By Stuart Kavanagh
This past weekend saw another spectacular Mundi Mundi Bash, following April’s record-breaking event, with as many as 10,000 people converging on the concert grounds this past weekend.
The word from revellers on the Mundi Mundi Plains suggested the September version of the Bash exceeded expectations.
The line-up this time around was a who’s-who of Australian music including legendary performers Midnight Oil, Jimmy Barnes, former Noiseworks and INXS frontman Jon Stevens, Kasey Chambers and Missy Higgins, as well as a great range of support acts.
And we should also mention the Wilcannia school choir too who performed live on stage with Missy Higgins in an event they will surely never forget.
The Bash contained so many highlights, it would take up the entire newspaper if we were to document them all. So here are just a few highlights from the three and a half day event in the desert.
The first is a bit of a bitter pill for NSW to swallow as they fell painfully short of taking the Nutbush World Record from their Queensland counterparts.
The record attempt at this Bash was spectacular nonetheless as 3720 festivalgoers danced across the sprawling desert plains to the 1973 Tina Turner soul classic. A lot of them dressed in wacky outfits, many Mad Max themed.
Unfortunately, they fell just short of the record set at the Birdsville Big Red Bash of 4084 dancers in July this year.
Despite that, the dance still managed to raise more than $55,000 for the festival’s charity partner, the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
“While we didn’t quite break the record on this occasion, we saw incredible support for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and raised valuable funds that will ensure people in rural and remote communities are able to access high quality healthcare.
With funds still being counted, almost $80,000 has already been raised,” Royal Flying Doctor Service Community Partnerships Senior Coordinator, Jennifer Mastras, said.
“We thank the Outback Music Festival Group,” she said, “and the thousands of attendees who purchased tickets to the Nutbush world record attempt and Mundi Undi Run for their support.”
There was a myriad of quirky activities available, including a Dunny Door painting competition, a Doggie Fashions on the Plains comp, along with the famous Mundi Mundi Undies Run. These activities were enjoyed by all and sundry.
On top of that, we had a presence at the Bash as well.
The Barrier Truth newspaper, hot off the presses on Friday night, was available for sale Saturday on the Mundi Mundi Plains. All proceeds went to the Royal Flying Doctors Service and we are proud to say we raised $257.45 for the good cause.
Talking to people in the crowd throughout the Saturday night, there was one act that stood out amongst them all – Jon Stevens.
“He was just amazing,” one group of ladies told us, whilst another couple agreed with that sentiment wholeheartedly saying his energy was off the charts.
“He starts here [motioning to the sky] and he just keeps going up.”
There was a lot of love for Daryl Brathwaite too.
The legendary Aussie crooner had a bit of fun during his performance of his legendary track, Horses.
On the big screen whilst he [and the crowd] were belting out the lyrics to horses, video played in the background of him mustering some local Shetland ponies, much to the crowd’s delight.
We also spoke to some of the youngest people in the crowd, and they were impressed with Kasey Chambers.
When we asked who their favourite performer was, the answer was unequivocal “Kasey Chambers.” Her cover of Eminem’s Lose Yourself was finished with an impressive pyro display at the end of the set.
The kids were also pumped for Jimmy Barnes.
When we asked if they knew who Jimmy was, of course the youngsters knew what we were talking about.
“Mum and Dad love Cold Chisel, so we know who Jimmy Barnes is,” they said.
It wasn’t just festivalgoers who gave the event the tick of approval, Destination Country & Outback Chairperson Clyde Thomson, who’s organisation was instrumental in setting up the festival, was delighted with how the Bash went off, and reserved special praise for local businesses who accommodated the uptick in visitors to Broken Hill.
“It was extremely good; we have received nothing but positive feedback,” Mr Thomson said.
Everyone loved the entertainment.” He added that organiser Greg Donovan should be lauded, before adding “Broken Hill businesses and their owners should be congratulated for adjusting their schedule and welcoming the Bash guests that visited the town.”
With rave revies like this from organisers, artists and festivalgoers alike, anticipation is already building for another Mundi Mundi Bash next summer.
