The seven day Eclipse Music, Art and Healing Festival in far north Queensland is counting down that hours until the once-every-sixteen-years solar eclipse occurs and their celebrations begin.
With only a month left before thousands of eclipse-chasers converge north-west of Cairns at the Eclipse Festival Site in Lakeland, the minds behind the event have unveiled their carefully curated program and announced the full line-up of music, art, speakers and visionaries.
The complete music bill comprises Fat Freddy’s Drop, Eskmo, Beat’s Antique, Perfect Stranger, Tipper,
Mungo’s Hifi, FreQ Nasty, Ganga Giri, plus hundreds more local artists.
The arts program will feature Australian and international work including interactive sculptural installations, regenerating gateways and otherworldly gardens. In an Australian exclusive, international art crew, Art in Bloom, will be bringing their large interactive sculptures, previously displayed at the infamous Burning Man Festival in Nevada.
It doesn't end with music and art though, as fantastic guest speakers and workshops, both local and foreign, will help engage and connect. These include permaculture expert Penny Livingston-Stark, Chris Deckker’s discussion of global festival culture, Peter Bowden’s shamanic healing workshops, and Mark Heley’s insights on the significance of the year 2012.
Additionally, the visual arts gallery will feature displays by internationally renowned visionary artists Alex Grey, Android Jones, Amanda Sage, and Martina Hoffmann among many others.
Set on a huge cattle station of 500 square miles, the views of the bands, art, speakers, visionaries, scenery and the all important eclipse will be breathtaking, and removed from the big smoke, good for you too!
If the Mayans, Nostradamus and other doomsdayers are right, the Eclipse Festival is probably an excellent guarantee to ring in the end, or if you're more optimistic, a sweet week long party.
- Amy Robinson
