Creating a music festival from scratch is a herculean task for anyone, but creating a festival that’s inclusive of people of all ages and walks of life is another challenge entirely. That’s just what the Clearly Music, Art and Wellness Festival managed to pull off on 10-11 November.

Clearly provided the perfect atmosphere for someone experiencing their first music festival. Australian music festivals need to strike the right balance between being inclusive to younger audiences while allowing adults to let their hair down with a drink or two, and Clearly got this balance perfect. Designated drinking areas meant rowdy behaviour never spilled over onto the dance floor, and kids could happily dance with their parents near by. 

The festival was headlined by Australian music royalty Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil fame, who brought his solo project Peter Garrett and The Alter Egos to Kiama. Garrett told audiences at the Clearer Workshop that he wouldn’t be dancing like he did 25 years ago. That didn’t last long, however.

Garrett held the audience of mostly younger punters in his hand as he belted out tunes most would be unfamiliar with if you haven’t delved into his solo work. That didn’t matter to fans though, as punters young and old shared the dance floor with each other to chants of “Peter” throughout the entire set.

It’s no secret many were hoping Garrett would play a few Midnight Oil hits, and he did not disappoint, ending the set with I Don’t Want To Be The One & Blue Sky Mine to send the audience home happy.

Even with a lineup of some of Australia’s biggest artists, Clearly still managed to maintain a very “Kiama” feel, and it wasn’t just surf rock. There were plenty of local businesses selling their wares at market stalls and local food trucks from the region serving delicious delicacies.

Festival punters have a tendency to default to self-preservation amid hot and cramped conditions, but Clearly’s message of living well also extended to enjoying the festival itself. 

Clearly didn’t just feel like any music festival, it was a festival Kiama can be proud to share with the rest of the country.