While the Gentlemen of the Road music festival was not the memorable “Victorian travelling circus” that had been promised, 12,000 revellers walked away from Dungog Showground on Saturday with a sunburn and a smile.
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The event, which was curated and headlined by London folk quartet Mumford and Sons, went ahead in 38 degree heat, high humidity and strong, hot winds.
In an oversight by the organisers, no shuttle buses were available to drive ticket holders from the campground to the showground, leaving many to brave the two kilometre pilgrimage across town.
Campers who caught the train to Dungog station had an 850 metre walk to the campsite on top of that two kilometre hike.
In the campgrounds the words “shuttle bus” were whispered with the same air as the supernatural.
Did they really exist? There were sightings and rumours, but nothing conclusive.
Those that had expected the town of Dungog to come alive after the midnight finale of the event were greeted with closed pubs.
Many businesses shut their doors periodically throughout Saturday to restock, seemingly unprepared for the surge in trading.
Despite the harsh conditions many punters arrived early to see the impressive roster of artists on the bill.
Timeless folk was provided by Husky, Willy Mason, Sarah Blasko and Matt Corby.
As night fell Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros had the crowd chanting along to their off-kilter indie folk, with their hit single Home rousing the entire crowd into a singalong.
Beneath stunning stage lighting, the hosts of the event – Mumford and Sons – opened with a new song Lover’s Eyes and performed a passionate and intensely anthemic 90-minute set.
For the grand finale Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros joined them on stage for a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain.
Yacht Club DJs brought the day’s festivities to a close with their high energy mash-ups of classic tunes and the crowd danced up a storm, filling the air with dust.
Gentlemen of the Road may not have lived up to expectations, but it was saved by the conviction of its artists.