PITCH Music & Arts Festival
A visual and immersive experience enticing new thought and inspiration
Pitch Music & Arts is a four-day festival that offers its attendees a unique and immersive experience through a blend of electronic music and curated art selections.
It is renowned for its exceptional electronic music line-up, making it the forefront of Australia’s house and techno scene.
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the sixth edition of the four-day festival that was held from the 10th – 14th of March 2023, and I can comfortably say it was an amazing experience.
Location
Pitch Music Festival takes place in the scenic bushland outside Moyston, Victoria.
Nestled against the backdrop of the Grampian Plains, the venue provides impressive views, especially during sunset, adding to the festival’s immersive experience.
The venue is a 2.5-3 hour drive from Melbourne.
Once you turn off into Moyston, the journey continues along dirt roads until you reach the entrance of the festival’s campsite.
As you make your way, you are treated with views of the surrounding mountains.
Camping
Upon arrival, the process of securing a spot to set up camp is a lively free-for-all.
While there are no specific rules or directions on where to set up, the area is large, making it easy to secure a spot.
The campsite had an ample number of portable toilet blocks that are conveniently spread out and maintained regularly.
There is also plenty of clean drinking water accessible throughout the area.
Unfortunately, there is a limited availability of showers, which are exclusively accessible in the mornings. The queue for the showers each morning often required a wait of 45 minutes to an hour.
I didn’t shower the entire four-days to avoid waiting in line, gross I know.
The campsite is also conveniently close to information tents, general stores, and the food & drink stalls.
The main drawback of the camping experience at Pitch is the amount of dust.
The campsite is situated on a dry and dusty field, where gusts of wind and passing vehicles stir up clouds of dust that disperse in all directions.
By the end, all our camping gear, our table, and anything else that was left outside our tents was covered in dust.
While the dust was an inconvenience, it was manageable over four days and didn’t take much away from the overall experience.
Stages
Pitch One Stage
The Pitch One stage is considered the ‘main stage’ that usually hosts the biggest artists on the line-up.
The stage setup was a massive and impressively designed structure. As night fell, the stage came to life with captivating visuals projecting onto it.
The dance floor area was large and designed with shade sails overhead, shielding dancers from direct sunlight, making for a more comfortable and enjoyable dancing environment.
There were strategically placed lights throughout the area that created a stunning light show that complimented the music, making for an immersive and captivating experience.
The speakers were powerfully loud and positioned to create a surround sound experience, which was perfect for the type of music that was played.
Resident Advisor Stage
The Resident Advisor stage showcased a diverse range of music, but it was primarily home to the harder techno acts.
The stage setup was a colossal box shaped structure made of reflective silver metal, which transformed in appearance depending on the time of day and the angle of the sun’s reflection. It was particularly visually aesthetic during sunset.
The visuals and lights at this stage were extraordinary. Moving beams of light were projected into the crowd and positioned behind the DJ was a screen that displayed mesmerising visuals for the crowd to enjoy.
Pitch Black Stage
The Pitch Black stage was unlike anything I had seen before. The dance floor was round with surrounding scaffolding that created multiple levels for people to enjoy the music.
Being immersed in the middle of the packed mosh pit while surrounded by people on elevated platforms was an unmatched experience.
As night fell, the stage transformed into a breathtaking spectacle, surrounded with set up lights and a sea of illuminated “doof sticks” that people bring into the compact and enclosed space.
At one point, the stage became a safety hazard because of the limited space and the number of people trying to enter. Consequently, the music had to be stopped and everyone was evacuated due to overcrowding. However, the situation was swiftly resolved, and the music resumed shortly after.
Music
The music is undoubtably the main attraction at Pitch Music Festival.
The festival is renowned for curating the finest house and techno line-ups in Australia, and the 2023 roster was no exception.
The Pitch festival line-up showcases an abundance of local/Australian talent, alongside international acts of immense stature in the house and techno scene.
This year, the festival boasted an impressive roster of artists including Kettama, DJ Heartstring, Ewan McVicvar, Fatima Yamaha, FJAAK, Four Tet, Interplanetary Criminal, Hector Oaks, DJ Tennis, Ki/Ki, OVERMONO, Sam Alfred, STUM, Anetha, SWIM, and Young Marco, among many others. This selection is just a glimpse of the remarkable line-up present at the event.
Art
Throughout the venue, different art installations created by a wide variety of artists are on display that attendees can admire and interact with while moving between stages.
Art instalments mainly included unique sculptures, paintings, and light & sound displays.
Atmosphere/Crowd/People
From the moment I arrived, it was evident that everyone was there to have a great time.
From my experience, there was an absence of judgement and altercations. Everyone I spoke to was lovely, and I made some friends along the way.
While there may have been a few instances where some individuals took things too far, the majority of people handled themselves well and looked after each other.
The festival organisers did an admirable job of providing friendly and helpful staff, emergency respondents, volunteers, and security personnel. They ensured that everyone was safe and taken care of.
The atmosphere at each stage was electric. Everyone was dancing, having a good time, and living in the moment.
One noticeable factor contributing to this was the lack of phone reception. Without distractions of technology, people were fully present and immersed in the experience.
The doof sticks that people carried around added a unique aspect to the festival. It was fascinating to see the different designs and ideas people came up with.
However, it was disheartening to see that many attendees weren’t conscious of the mess they left behind. There was rubbish scattered around and many abandoned camping set ups at the end.
Final Thoughts
Pitch Music and Arts Festival truly left a lasting impression on me. The combination of a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere, along with the incredible line-up of house and techno music, made it an experience like no other.
Although the festival comes with a higher price tag, it is well worth it in my opinion. The four consecutive days of non-stop partying may not be for everyone, but for those who can handle it, it is an experience that should not be missed.
I’m already anticipating next year’s Pitch Music and Arts Festival and can’t wait to create more unforgettable memories.
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Published by the Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra
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