Fast Facts
- WHAT: Celebrate Summer Mini-Festival.
- WHO: Kenta Hayashi, reggae band Midnight Messengers, Kay Proudlove, and Bruce Watson.
- HOW MUCH: $43.30 through Eventbrite, or by calling (03) 6363 5033.
- WHERE: Marakoopa Cafe, the Great Western Tiers.
- WHEN: Sunday, January 6, 1pm – 8pm.
A Japanese loop-pedal performer, an eight-piece Tasmanian reggae band, and two folk singer-songwriters.
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That will be the sound of the underground on Sunday, January 6, at Marakoopa Cafe’s first mini-festival.
Headliner Kenta Hayashi, the ‘loop-pedal ninja,’ is making the trip to the caveside cafe in between playing Mona.
“I think, artistically, word’s getting around about our venue,” Marakoopa Cafe co-owner Lars Cooper said.
“[The mini-festival] is for people who don't want to spend two days at a massive festival, but still want the same kind of atmosphere. I think ours will be way more relaxed.”
Mr Cooper said Hayashi’s manager had actually contacted them about performing, thanks to their growing reputation as a unique alternative space.
The artist is known for creating an “orchestra of sound,” by layering vocals, guitar, effects and percussion through the use of his loop pedal.
The vibrations he creates resonate with the natural frequency of the water in our bodies, 444Hz, like a healing meditational process.
The live show is full of “epic tension and release,” according to his promotional materials, with “big layered build-ups and sparse breakdowns with trance-like grooves”.
“I think it’s amazing someone of Kenta’s calibre is treating us here in Northern Tasmania to a performance between shows at Mona,” said Mr Cooper.
“It’s a pretty big coup.”
However, he isn’t surprised artists want to travel to the small town of Marakoopa to play, considering the view they have on the way.
“It’s an amazing setting,” he said.
“Our backdrop is the Western Bluff of the Great Western Tiers, and then we’ve got a massive rock garden in the backyard and the amphitheatre runs into that. Artists are always really blown away.”
The festival will be capped at 100 tickets, and Mr Cooper said they were intentionally keeping the vibe intimate.
“I’ve been to festivals where the artists are a thousand miles away and you would never have a chance to actually chat with them, whereas here the artists are a part of the crowd,” he said.
Along with the music, there will be Marakoopa Cafe’s signature hot dogs, (“revved-up Kransky hot dogs,” Mr Cooper said), Morrison craft beer, Ritual coffee, Tia Rico paella, and Van Diemens Land ice cream ice cream.