Nobody can deny that Australia does festival season pretty damn good. From providing some of the country’s most picturesque scenery at your doorstep to offering up some of the world’s most versatile and renowned lineups, our music festival curators spoil us year in, year out.
One such wizard carefully working away behind the scenes is Nick Greco, who has been at the booking helm of Beyond The Valley throughout the event’s three-year existence. So, with the festival season about to break out for 2016/17, you’re probably hard pressed for deciding which to attend – so here is a run down on Beyond The Valley, one of the country’s best live music pilgrimages, described by someone who knows the ins and outs better than anyone else.
Can you tell us your role in bringing Beyond The Valley to life?
I’m one of the festival directors and my main role for BTV is booking the lineup from start to finish.
What are some of the key elements Beyond The Valley wants festivalgoers to take away from the event?
We want all of our festival-goers to have a safe and enjoyable NYE, soak in all the site has to offer, uncover all of our interactive art structure and have an amazing time away with friends.
Beyond The Valley has cemented it’s spot as one of Australia’s best
What are you most excited about for this year’s festival?
I think all of the new interactive art structures will add a new level of excitement on site – we haven’t announced what any of these are yet but they are being shipped in from overseas and are huge.
How would you describe the local area in which the festival site is situated, and why does this make a great place to hold a large-scale music festival?
Baw Baw Shire is such an exciting place for us to host BTV – from crossing the Noojee Trestle Bridge, to visiting Ainsleys Waterfall, the Long Tunnell Goldmine, Wild Dog Winery and much more! The local community has gotten very involved in the festival, we source locally as much as we can for everything we do at BTV. We’ve found a home here.
Can you give us a brief run down on the festival’s history?
We started three years ago now planning our first year’s event at a different site, Phillip Island racetrack. It was a crazy year trying to get everything together and literally putting everything we had on the line to make sure our first BTV was a success.
Daylight draws to a close on NYE, 2015
How many people are expected to flock to Lardner Park for the event?
We expect around 15,000 to take to Lardner Park for BTV this year.
What were the motivations behind selecting Lardner Park as the festival site?
It’s picturesque – the lake, the rolling hills, and all of the amenities on site, it was made for BTV.
Good vibes provided daily
What are some of the most challenging parts of organising/operating a music festival the size of Beyond The Valley?
It’s really hard to put my finger on one aspect here… I think this has to be not being able to completely enjoy BTV as a punter ourselves. We put in so much effort throughout the year into creating what we feel is the perfect NYE party and then we have to work the entire time. It’s great to see our friends, family and everyone else have an amazing time, though.
Slip, slop, slap
What are some of the most satisfying parts of working with a festival like Beyond The Valley?
It never really feels like work – we love it.
Are there any artists you’re really looking forward to seeing at this year’s event?
Definitely Chance The Rapper – arguably the hottest artist of 2016.
See ya at BTV 2016
What is the best part of the music scene here in Victoria?
There’s so many different scenes and that’s what makes it great! There’s something for everyone.
Do you have any advice for those travelling to the event from far away? (Where to stop for a feed, places to see before/after the event etc.)
WILD DOG WINERY! Try the fried chicken burger! We’ve found every meal there amazing, they also do our artist catering and our crew catering.
Tuck into some grub at Wild Dog Winery pre/post sesh
If the above hasn’t increased your appetite enough, have a peak at what happened last year!
Alex Lahey
Bag Raiders (LIVE)
Bakermat
Chance The Rapper
Dena Amy
Dune Rats
DZ Deathrays
Eats Everything
Emma Louise
Giraffage
GoldLink
Harts
Hermitude
highasakite
Hot Chip (DJ set)
Hudson Mohawke
Japanese Wallpaper
Jarryd James
JME
Kllo
Kölsch (DJ Set)
Ladyhawke
Lastlings
Lunice
Montaigne
Motez
MSTRKRFT
Oliver Huntemann
Paces
Pachanga Boys
Phantogram
Running Touch
Ryan Hemsworth
SAFIA
Skream
Slumberjack
Sonny Fodera
Sticky Fingers
Thundamentals
Tokimonsta
Total Giovanni
Vera Blue
Wafia
What So Not
ZHU
Beyond The Valley
December 28th, 2016 – January 1st, 2017
Lardner Park, Warragul, Victoria
Tickets On Sale Now!
For tickets go to: www.beyondthevalley.com.au
