Spotlight: Hopkins Creek Festival
If the success of an event is based solely on the ability of the organisers to work under pressure, Hopkins Creek has to be a contender for the top. The lead up to the 2017 edition of the festival — which was only its second year — was overshadowed by sensationalist weather reports, predicting Victoria’s worst flooding in decades.
Fortunately, the reality was different, and the only real casualties were temporary, in the form of cars bogged in mud. Hopkins Creek 2018, which is just over two months away, promises more of the good times and grouse tunes, and — fingers crossed — less rain.
This year’s line-up boasts more international acts than ever before and is backed up by a solid team of local acts — bands and DJ’s — ensuring the return of the revered genre diversity that has pleased crowds in years past.
Stockholm’s Samo DJ was the first to be announced, and will be joined by Germany’s Paramida, and Mitsuki — the man behind Osaka’s famed Mole Music. Ess O Ess — the brainchild of Jamie Blanco and Chris Stoker — will make their Australian debut, alongside Toronto’s own Ciel, who is known both for her impeccable selecting skills and her vocal advocating for social justice, both in and out of the electronic music scene. Fantastic Man will return to the motherland for another appearance in the crater, along with Dreems, who will be joined by Thomas Von Party as Multi Culti.
Although the festival has expanded immensely since its inaugural edition in 2016, the HC team has vowed to hold on to the smaller capacity and intimate nature. Speaking to Tixel earlier this week, Director Todd O’Brien detailed the background of the event.
“People might not know the story behind Hopkins Creek, but it started with the coming together of a huge group of mates, as well as a number of established parties in Melbourne,” He said, “So focusing on our ‘Celebrating Music & Mateship’ mantra is always going to be at the forefront of everything we do.”
With a strictly limited capacity, it has been announced that tickets are 80% sold out, so don’t sleep on grabbing yours.
