The location of the festival gave Playground a feeling of being totally secluded and completely without rules. People threw on fancy-dress outfits and got mashed-up with wild abandon. Sponsors Southern Comfort helped the party along by giving out free Indian headdresses, further encouraging everyone to embrace that inner-child and run around with their hands over their mouths making war-cries.
Kangaroos hopped unconcerned around the campsite while people in their tepees tried to figure out whether they were still tripping or not.
Club Tropicana gave everyone the chance to relive Spring Break as young and handsome bodies partied to a DJ around a pool full of alcohol and bodily fluids.
With the emphasis of Playground very much on the ambience and less on name-dropping big acts the organisers focused on experimenting with different styles and genres in the various DJ tents. The Carnival stage featured various DJs playing anything from dance-hall to dub, with the crowd grinding and rolling around under the starry skies above.
Meanwhile the main stage set host to a very random mix of acts with big dance DJs alongside hip-hop, indie, folk and even a local choir who sang classic Aussie tunes including a moving version of the Home and Away theme song during which they insisted the crowd stand to attention with their hands on their hearts.
Bjorn Again, an Abba tribute band may have seemed an odd addition to the line-up, but singing along to Dancing Queen while rolling about with Pacman and Marge Simpson in a beautiful field surrounded by green hills really sums-up just how special this festival is.
Orbital were given the responsibility to close the festivities on the Sunday and not a soul was left unmoved by their euphoric beats and beautiful light show.
YAY
YAY
