freo beer fest

Yesterday was the big day: The Fremantle International Beer Festival. It was one of those events that should have been started five years ago. There were heaps of (sweaty) people there, long queues for beer samples, lots of merch stands that no-one cared about and of course, the inevitable over-priced food.

On entry, everyone got a sheet of 10 tokens for 50ml (usually double or triple that amount) samples of beer, wine (beer) or premixed drinks (beer). Even though there were heaps of people there, Freo Oval was a great venue - there was enough room for stands, a stage for the bands and grass for people to sit down and savour their beer.

The music was disappointing until we got to headlining act, The Whitlams. I've heard people's deterrent to going to see The Whitlams as, 'Well so and so went a few years back and it was totally sad bastard,'

Well der. Tim Freedman's two original bandmates had died a few years earlier in pretty tragic circumstances, his music was reminiscent of that era, the songs meant a lot to him so of course it would be sad bastard. But the band has moved on and they are great fun to hear and be a part of with the balance of fun, upbeat songs like Duffy's Song and Royal in the Afternoon as well as sad bastard songs like Charlie #2 and Blow Up the Pokies. If you were a fan, it was great to sing along to (and perve on Mr Freedman), even though they apparently forgot some of the lyrics. It was just a good band to finish off an afternoon of beer drinking.

I give the event seven out of ten. Next year will be much better when the logistical problems are ironed out.