It was the second day of Stonefest 2007; the largest music event on the local calendar. Not only signaling the end of the Uni year, but also the beginning of the summer festival season. The sun was out and the music was on, but for some reason at 12 o’clock, there was something missing. Then it struck me, I was one of maybe 20 people there. All of whom were in a seemingly ‘chillaxed’ state, lying on any surface that allowed them to be horizontal and preferably in the sun. People slowly washed in, setting themselves up on the grassy plane toting a beer and a hangover. The soothing ballads of four piece band, Smitten, resonated throughout the landscaped campus grounds; an ideal beginning to what was inevitably going to be a big ‘day-after’.

For those ready to brave the Green Room, Grand Fatal kicked off at 12:30. Pumping out some faster louder beats, they lured people in and razzed them up; the perfect pick me up. Having toured and played nationally with Grinspoon, Shihad, The Hot Snakes, Further, The Spazzy’s, The Cops, Unwritten Law, Gyroscope, BodyJar and The Hard Ons, just to name a few. These guys have played at some of the countries biggest venues.

The O’Hooligans followed up in the Green Room. A fantastic quote from Metal Hammer UK described the band as “Drunken, bawdy Irish potato farmers who’ve French kissed the Pogues and Gogol Bordello.” An apt description and a notable performance, this Canberra band is both unique and captivating with their Celtic undertones.

The crowd had just started to amass when Blue Mountains band Belles Will Ring graced the stage. Possessing a style combining British Invasion-era rock and 60s garage undertones, this talented five piece exhibited energy and presence. Considered a relatively new band, they show a lot of potential and are definitely worth keeping an eye on. Back to the Green Room, and Laura Imbruglia took the stage with her quirky pop-punk style music. Her imaginative lyrics with the catchy beats from her band saw an exuberant performance, luring in pre-existing and soon to be fans.

By 3 o’clock the grass was covered in people and there was the first and sudden rush to the stage. People had started to exhibit a lot more energy and with Expatriate having an evidently solid fan base, people were up and ready to get there dance on. After two years, five national tours and a brilliant debut album, they certainly did not disappoint.

Half an hour later, I moseyed back into the Green Room where I was instantly captivated by the uncompromising hard rock of Spoil. The five-piece group, known for their powerful live shows, had a descent crowd thrusting their heads to the ruthless metal. Watching people passing through to the bathrooms, it was evident that even those who were not there for Pantera-like sounds, were enthralled by their passionate performance and raw energy.

By 4:30 the energy in the crowd was impressive. There was a very positive vibe all throughout; people were friendly and excited. Then Brisbane’s Butterfingers rocked onto the stage and turned the crowd up a notch. Talking to the audience and from the smiles on their faces, it was not only crowd enjoying themselves but the band as well. By the end of their set people were jumping around wildly and the night had really taken a turn in the right direction. After gently easing into the day with the likes of Smitten and the O’Hooligans, Butterfingers most certainly kicked off what was to be an undoubtedly massive night.

Unfortunately for me, I was unable to hang around for the rest of the evening. However, for my first Stonefest experience, albeit brief, I was very impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the music and the vibe. Hundreds of uni students, Canberra locals, interstate visitors, drinks and sun combined with a showcase of talented artists playing a diverse selection of sounds, saw an event I will most definitely return to next year.