The beautiful fig trees at the Mullumbimby Showgrounds have always been central to the Renew Fest experience, and they will be taking centre stage this year with a sonic installation from Brisbane-based composer Luke Jaaniste.
Jaaniste will be amplifying the ring of fig trees around the main stage of the festival, with large speakers helping to give the trees ‘voice’. He will be helped in this endeavour by local virtuoso violinist, Cye Wood (Cave In The Sky).
‘It’s such a joy to be working with such a beautiful space,’ Jaaniste said. ‘The trees themselves are amazing. We actually cried the first time we tried it out and gave them their full voice. It was such a special way to feel them.
‘The intention we have here is to bring people back to their place on the Earth, their physical environment, through the trees and the space they hold.’
Jaaniste adds, ‘We’ll keep the trees activated through the day, bringing the intensity up in certain places, and then Saturday night, Cye Wood and I are preparing something really special. I’ve never collaborated with trees before. I’m really grateful for the opportunity, and with the gear that North Coast Events are sponsoring, it’s going to be amazing.’
Renew Fest takes place at the Mullumbimby Showgrounds on May 19 and 20, with a prelude performance at Wildspace on Friday May 18. For more info/tickets visit www.renewfest.org.au. Special local price tickets are available through Santos Organics and the Mullum Farmers market prior to the festival.
