WINTER has arrived and the nights are downright chilly, but the streets of Fremantle are set to sizzle with the month-long Hidden Treasures music series.
Every Thursday during July the West End will be pumping as people wander to and from a series of venues in the port city.
This year will feature a one-off hip hop night curated by WAM Song of the Year winners Mathas and Beni Bjah.
“I have given them five hours at the Packenham Art Space,” coordinator David Craddock says.
• The Kill Devil Hills (above) and Dave Brewer (below) are just a taste of the talent on show at Fremantle’s Hidden Treasures festival.
A “sum of all its parts” Hidden Treasures is not just about the music, but the heritage-rich West End, Mr Craddock says.
“I think the hero of this festival is the architecture,” the muso says surprisingly.
Fremantle festival guru Alex Marshall agrees: “It’s a music festival but it’s called Hidden Treasures because it’s about discovering buildings and place as well.”
Showcasing 40 years of Freo-centric music, well established musos feature alongside up and comers in a festival designed to drag older fans off their comfy lounges to re-discover old favourites – and discover new ones.
“A couple of years ago I met a friend at the Navy Club and he introduced me to his daughter – and his mother. It’s that that makes Hidden Treasures not about the bands, but about the festival,” Mr Marshall says.
When it kicked off in 2010 the venues were Fremantle clubs, but with a couple of those withering on the vine, the National Hotel, the Orient and Pakenham Street Art Space have taken up the slack.
“Each venue has a different paradigm, and as one [music set] finishes you can trundle up to another,” Mr Marshall says.
Such is the appeal of Hidden Treasures no muso has ever had to be asked twice to perform, Mr Craddock says.
Flairz reunion
And San Cisco’s Scarlett Stevens was so keen she coerced her former band members into a Flairz reunion. The Honeyriders are also reforming for one night only, July 14.
There’s a stella line-up over four Thursdays, including Carus Thompson, Squidfinger, The Kill Devils Hills, Dave Brewer, Tim Rogers from You Am I and a host of others too many to name.
Hidden Treasures kicks off July 7, when a mere $15 will get you into all the venues on the night.
But be warned, expect to queue: “Not even the mayor can get you in – he’ll be in the queue too,” Mr Marshall says.
by JENNY D’ANGER
