Light on DJs, heavy on petitions – the annual Newtown community festival isn’t the most likely destination for an ITMer. So for my bold venture into indie territory I had a plan: harem pants, bloodshot eyes, keep my head down and maybe – just maybe – no one would discover I’m mad for the doof.

It was one of those days you could really use some more ozone layer, and when my friends and I arrived the early afternoon crowd was squished into a shade island to one side of the Essential Stage as Sydney band WIM took up instruments. This band is one to watch. They delivered some great original tracks with emotion and presence, combining pitch-perfect three part harmonies, creative piano riffs and understated but enriching percussion.

We then ventured into the sun and crowds in search of coconut drinks, gift ideas and fashion bargains, soon after returning to the shade with only face paint and churros. We had taken refuge near the Vocal Local Village, which was pumping twisted dubstep beats from an innocent-looking polka dot painted caravan. The bassy wobbles were punctuated from time to time by a marching quartet dressed in military uniform, banging a drum and blowing bubbles as they weaved their way through the crowd. All very Newtown…

Back at the essential stage and Megastick Fanfare (winners of Unearthed Parklife comp 2009) were sending out wailing sonic spirals as the lead singer looped and layered his voice into cacophonous build ups. It was a creative and adventurous set, but Fanfare still has some fine-tuning to do when it comes to stage presence and cohesion. Tighten up or tone it down guys…

The Paper Scissors then bounded on stage and within minutes had the masses up and dancing properly for the first time. The trio was tight and professional, and exuded a confidence and energy that was contagious. Their single Yamanote Line induced a good old fashioned sing-a-long, as did their breakthrough hit We Don’t Walk (forever immortalised or damned-by-association on Channel 9’s Underbelly – I’ll let you decide which).

Wandering back towards Vocal Local Village I found half the boys in town swarming around the polka dot caravan. Female dubstep and grime DJ Manky Cranks was rolling out her grizzliest tunes whilst female MC Nikkita provided the rhymes and denim hot pants; quite the spectacle. With lines like “Newtown, I’m a poet”, Nikkita wasn’t breaking any new MC ground, but ladies are few and far between in that industry and she held her own with Manky Cranks, hyping up the crowd well.

For the final act of the day I headed to Main Stage, where Brisbane based Chocolate Strings was about to let loose – and when an eight-piece band with two drum kits and a sax lets loose, the audience wins big. They started with funk, moved to reggae, and from there basically covered every beat worth dancing to! Highlights were a raucous Jackson 5 cover and a new original which featured the unforgettable husky vocal tones of Nia Falekakala and some traditional Inner West government bashing.

Then, before anyone was ready for it, we were abruptly given our marching orders:

“We’ve only got a permit till six o clock, so everyone… uhh… leave.”

Cheers for a great day Newtown. Always new music to discover and none of the fun tainted with the usual festival feeling of being slightly-to-completely ripped off.