PNAU, DIY Fashion Shows & Lawn Snoozes; Day Three Of Mona Foma Is One For The Books

Day three of Mona Foma brings a slower start after a big couple of days and Faux Mo parties. It’s a warm one, with the smell of a nearby bushfire lingering over Launceston, and many seem to be taking advantage of any trace of air-conditioning they can find. We opt to head to The Worker’s Club and venture into Rosie Deacon’s FFS (Fashion Forest Seduction). Walking through the plain door, there’s no way to prepare yourself for the explosion of colour and texture that literally hits you in the face as you make your way into the room; tinsel, fabric and plastic sculptures hanging from the ceiling as people make their way backstage to partake in the DIY fashion show. 

Making our way back to the festival precinct for the final day, the dedicated many standing right in front of the stage to listen to Nakhane’s angelic voice despite the hot afternoon sun. He plays a few slow songs, which seems fitting for a Sunday afternoon, before picking up the pace for a strong finish, causing the tin buildings around the precinct to start rattling.

• Read more - Air Mofo & A Nightclub Life Drawing Class: Here's What Went Down Day One Of Mona Foma 2019
• Read more - Surprise Shows, DJ Neneh Cherry & A Whole Lotta Lasers: What We Loved At Day Two Of Mona Foma

Walking through the festival, there seems to be a few that are more than happy to take the chance for a small nap on the grass after a big three days, while families in their matching blue onesies picnic around them.

Sonja Hindrum, Karlin Love & Bruce Innocent’s Skinmusic set sees the musicians dressed in theatre scrubs, with fluid bags hanging around, playing a theremin-esque instrument made from a scoby (the slab of bacteria that kinda looks a lot like human flesh and - side note - is also the stuff that’s used to make kombucha). It’s unusual but entertaining nonetheless. 

Courtney Barnett’s set sees people lining up along the front barrier early to secure their spot. Barnett is today joined by her full band - bass player Bones Sloane, drummer Dave Mudie and keyboard player/guitarist Katie Harkin - after playing a surprise solo set in the Annexe on Saturday afternoon. She starts the show Hopefulessness from her 2018 album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, before moving onto City Looks Pretty and Avant Gardener, a track she says is “a true story about gardening in summer.” Small Talk gets even the unfamiliar in the crowd dancing with its bluesey feel, thanks to keyboards from Harkin, before Need A Little Time and Nameless Faceless, which extends out into a distorted intro for I’m Not Your Mother, I’m Not Your Bitch. Small Poppies sees perhaps the world’s smallest CB fan loving the show from up on their parent’s shoulders, waving their fists in the air in all their two-year-old glory. The set continues with tracks including Depreston, Elevator Operator, History Eraser and more, while someone in the crowd joyously pumps a bubble gun over the top of everyone’s heads. 

Courtney Barnett

Next up are Belgium group WWWater, who close out the Traverser Stage. Fronted by the incredible Charlotte Adigéry, the set is filled with high kicks, a high vocal range and super high energy. The crowd love it, like a lot, and it’s not hard to see why. Expect them to be everywhere in 18 months and take any chance you can to see them.

PNAU are a last minute addition to the festival, after Underworld cancelled their appearance at the event just a few weeks ago. But god damn, it does not feel like an afterthought. Kira Devine joins the group - made up of brothers Nick & Sam Littlemore and Peter Mayes - as vocalist for the evening and they get the crowd dancing from right from the opening bars. It’s a pretty great sight to see club kids and actual kids all dancing along. “It’s such a privilege for us to be playing her for you beautiful people,” shares Nick during the set, which includes tracks like Wild Strawberries, Go Bang, Baby, Embrace, and of course, Chameleon. 

It’s a high energy finish to an incredible weekend of programming. Mona Foma is easily one of the country’s finest festivals; it’s inclusive and welcoming, extremely well thought out and considered, and it’s the finer details that bring it all together in one pretty excellent package. If you’re at a point where you’re no longer sure that festivals are for you, consider giving Mona Foma a go before you pack up your poncho and hat forever, you might be very pleasantly surprised and delighted.