The Perisher Peak Festival (aka The Perisher Snowy Mountains of Music Festival) is back in 2014 with a new name, a new look and an exciting lineup of acts.
Over 4 days, June 6-9, the Peak Festival will feature over 100 concerts across 8 venues in the unique environment of the Perisher snowfields in NSW.
Perisher Peak Festival celebrates the opening weekend of the 2014 snow season at Perisher Valley and will include high calibre acts such as The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, The Herd, and The Little Stevies. In support of this unique local festival we decided to ask a few acts on their lineup to tell us about their first ever snow experiences.
The Herd (Kenny Sabir)
Can you tell us about the first time you saw snow: “First time I experienced snow I was four years old and tobogganing at Smiggins. I seemed to remember not being able to stop and ending up in those water puddles near the carpark edge.”
Soundtrack to the experience: “I expect the soundtrack to be Fashawn, ‘Life As a Shorty‘ with the video of my antics and then small me sad face, dripping.
Claude Hay
Can you tell us about the first time you saw snow: “I was a kid and did a day trip with my mum, by the time we got there we realised we forgot the chains, two minutes later we were stuck, took three hours to get out then went straight home…Never went back ’till I went on tour there for the first time a few years back. Sad sad sad.”
Soundtrack to the experience: ‘Help’ by The Beatles
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The Little Stevies (Beth Stephen)
Can you tell us about the first time you saw snow: “I was probably about four years old when I discovered that snow was eatable. I remember just kicking back in the snow eating handful after handful. It was a great day.”
Soundtrack to the experience: “The soundtrack to all the snow experiences I’ve had has only ever been laughter. It has to be one of the most fun and funniest activities that can be attempted. Am reminiscing about Year 9 ski camp as we speak.”
Shellie Morris
Can you tell us about the first time you saw snow: “In February last year was the first time I’d seen and been in snow. I was in Hanover, out of New York, while touring with The Black Arm Band. It was minus 13 degrees and it was my birthday! Since then I have been to Scotland and France in January this year, so I’ve stocked up my winter wardrobe, though there’s not much call for it in Darwin! But I’ll be toasty warm and ready for the festival with my snow gear.”
Soundtrack to the experience: “‘April Sun in Cuba’ – by Dragon (big cheeky smile)”
The Chocolate Strings (Nicole ‘Jungles’ McWalters)
Can you tell us about the first time you saw snow: “At Whistler/ Blackcomb mountain in Canada. My parents let us try both skiing and snowboarding – of course I picked snowboarding. If anyone ever asks which mountain is better, then it would have to be Blackcomb – hands down!”
Soundtrack to the experience: “The sound track for me learning to snowboard would have to be ‘I Only Want To Be With You’ by Hootie and the Blowfish. I was 12 at the time and loved every song the album ‘ Cracked view mirror’.”
Glenn Cardier
Can you tell us about the first time you saw snow: “First snow – England in 1974. I was touring the folk clubs and was in the process of writing ‘New Born Babe’ for Olivia Newton John’s LP ‘Don’t Stop Believin’). This strange stuff started falling from the sky. We were excitedly jumping up and down while the locals looked on in bemusement.”
Soundtrack to the experience: ‘Cold Out There‘ from my ‘Exiles From Eden’ CD on live DVD.”
Lachy Doley
Can you tell us about the first time you saw snow: “I grew up in Adelaide and there sure wasn’t any snow there. They did however have an artificial ski slope in conjuction with an ice skating rink called the Ice Arena.
It was a poor man’s ski slope thats for sure. Especially because it was steep but small. If you got any speed up at all you’d just fly straight into the barrier. Which I did over and over again! When I finally saw real snow it was like floating on a giant soft bed of white cloud. Unforgettable!
Soundtrack to the experience: “‘I Want To Take You Higher’ by Sly and The Family Stone”
Public Opinion Afro Orchestra (Dave Marama)
“I was born in Malawi and raised in Tanzania, Africa, so the first time I ever saw snow was from a distance far on top of Mount Kilimanjaro and right in the hinterland tropics. I was a young adult then and it seemed odd that nature could place a patch of white snow on top of this huge mountain so close to the equator?
One day I got good news that I received a scholarship to go study law in Moscow, USSR. Wow, this was great news and we were to leave by July to arrive during summer. One day around October, cold and the days getting shorter, snow arrived and in vengeance! It was white everywhere and to my joy I jumped outside like a kid to see how it felt? was it hard, no it was not? Could I eat it like ice cream, yes but not tasty? Alas I soon discovered it would be one of the coldest winters experienced. I had no idea at all as it was my first time to experience the chill.”
Soundtrack to the experience: “‘Cool Runnings Soundtrack‘ from the movie Cool Runnings.”
Perisher Peak 2014
6th – 9th June
Perisher Valley NSW
For info and tickets visit: www.snowymountainsofmusic.com.au
