The Gold Coast Big Day Out already made news when Cub Scouts frontman Tim Nelson was involved in an unprovoked attack that left the pianist/vocalist beaten and bruised.
Today more controversy encircles the Queensland leg of the touring festival, which took place last Sunday (January 20), and again, in a stroke of bad luck – during the same set from Vampire Weekend. As our Tone Deaf reviewer wrote of the bizarre event, what she called “the whole… err… flashing incident.”
Starting with one girl finding herself on the big screen and pulling up her shirt (Ezra Koenig’s face has never looked so embarrassed). Soon every girl on someone’s shoulders was doing the same thing, until finally, when two women relented to the big reveal, someone behind the scenes wrote up on the big screen “GET ‘EM OUT.”
It was all a bit of fun at the time but bets are out as to how much the person behind that humorous display representing Big Day Out’s opinion on the female anatomy is getting their ass kicked right now.
Her words were slightly prophetic as reports come in that Big Day Out organisers have sacked a ‘rogue contractor’ following complaints about the inappropriate messages posted on the screen over at the Orange Stage.
As Soulshine points out, one punter took to Facebook to file a sardonic complaint about the pleas for female punters to ‘get em out’, only for the offending post to be mysteriously removed from the Big Day Out profile.
News LTD also reports that Big Day Out have issued a statement saying that the rogue misuse and lewd messages were from an external contractor whose conduct was not endorsed by organisers.
“The content on this screen was not endorsed by Big Day Out. Big Day Out does not support the sexualisation of any of our audience, whether male or female,” reads the statement. “The individual has been identified and has been replaced. We expect respectful behaviour at our festivals.”
Which means the touring festival won’t experience any more ‘rogue’ activity or sexual depravity courtesy of invisible screen operators for its remaining three dates in Adelaide this Friday, in Melbourne on Australia Day, and winding up in Perth – where set times have been moved an hour forward following tough curfew restrictions from Environment Minister Bill Marmion. A decision heavily influenced by local Town of Claremont council, who have had a long-running feud with live music events in the area.
Big Day Out 2013 Lineup
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS (Exclusive Australian Shows) / THE KILLERS / YEAH YEAH YEAHS / VAMPIRE WEEKEND / BAND OF HORSES / THE BLOODY BEETROOTS (LIVE) / KASKADE / ANIMAL COLLECTIVE / B.o.B / SLEIGH BELLS / FOALS / ALABAMA SHAKES / 360 / CRYSTAL CASTLES / PRETTY LIGHTS / OFF! / GRINSPOON / AGAINST ME! / GARY CLARK JR / NICKY ROMERO / MORGAN PAGE / LOGO / EVERY TIME I DIE / DELTA SPIRIT / CHILDISH GAMBINO / ME / HUNTING GROUNDS / JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD / DEATH GRIPS / ADVENTURE CLUB / JAGWAR MA / HOUSE VS HURRICANE / AVALANCHE CITY / TOUCAN / HELENA / NINA LAS VEGAS / SAMPOLOGY (AV / DJ SHOW)
Big Day Out 2013 Adelaide Lineup Announcement
The Medics * The Beards * Paul Mac * Grey Ghost * The Killgirls * Full Tote Odds * Messrs * Allday * Lady Strangelove * Steering By Stars * Sincerely, Grizzly * Stab Capital * Gemini Downs * Archers * Dr Piffle & The Burlap Band * triple j unearthed winners: The Aves
Big Day Out 2013 Melbourne Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Bodyjar * Seth Sentry * Chicks On Speed DJ Show * Bob Log III * The Smith Street Band * Kingswood * Yung Warriors * Money For Rope * Jackson Firebird * Split Seconds * For Our Hero * Generik * Zanzibar Chanel * The Stiffys * triple j unearthed winners: Apes
Big Day Out 2013 Perth Lineup Announcement
The Medics * Sugar Army * Chicks On Speed DJ Show * Emperors * The Chemist * Sons of Rico * Further Earth * Arts Martial * Rainy Day Women * Boys Boys Boys! * The Love Junkies * Skank MC * Dead Owls * Tomàs Ford * triple j unearthed winners: Foam
Big Day Out 2013 Event Dates
Friday 18th January – Sydney Showgrounds – SOLD OUT!
Sunday 20th January – Gold Coast Parklands
Friday 25th January – Adelaide Showgrounds
Saturday 26th January – Melbourne Flemington Racecourse
Monday 28 January – Perth Claremont Showground
Big Day Out 2013 tickets are on sale through www.bigdayout.com at the all-inclusive price of $165
