Tuesday, May 22, 2007

The Zillmere Festival

Well Friday's gig went off because Renee's entire family decided to come and see us perform. It wasn't my best gig vocally (and not Hayley's either, she was sick with a cold, poor thing, but did a great job like the trooper she is), but I had a fantastic time and they made the most brilliant audience! Kudos to your lovely grandparents, Ren, they're lovely, particularly your grandmother who sang with us all night and wanted to take Mannie home (what is it with Mannie-lovin' Nannas?? Must be a hair thing). It was a late night as usual, and we were playing the Zillmere Multicultural Festival the day after.

Saturday morning dawned bright and far too early - well for me anyway, because I was woken up at the crack of 9am (scream!) by Hayley's boyfriend Graeme telling me that Hayley couldn't even get up letalone sing.

Shite.

Anyway, the boys and Ren picked me up on the way to the gig, and of course Mannie had his little esky cooler thingy full of cans of Bundy rum. Ren was having some and I laughed because I said to her, 'I didn't think you liked rum?', and with a completely straight face she answered, 'I don't', and proceeded to chug half the can down :)

The scene is pictured as normal - I enter the van hurling obscenities like the vulgara I am. Mannie is driving with no shoes like the gimp he is, Paul and Mannie are bantering as usual like the old ladies they are, and Ren was trying her hardest to act amused, but failing like the crap actor she is.

Woo, sets the scene for a FABULOUS Sunas gig!

I couldn't stop laughing at Mannie, because Paul kept razzing him about having rum before any sort of public gig. Mannie must have taken offense at this (whyso, my Eamon? It's true), because he said he couldn't go anywhere without getting pissed. This continued throughout the day - long after the small amount of alcohol wore off. Mannie kept bitching about it, and goddess help me, I laughed :)

Mannie and Sarah at ZillmereSo. The gig. Me being the muso I am, I forgot to bring a hat, so I ended up buying this fun-kee straw number. Coupled with my tie-dyed velvet dress I looked like a hippie cowgirl or something! Mannie mumbled under his breath about not being able to wear a hat because he was too pissed. It was disgustingly hot. Just before we went on the sound guy came up to me, handed me a bottle of water and warned me, 'Be careful up there, it's really warm'.

Yeah yeah, we've played in the heat before, let me up there.

Oh. My. Furnace.

We were playing in direct sunlight at 2pm in the afternoon. I managed one song and one tune before my trademark Medusa hair went up under that hat, and to hell with what the boys thought!! I have never been so hot in all my life. I was terrified Jem, my flute, was going to crack. As it was I had a hard time keeping everything in tune! Mannie, in his shady comfort, shouted to Paul that he couldn't play in the sun because he was too pissed, and I snorted into my whistle mid-play and made it shriek - good on ya! Paul
looked like he had run a marathon, his face was bright red.

Zillmere FestivalThe gig itself was great fun, just really uncomfortable in the horrible heat. The audience were fantastic, they really got into it. I got horrendously sunburnt. Ren has gorgeous olive skin and didn't seem particularly affected at all, until she confided that she thought she was dying up there. Crap actor indeed! Ren could spend the entire day in the sun, lucky cow! Mannie smirked at me when he saw my sunburn and said he couldn't get sunburnt because he was too pissed. I was too exhausted to punch his head in :) We all practically staggered off-stage from heat exhaustion - Paul looked like he was going to pass out. That one little half hour gig totally sapped me of whatever energy I had left - I had to go and recuperate in the back of the beloved van.

We headed back to my place for coffee and rest, and as soon as they boys and Ren left, I had a shower and fell straight into bed.

What a weekend!

Thanks to the Festival organisers for having us and for putting on such an eclectic day -despite the heat we all had a great time!


Listening to: 'Here Comes The Sun' - The Beatles

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