Music festival stop 'great warm-up'

Part of the crowd enjoys the action. Photos: Peter McIntosh.
Part of the crowd enjoys the action. Photos: Peter McIntosh.
Hannah Sadler, of Waitati, with the Tea Pot, on which people were able to put handprints.
Hannah Sadler, of Waitati, with the Tea Pot, on which people were able to put handprints.
Donald Simpson, of Invercargill, dances at the  Waitati Music Festival on Saturday.
Donald Simpson, of Invercargill, dances at the Waitati Music Festival on Saturday.
Quinn Hardie (15) of the band The Kuffs.
Quinn Hardie (15) of the band The Kuffs.

Everyone seemed to be watching Donald Simpson having a great time dancing, yet Donald Simpson was dancing like nobody was watching.

And that’s how it should be, he says.

The 57-year-old from Invercargill was passing through Waitati on Saturday, on his way to see Bruce Springsteen in concert in Christchurch tomorrow night, when he came across the Waitati Music Festival and thought: Why not stop for a bit?

"I love every sort of music, especially festivals because you get a different variety of music.

"This is a great warm-up for me, for the Springsteen concert."

He  attended at least one music festival in Australia each year, and  Glastonbury Festival in England was "a definite" on his bucket list, he said.

While people tended to "look sideways" at his dancing at concerts,  he was not bothered by it, Mr Simpson said.

"I do get a hard time from some people who think I’m on drugs.

"But I can actually switch off and get right into the music. Nothing in the rest of the world matters when I’m dancing. It’s a great form of stress relief for me.

"I can have more fun on water and just getting right into the music.’’Festival co-ordinator Katie Peppercorn praised Mr Simpson for his carefree attitude.

"This event is designed to be a fantastic day out for everybody who likes really good music, and who wants to let their hair down and have a really good time."

The 12-hour alternative music, poetry, rap and art festival included live music  from the Julian Temple Band, Rhythmonyx, Iron Mammoth, Hana Fahy & the BBC, Abby Wolfe, Indigo Rising, Psycho King Dogs, Superglue and Painted Blind.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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