BIG DAY OUT
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Introduction |
The Big Day Out is a renowned all day Australian rock music festival. The creators of the Big Day Out are Vivian Lees and Ken West, their aim was to show the tired Australian music scene that rock can still be "relevant and impassioned". They have succeeded in creating a popular event, which is growing more each year. The Big Day Out is held in six states across Australia and in Auckland, NZ. There are international and Australian bands that perform on the day. The Big Day Out is a 12 hour multi-stage rock and dance festival, it's home is the Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale. This huge music festival starts at 11am and finishes at 11pm. The Showgrounds provided indoor and outdoor areas, with the main area accommodating a seating amount of 20,000 and additional 20,000 grandstand seating.
The Melbourne Showgrounds was chosen to be the home of the Melbourne Big Day Out because it's in a prime location. Its close to the city, transport, provides parking in neighbouring streets, includes public toilets, rubbish bins and emergency management. It also provides patrons with water and power. The Big Day Out is Australia's biggest summer rock festival. Most people believe the Big Day Out is just a rock festival, but it's more than that. There are stalls, skateboard demonstrations, spoken world events, art exhibitions, performance artists and an international food hall. Also this festival is a celebration of youth lifestyle, but the critics view about this Big Day Out is "it's a hot and sweaty, push and shove culture".
The safety and security is very important to the organisers, they want to ensure everyone has a fantastic day without any injuries and without people being kicked out. In recent years attendance has been over 200,000 in total, so safety is a priority in all states. In each state the crowd size ranges from 30,000 to 45,000. Security ask people for their cooperation, otherwise they would be escorted out. To control people entering the mosh pit, they have introduced a second barrier called the 'D' barrier, which is situated in front of the main arena stages.
There are also several St. John's ambulance station at the Big Day Out, there to help and treat the injured and sick. They also have St. John's workers walking around to keep an eye on the crowd and see if any one needs or looks like they need help. Many of the security or crowd controllers, and St. John's workers are volunteers. There is a cloak room and anything that is lost and found will go there, you may collect your belongings at anytime on that day. If you don't collect your belongings you have seven days after to collect them from the city police station in your state.
References:
www.melbourneshowgrounds.com/info/links.html
All pictures are from the bands official websites
State Library of Victoria
Rockin’ in a Super Sonic Summer, Herald Sun, 26/12/1992 , p 20
Rollers beat the rockers, Herald Sun, 24/01/1993, p 5
Summer's Big Day Out, Herald Sun, 28/01/1996, p 104
Sounds of Summer, Sunday Herald Sun, 04/01/1998, p 69
Show goes on for Big Day Out, Herald Sun, 10/10/2001, p 17