Forecasted rain did not stop over 13,000 from attending the This That festival at Newcastle Foreshore on Saturday.
The region experienced light, scattered showers at around 5.30pm, but festival goers, many dressed in Halloween costumes, weren’t deterred from dancing stage side or enjoying the market stalls and activities on offer.
The boutique music festival featured performances from The Jungle Giants, Sticky Fingers, Birds of Tokyo, Melbourne-born Ivan Ooze, and Sydneysiders Rufus.
Attendee Xavier Manson, 23, of Melbourne, noted the large police presence on the day and said for a first-time festival, he was impressed with the organisation.
“I’ve been to many music festivals in Victoria that have been well established and found that This That was on par with most festivals in terms of facilities,” he told The Newsroom.
Oliver Condon, 23, of Sydney, told The Newsroom paying extra for an “All that VIP experience” ticket was a smart investment to avoid large lines, but thought there was room for improvement if the festival ran again next year.
“The bars ran out too fast and there was a real lack of toilets… If they do the festival again, they’ll need to address that,” he said.
Organiser Justin Nyker told NBN News despite showcasing Australian and international artists, the event’s identity focused on promoting local businesses and culture.
“It was the food, drink, activities, the arts and all those things so we brought all those things together,” he said.
A major draw card for the festival were the food trucks, with dining options including pulled pork burgers, 12-hour braised lamb shoulder, and a roasted sweet potato and quinoa salad.
Mr Condon said, “The food was great, there was a great selection and reasonable prices for a festival.”
It’s unknown if organisers will host the event in Newcastle again next year – Story and photo by Amber Greasley
Top photo of 2015’s This That festival in Newcastle.
About the author
