbour. My first evening of photography was without a tripod. I wandered around The Rocks and Circular Quay.

EventsIan Barber9 June 2018Night Lights, Vivid Sydney, Australia, Sydney Biennale, NSW, SydneyComment

White Night Melbourne

As with Vivid, I had heard of White Night before, but always too late to go. But one of the apartments I have stayed in for work emailed me a "deal" for White Night early in the year which tipped me off. So, I planned a short stay in Melbourne to check it out.

During the day I visited the NGV. Then, once it was dark I headed out. I wasn't prepared for the vast numbers of people. It took me over 5 hours to walk from Carlton Gardens down past Federation Square.

EventsIan Barber17 February 2018Night Lights, Vic, Australia, City Lights, White Night, MelbourneComment