Newtown unFestival attracts locals

Overpriced, crowded, fenced-in, and no longer local. These were some common criticisms of this years Newtown festival which took place last weekend in Camperdown park. Just outside the festival fencing, on the Hub, another event was going down; the ‘Not the Newtown Festival’.

Organised by a group of area locals, this alterna-fest coincided with the main festival, which organisers say has lost it’s way.

“It’s just not fun anymore. We wanted to put on a more spontaneous, and organic alternative” event organiser Chris, told City Hub. Though he was quick to stress that the event is not anti-Newtown festival; “we support the aims of the Newtown festival, which is to raise money for the neighbourhood centre, which does a lot of great things within the community”

The party was kickin’ for 12 straight hours before it was shut down, not by the cops, but by a nearby pizza store which was supplying the event with power. At 9.20, they finally called it quits.

The “Not the Newtown Festival” played host to a number of local stalls, and bands which couldn’t get space inside the larger festival. “It was more intimate” said Chris “you could get right up next to the bands and have a dance”.

It’s this kind of grassroots ethic thats kept the ‘Not the Newtown Festival’ alive its four years of existence. From its humble beginnings as weekend markets, where locals would set up stalls alongside turntables, it has grown, and developed a loyal following.

Aside from the thousands of Newtown Festival goers who passed by on their way too-and-from the main event, about 400 loyal partiers stuck around the Hub, listening to local artists.

“I’d rather support local artist than buy overpriced knick-knacks from businesses that come from outside the area, and contribute little to the local community” said Jade London, a local who attended the event.

by Kieran Adair