Just when you thought you’d done festivals with Pride – there’s more festivals than you can wrap your eyes around this month.
For most of the month (November 9 – December 1), the city will be overrun by ARTRAGE with their 2007 ‘Alphabet City’ festival. Keep your eyes peeled around town for the free commemorative A1 sized poster/programme. ARTRAGE have a history of making art space out of unlikely venues, this year apart from their permanent home at the Bakery complex (now complete with circus ring), they’ve taken over the old Toy Shop luxury car showroom and packed it with urban art from across the globe; an old Ice-cream factory where, reportedly, disorder reigns supreme; created large scale light sculptures with the Switch Yard and will be inhabiting cargo containers via SoCo Cargo. There’s a plethora of events – exhibitions performances and even a stencil festival. For how not to miss this extravaganza of urban multi-arts www.alphabetcity.biz.
The weekend of November 10-11 sees the return of the Northbridge Festival. Under ARTRAGE’s direction, the Northbridge Piazza (you know – that big, empty grassy rectangle of indecision on the corner of James and Lake Streets) and nearby streets will be transformed into a carnival-style moving canvas of colour and entertainment. As usual the festival will feature delights for all ages – from fun for the young through to unique, contemporary creative experiences for the grown up cool kids. For more information, visit www.northbridgefestival.com.au. Best of all (if you’re a tight arse like me) – much of it is free.
As for my pick of the bunch (because you’re dying to know), I’d recommend anything with ‘krumping’ in the description – Strange Fruit look well worth seeing as does the Gutenberg Container and Picnic in the Park – I suspect the mainstreamers are getting inspired by our very own Fairday and putting on one of their own! Don’t forget the restaurant tasting either, or to check in on the Artrage exhibition running concurrently at the Bakery.
Not to be outdone, that other hub of creative (and okay, sometimes drunken energy), Fremantle, will also be hosting its annual festival on the November 16-25. The colourful street parade is always a highlight and more information is available on the City of Fremantle’s website: www.fremantlefestivals.com
