Festival Focus: Adam Gibson & The Ark-Ark Birds

Answered by: Adam Gibson

What's your favourite festival moment? It sounds like ancient history, and in some ways it is, but Nirvana at the first Big Day Out is pretty much hard to beat. Incendiary and life-changing, everything was different from then on.

What are the big differences between playing a festival set and a gig at a regular venue? The whole atmosphere of a (good) festival is different. People are up for anything and there's usually an "anything goes" vibe in the air. People take a chance on new bands and that's never bad.

If you could share a festival line-up with any act who would you pick and why? If we're travelling in time, The Clash, Weddings Parties Anything and Leonard Cohen. Midnight Oil would be massive, also The Hold Steady or PJ Harvey. The power of words meeting the power of a band.

What's the most important item(s) to pack for a festival? An extra layer 'cos it's always chilly at night in Australia except for about two days a year; a packet of Panadol 'cos a hot day + booze can bring a headache, plus eye drops.

What's your festival drink of choice? I've learnt to pace myself. I used to go out hard at the beginning on beers or bourbon and come, say, 4pm, I'd be hitting the wall. Now I just cruise with a few beers.

What are the upcoming festival(s) you're playing over the next few months? Fairgrounds, at this stage.

Which of the other acts are you most excited to see on the bill? The Drones, Rodriguez, Japandroids. A whole heap. The Fairgrounds bill is amazing and it feels like it will be one of those festivals where you can check out any act and they'll be interesting.

Website link for more info: adamfgibson.com