Whitecliffs turns on its charm again

Press, 24 February 1986, Page 4

Whitecliffs turns on its charm again

By JOAN BEGG Great music, sunshine, idyllic surroundings and a good keen crowd—the Whitecliffs festival could only be a winner. More than 4000 people headed out to the Double D Appaloosa Stud of John and Deidre Grenell at Whitecliffs, near Glentunnel, for all or part of the week-end.

Casting aside the cares of the city, people sporting mohawks hairstyles, long hippy locks, cityslicker shades, shorts, suits or nothing at all, were out to enjoy the fifth annual Whitecliffs festival. Their ages were just as diverse as their appearance.

The music ranged almost as widely. The festival has two stages—the main stage, which is the front of a transformed chuch, and the little forest theatre with its emphasis on children’s entertainment, classical, and quieter music. The main, stage line-up included the gentle reggae of the Pacific Road Show, folk music of Lynn Clark and Thunderhead, the country and western sounds of /John/ Grenell and the .Ranchsliders the toe-twitching traditional

music of Bushfire and the clown, Jango Edwards, and an Impromptu visit by touring British musician, Roy Harper. The audience edged forward in excited anticipation as the British musician who has sung with Pink Floyd and members of Led Zepplin, picked up his electric guitar and began to sing. They found their appetites whetted only, however, as electrical problems forced him to finish iy 2 songs later. In past years the festival has run at a loss with the audience numbers not matching outgoing costs. This year has been the best so far, with the biggest attendance but also higher costs. According to the main organiser, Mrs Deidre Grenell, it might be the first time the festival makes a profit. If it does, the organisers would have to consider what to do with it and how to arrange finances in future, she said. . “We don’t want a commercial enterprise,” she said. She has asked the voluntary performers for their views oh. how any:' profit should be used. She: offered suggestions—that

a trust be set up, the money be fed back into festival facilities or into an education centre, it could be given to peace and conservation groups. The festival, as well as offering a variety of people a variety of music, gave them a chance to share beautiful surroundings and encourage appreciation of nature, said Mrs Grenell.

It appears that the Grenells have found the right formula. The tree-covered hills surrounding their valley, the forest walks, the occasional sight of an Appaloosa all made it easy to feel divorced from usual surroundings, and become part of whatever was going on. The mood and tempo of the music varied the mood of the festival but it was always harmonious. Adults and children listened, watched, danced, wandered between stages, around the food and craft stalls, looked in on workshops and when too hot opted for cream freeze and swims in the. creek. The übiquitous festival litter was virtually nonexistent with'the'most dirt raised by the heels of dancers.