The Maine Stage
It was a dark and stormy night, or it looked to be to the FReeZA committee of Castlemaine, MASK Productions, who were putting on their most recent event: 'The Maine Stage', at the Castlemaine District Agricultural Show (or as known to most people in the area, simply "The Show".)
I watched the committee setting their concert up underneath the cloudy sky. It was taking place in the middle of the Camp Reserve, the showground in Castlemaine, on a stage in the form of a large semi-trailer. The banners 'FReeZA' and 'CHIRP' were emblazoned behind the drums and amplifiers being set up. As they threw a tarp over the sound mixing gear, the sky threw out a loud rumble. The committee seemed apprehensive.
Soon the Bendigo Hip-Hop Collective and Castlemaine local favourites, The Beat Disease, arrived to set up their gear. Then at six thirty pm sharp, the parade winged its way through the Reserve's gates.
First through was a marching band, all clad in red, and then the float from Simpatico's, the local Mexican Restaurant, a panel van decorated with Cactus cut-outs and a trailer of kids with sombreros and ukuleles. Following close behind was the FReeZA committee's own float, featuring the remaining members of the committee walking along proudly holding a FReeZA banner and wearing shirts sporting the same design.
Then came the Bendigo Bank float and its yellow Pig Mascot. The local Girl Scouts, the Chewton Soccer club, the gun club, the gardening committee and miscellaneous fire trucks and followed soon after.
Thus began the show, with the scores of people coming in with the parade walking around the grounds, stopping briefly at various stalls, rides and games, never being able to find the people they knew and always being able to run into the people they wanted to avoid.
Some members of Bendigo Hip-Hop Collective started up some breakdancing on a makeshift dance floor cloaked by a linoleum covering that vaguely reminded me of an old kitchen floor. Assorted members of the group danced the hours away until the highlight of the night came about: the fireworks.
After clearing the oval of all occupants, the fireworks started up, dazzling the people walking around and putting on a show quite unlike the one they were attending. The fireworks were reminiscent of the movie version of part three of the Lord of the Rings. They would seem to finish and then blast upwards again unexpectedly.
Finally the concert began. Once again, a gang of youths began to breakdance, and the senior members of the Bendigo Hip-Hop Collective started their set. A barrage of hip-hop lyrics and dance moves assaulted the audience and passers by, quickly drawing a large crowd.
After forty-five minutes, the group relinquished their hold on the audience and the stage, allowing the Beat Disease to begin their set. It was later in the night, so many of the show's attendees had gone home, but the band held their own against the diminishing numbers and kept a large group clapping and dancing until the very end.
The MC climbed up on stage upon the band's finish, thanking the bands, the appropriate sponsors, the crew that helped to put it on and the audience that stuck around until the final note.
It was then, after the final words of thanks, that the clouds gave into the weight they held, and finally released the rain. It rained down onto the remaining people and the FReeZA Committee, who were already beginning to pack up. As the rain drenched everything not undercover, everyone not contractually bound to stay made their way to their respective sleeping places, bringing an end to the Castlemaine Show and The Maine Stage.
