As we seek to reconnect after several summers without large, in-person gatherings, we reflect on the significant and often transformational role that music festivals play in our communities.
Splendour in the Grass 2022 was dubbed ‘Splendour in the mud’.
AAP Image/Jason O'Brien
Every year, tens of thousands travel to art events throughout Tasmania. These unique festival landscapes change the way we experience the world – and ourselves.
The Drug and Substance Checking Bill currently moving through parliament marks another milestone in New Zealand’s shift away from criminalisation and towards harm reduction.
‘To hell with going to the beach.’
Mauro Rodrigues
Urban planning and cultural policies often neglect electronic dance music. Now the pandemic is forcing the EDM world to come up with new strategies to survive.
Toy pianos typically have a range of 12-36 keys, roughly one quarter the range of a full piano. But they are used by composers and music makers to write everything from concertos to pop songs.
With regular music festivals, people can more easily seek help or advice about drug and alcohol or mental health issues. But with drive-ins we need to be creative to minimise harms.
‘Pingers’ usually contain MDMA. But assuming you know exactly what’s in them can be dicey.
From shutterstock.com
Drug slang can help researchers understand drug trends. But if you’re taking a drug called by a street name, make sure you know what it is.
If NSW takes on the coroner’s recommendations, it will be among the most innovative and evidence-based states in Australia on drug policy.
from www.shutterstock.com
A person’s drug experience can be influenced by many different things, such as heat, access to water and dosage.
Inside a strip search booth used at music festivals. New research has found strip searches have increased 20 fold in the last 12 years.
Obtained by Redfern Legal Centre from NSW Police Force under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW)
In a non-policing context, having to perform such acts would be a serious assault. This is why strip searches are meant to be a last resort and only used in serious and urgent circumstances.
The average festival goer is young, white, well educated and employed.
Gbarkz
Most drug use among Australian festival goers appears to be occasional and isn’t problematic. But a small group experience higher rates of drug-related harms.
Abandoned tents after a festival: definitely not going to charity.
lionheartphotography