It was my first time at the new festival gardens, for Bonnie Prince Billy and The Cairo Gang, and I wandered around in a bit of a happy daze soaking up the whimsical artist designed space. With upcycled furniture and structural elements incorporating segments of C Y O’Connor’s original pipes, I was a little bit in heaven. I particularly enjoyed the rocking chairs simply made from old chairs attached to rockers that were apparently sourced from old wooden spools or packing crates. Even the synthetic grass – which I loathe (quite intelligent people informing me that they have just coated their yard in green plastic as it is more environmentally friendly are less popular with me than cockroaches. And I REALLY don’t like cockroaches)- I could grudgingly admit looked quite nice… in the ambience of strings of tin lanterns.
So here’s the thing. In writing a review of approximately 300 words on Bonnie Prince Billy, I find myself waxing lyrical on the surroundings of The Festival Gardens and musing the beauty of the thoughtfully clad hipster-infused crowd. Which kind of sums up pretty accurately what I thought of the show.
If I focus, as I must, I can tell you that the Appalachian folk come indie rosk of Bonnie Prince Billy was soaring, lyrical and, particularly in his early call-and-response duet with Shahzad Ismaily was lilting and delightful. It felt soaked in sleepy sunshine… requiring a hammock and an endless supply of something soothing, like a verrrrrry large cigar with benefits.
At the end of track one I was ready for a good night. By the end of track three I was hoping for a little variety, and my companion and I took an extra early version of the traditional Perth ‘don’t be late for the car park pre-encore exit crush’ by running for the doors before the fourth completely anesthetised our ears.
Most likely this was a function of not possessed of the good taste of the large hipster and boomer crowd, but I will confess… when I drove past 40 or so minutes later I swear Bonnie Prince Billy and The Cairo Gang were still on the same song and I thanked my lucky stars that I was on my way home to a more comfortable way to sleep.
Zoe Carter
