Earthcore
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Earthcore

Undoubtedly one of the biggest electronic and dance music festivals on the calendar, Earthcore is celebrating its 21st birthday in 2014. With the big event closing in, Forte caught up with main man Spiro Boursine to discover that Earthcore is far more than just a festival.
Earthcore is rolling into its 21st year, having started in 1992 with around 200 attendees at its first event. Take us back to the start for a minute. How did the festival come about?
Being young and youthful back then we decided one day to go Yeti hunting in the rainforests of Toolangi State Forest; however, instead of spotting the elusive creature a bizarre light come down upon us from the western sky kind of near the constellation of Orion. After about 30 minutes of lost time it dawned on us that we had to come back to this spot of illumination and bring our friends.
Earthcore was born from this return (with our friends), and subsequent returns to the bush in hope of experiencing the wonderment we had experienced but can’t remember from that fateful night.
Last year was the 20th anniversary and things went extremely well. How was last year’s event in terms of its execution. Did everything go as well as you hoped?
Apart from the vast amounts of anxiety hoping people actually came everything went pretty smoothly, except the part where I was meant to DJ on the Sunday night. I piked out at the last minute and blamed the weather on this failure … the whether or not I could be bothered or not, that is.
This year is no different, with a slew of international acts and crazy extras already announced. Tell us about 2014 and what you have in store already.
If we told you we’d have to send the Men in Black to keep you quiet.
The whole ‘5 stages over 5 days’ concept looks to be a rather large undertaking. How do you plan on keeping party-goers happy and enthused over a massive five day schedule?
We once put on a seven day Earthcore back in 2000 and swore to ourselves “Never ever again” will we be insane enough to put on anything beyond three days. This five day attempt is a kind of balance between the “Never again” and the three day standard venture. A balance, so to speak; or perhaps a form of self-inflicted karmic thing to do to ourselves and to those attending.
Earthcore is more than just a music festival; it has an array of festivities to indulge the senses including arts and markets. Can you tell us about some of the different things on offer?
Apart from the mind-bending stages and one million DJs and artists performing, you can check out some of the new additions this year including the Fractured Reality Bent Art Gallery, The World’s Beyond speakers forum featuring some pretty left-field topics, or perhaps a stroll over to the District 13 theme camp area or realign your chakras in the Lifestyle Zone that is literally going to be next level of next level. There’s so much on offer we can’t fit it all in this interview.
This year you guys have announced Performance, which involves what looks to be a bunch of unique and crazy performers getting around and doing crazy things to blow people away. Tell us about the concept.
Please refer to the above response about the Men in Black
What has been the secret to your longevity? You guys started what is now such a popular form of festival in Australia; how have you managed to stay on top and keep people coming each year?
We are insane. Insane people are impervious to things like being not popular or popular.
If you were to describe the ‘philosophy’ behind your event, what would it be?
Don’t kid yourself. You will not be at work on Monday.
If there is one reason someone should try the Earthcore experience this year, what would you say that would be?
Your next door neighbours are going, so why not go too?
Last but not least, do you get to enjoy the festival yourself or is it all work for you?
Considering it should all be sorted by the time I arrive (god willing) there’s plenty of time to enjoy oneself up to the point where something goes wrong 🙂
When&Where: Pyalong – November 27 through December 1