Tasmania’s Party In The Paddock sells out, acclaimed for vibes, even a double rainbow over the stage

The sixth Party In The Paddock in Northern Tasmania was a sell-out with 7000 punters descending on White Hills over three days to see 100 acts.

They included Gang of Youths, Grouplove, The Avalanches, Meg Mac, Ball Park Music, Client Liaison, The Preatures, Tkay Maidza, Thundamentals and Tired Lion.

According to founder and creative director Jesse Higgs, it was a triumph in many other ways – people “partied together respectfully”, they left the site “more pristine than we found it”, people were out dancing even as the rains came and the event took a big step towards its goal of being sustainable.

What’s more, it was getting rave reviews from some of its acts.

Grouplove, PITP’s first international act went down a storm – and they in turn acclaimed it as “one of the best festivals we’ve ever played. It’s what you hope festivals are like, but 90% of the time they’re not.”

The band was stunned that the crowd stayed on during their set despite torrential rain – and attributed the crowd’s enthusiastic response to them to the fact that triple j plays their album cuts as well as their singles.

Speaking to the Launceston Examiner, Tkay Maidza observed, “It’s so cool here. It’s definitely bigger than it was about two years ago.”

Client Liaison’s singer Monte Morgan called the festival’s surroundings “spiritual” and told the Examiner that they were eager to play the place because there was a buzz about it on the mainland.

“It’s incredible the growth that everyone is talking about.

“There is obviously a good vibe and a lot of love for the festival.”

For the first time, PITP opened on Thursday and thousands of punters grabbed the opportunity to set up camp early and take in a stacked lineup of artists in the Vibestown arena .

These included Baker Boy who had THE ENTIRE crowd jumping to his Hottest 100 hit ‘Marryuna’.

Vibestown was much bigger this year, playing host to emerging acts, comedians, a skate ramp, adult jumping castle, mechanical bull, markets, bars, food stalls and lots of eco glitter.

PITP had its first storm, the heavens opening up as The Preatures took to the stage, and forced Meg Mac to cut her set short.

But a double rainbow over the stage and the mountain background provided a special zen-like aura.

The sun shone through for Ball Park Music, allowing for stand out sets by Kirin J Callinan, The Avalanches and Thundamentals.

The only bummer were the 31 people busted – 19 for drink and drug driving after the event, and 12 who got charged and expelled from the site for supplying.

Tasmanian Police, who declared themselves impressed with crowd behaviour, were disappointed with the 19.

Senior Sergeant Nick Clark from Northern Road and Public Order Services said, “The festival organisers had a site where drivers could undergo a breath test before they left the event, and it is disappointing that some drivers chose not to test themselves and put themselves and other road users at risk by driving whilst over the limit.”

Promoter Higgs had a pragmatic approach to the supplying busts – good! Because we didn’t need that stuff in our festival.

Higgs summed up, “We are really proud of everyone’s involvement this year.

“We worked hard with upping our environmental initiatives and in our endeavour to create a safe space.

“We want to thank the PITP community for hearing the messages, keeping the Paddocks clean and looking out for one another.”

“Big love and thanks to triple j and our other partners and all the people who helped to make PITP 2018 so fine.

“See you next year!”