Last October, music fans were introduced to a new Aussie festival called Panama.
Named after and located among the forest scenery of the Lone Star Valley in Tasmania’s North-East region, Panama arrived seemingly out of nowhere; complete with a unique setting, an impressive first round lineup featuring perennial soul man Charles Bradley and sophisticated indie folk outfit Husky.
Further flaunting its boutique festival credentials, Panama organisers promised a bevy of trimmings for the weekend-long event, set for launch in March 2014 and limited to just 1,000 punters, including: free camping, hot showers, hand-picked food and beverage stalls, plus a “killer vinyl soul club”. All the while sticking to green-thumbed aims to “have as little impact on the land as possible”, making the event environmentally sustainable.
Interestingly Panama’s introduction to Tassie and mainland music lovers alike arrived amidst a few nerve-wracking months for the larger players in the festival market, including the cancellation of Homebake, Pyramid Rock, Harvest Festival and Big Day Out‘s second date in Sydney (before the whole Blur cancellation fiasco).
So why would Panama’s organisers decide to launch their own boutique event against such a background?
Well, we went directly to Panama Festival’s co-directors, Brisbane venue booker Tim Carroll and fellow experienced event figure Dan Rooke, to tell their side of the story. Together, the pair have spent 10 years working on countless events both at home and abroad “in every role from box office to toilet cleaner, MC to parking maid,” as Rooke puts it.
Rather than falling into the same old pitfalls of larger events that believe bigger is better, while booking lineups filled with bands that are designed to (but don’t always) bring the biggest audience numbers, Panama Festival’s team is instead going in the opposite direction following the muse of a simple philosophy: ‘small is beautiful’.
As the brainchild (and most importantly passionate heart) of the inaugural Panama, Rooke and Carroll explain how their new boutique festival will help provide a unique counterpoint to the large-scale events, offering something different in a burgeoning festival market, framed as a series of things Panama will and won’t do to ensure its successful place as one of Australia’s favourite new music events.
Panama Won’t Put Profits Before Art
Dan Rooke: “…I do feel that many of the larger events in Australia exist within a rather corporate framework. This method is often adopted as the basis of an event’s existence, as a kind of ‘ground up’ approach. That leaves the art, heart and soul to be rather awkwardly attached to the rigid, profit driven structure that is already in place.
“However, I can hardly blame the organisers of every struggling festival for getting it wrong in the first place – one only has to look at how other cultures approach arts-based events to see that Australia’s relationship to this realm is awkward at best. The workings of large-scale music and arts events are unavoidably determined by the culture to which they seek to appeal. I certainly believe that we need to pay close attention to this in Australia.
“…Does this create an opportunity for festivals and events, like Panama? Probably yes, and perhaps more importantly we (the small-scale creative sector) can play a role in the evolution of arts events in Australia.”
Panama Will Show Off Tasmania
DR: “Panama is the realisation of a long-held dream to bring some great acts to Tasmania, and to show off our wonderful corner of the world. Panama offers a curated line-up of some of the most exciting live musical acts in the country.”
Panama Will Offer An Awesome Location
DR: “I think the story of a tiny festival in the hills of Tasmania is intriguing… The site has some great features; tiny candlelit bars, a stunning lily covered lake and epic forested ridges. I guess it was the site that called us to make Panama happen.
“Why Tasmania? If you’ve ever visited Tasmania you’ll know that it has a special energy. It’s wild and rugged beautiful and hostile. Once you visit you tend to keep coming back, it gets a hold on you and I guess it has got a hold over us. I know Tasmania and my region in the [North East] fairly well… I was born just down the road and have lived there on and off my whole life, that place is very much a part of me.
“Despite there being a number of established events [in Tasmania] we’re generally quite starved of high-quality performance art. I’m happy to be a part of an event that seeks to adjust that balance a little.”
Panama Will Be Small Yet Beautiful
DR: “My 10 years working on arts-based events is inextricably linked to the inception of my vision for Panama… we hope to bring all that experience into this event. Our biggest learning is that small is beautiful.
“Firstly, smaller events tend to have lower overheads, lower start-up costs, and are generally easier to run.
“Secondly, many of the smaller and unique events place a premium on quality performance, atmosphere, and community, while actively avoiding a festival culture that revolves around alcohol and the raging, attention-seeking individuals that result.
“We are a small festival, so we have a small team. Tim and I have a hand in almost everything… We’re keeping it at a scale we think will suit the space…”
Panama Won’t Put Popularity Ahead Of Quality
DR: “In booking bands we have a range of ideas that influence decisions – first up is a sense of quality and integrity in the art, we’d rather book an incredible band that no-one has heard of than a big name that might not fit the space.
“The other thing is about trying to build a story as the two days unfold. Each days programming will reflect the time of day and energy of the crowd. The ‘one stage’ festival is such a great format and coming off the back of so many huge events the relief of not having to rush around is wonderful… It is as much the programming as it is the site that will ultimately determine the audience experience.”
Panama Will Highlight Local Bands
DR: “We’ve now also announced Saskwatch, Super Wild Horses, HOLY HOLY, McKisko, Tiger Choir and The Babe Rainbow. These are all bands we’ve seen in the last while and fallen in love with.
“As for what we have left up our sleeve. I can say we have another group of bands yet to be announced that really are some of the best in the Country and we’re not the only ones saying that.”
Panama Will Use Word Of Mouth, Not Sponsors
DR: “What kind of audience or demographic do we envision for Panama? That’s a good question and we’ll be interested to see that too.
“…Feel and tone are not things we have complete control over. For me it is about providing the space for the art to take place; the audience will perceive it (and ideally interact with it) as they please. All of this begins with a strong team, and a sense of equity and trust right across the board.
“All this said, our biggest friend is word of mouth and by the time the 20 bands tell their friends we think we’ll reach our audience. We’re taking a kind of Kevin Costner Field of Dreams approach: if you build it – they will come.”
Panama Won’t Disrespect Its Festival-Goers
Tim Carroll: “The golden rule is what would I want if I were a festivalgoer. No queues, no sponsors, no litter. Space and time between bands, great food, great bars, great company, great DJs – the list could go on and on. Panama is our chance to make things how we wish they were.”
Panama Will Tick All The Boxes
DR: “A good festival is about thinking outside the box, good sound, comfortable facilities, an acute awareness of the environment in which the event is being held, an attitude of inclusiveness and respect, a strong aesthetic approach, clear and concise communication, a healthy relationship with council, the fire dept and the cops, good food, great venues/bars, spaces and activities that are interactive, thought provoking, and confronting in a good way, thoughtful curation of performance and place, with an awareness that those who experience it will take it from there, give them something they can run with, give them a reason to run, laugh, cry, invent, create, evolve, and stay up really late.
“We aim to tick as many boxes as possible, from now, and into the future.”
Panama Festival 2014 Lineup
Charles Bradley
Husky
The Frowning Clouds
Saskwatch
Super Wild Horses
The Babe Rainbow
Holy Holy
McKisco
Tiger Choir
+ more to be announced
Panama Festival 2014 Dates, Tickets
8th & 9th March, 2014
Lone Star Valley Golconda, Tasmania
Limited Tickets for the foundation event are on sale now
Adults: Full weekend pass $160
Humans 12-17: $100
Kids 5 – 11: $50
Children 4 and under: Free
For all ticketing information and further details go to www.panamafestival.com.au
