"Playgrounder Weekend Changed My Life!!"

Ok maybe a little bit of an exaggeration... Guitar Hero and Rubex cubes changed my life but still, pretty damn close!

For those of you completely confused, give me one post, a few pics and a video or two of your time to explain... Sitting on the train way back in January in the dry heat of the evening sun, sweating like crazy in a humid non-air conditioned cab of a Sydney train I spotted a diamond in the rough. This diamond was found in the gig guide of Mx (the Metro equivalent in Sydney) in the form of a festival taking place in March. The name of said festival was the Playgrounder Weekend. I liken it to a smaller Electric Picnic, an obvious plus, and Maximo Park were headlining!

Brian, Ian & Joe as well as the rest of the usual suspects were all up for it. When it came closer, in came the sick notes. Brian, Ian & Joe decided not too come, but we added Duane, Meech's mate, and Daragh, Dave's mate to the clan and off we went. Dec and Ray headed down, as the two employment challenged of the group, to set up the tent and the rest headed down that night.

The first night it lashed rain, so some of us stayed in the tent for preparation for the session ahead. Matt went out with Duane and had a merry time. The real stuff started on Saturday. Up at 8 because the tent turned into a sauna, being in Australia and with 8 lads in the tent. What an amazing start to the morning though. The festival is set down river to a small town 2 hours outside Sydney. To cross the river you have to get a ferry. it's that big and the mountains are that severe around it. The ferry takes 40 minutes to take you down to the fun and it felt like we were in an episode of Lost waking up on the Saturday.

After a cold, baltic if you will, shower and some warmup drinks we headed to the pool (yes an outdoor pool, take that Oxygen!!). We hit a few bars and then the main stage. It is a lot like Elecy Pic but not quite as extravagant as it's irish equivalent. The main stage was cool, we chilled and got a photo with some Indians and the Mario Bros... I will explain the latter as I'm sure you'll all be like whaaaaa?!?!? Saturday is fancy dress and of course, the Irish weren't gonna be letting the side down! You'll have to see the pics to believe it. The highlight of the night was a 7 year old boy seeing Fitzy dressed up. He almost died right there on his Dad's shoulders! We had a great night and there would be even more pics if I hadn't lost my camera :(

Sunday was just as cool. Maximo played the set of a life time and I gave Ian Brown some grief!! Enjoy all the pics, it was a classic weekend. We still shout in work "TAKE ME BACK TO THE ISLAND!" in reference to the fact that Matt actually thought he was on an island! He even told work that that's where he'd been... To infinity and beyond!!

PS Check the photos first as I have to post videos before pictures!!

Dave & Jonny enjoy the bus down

In the queue for the ferry.. The dark had arrived and rain was on the way

On the ferry!

Tent is up and the goon is flowing!

Matt, Duane & Dec start the Friday in the rain

The view on Saturday monring, minus Ray's behind it was nice

Poolside

A little footie.. Have to get the exercise in :P

Paddy's "enjoys" the art wall

Recycle Man is the first person we see dressed up on the Saturday

Human Pyramid time!

The Indians

The boys with Wario and Luigi

Power Up Time!

IT'S WOODY!!

Woody and Mr. Incredible

Phew phew!

In the Bbig Top Tent

Luke Skywalker and Buzz Light Year

Paddy is a bunch of grapes in case you didn't know

With the actual New South Wales police

Incredible and the imposter... no other comments ^^

Darth Vader and his b1tches

Buzzing!

Sunday arrived and back to the pool

Meech's dance is hilarious

This is a stick up!

Ray & Dara

Ray & George Michael according to Paddy

Had to put this up as this is the look Fitz gives Ray anytime he says something

And the police again

Ian Brown gets a piece of Jonny's mind

Meech helps festival goers with some directions

Maximo Park were awsome and it was the best weekend ever... Until next week!!

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