NSW: Thousands turn out in Sydney for Homebake

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2007
NSW: Thousands turn out in Sydney for Homebake

By Stephanie Gardiner

SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - A generous serve of Aussie music combined with a dash of sunshine
has proved the perfect recipe for Sydney's Homebake music festival.

The Divinyls, Missy Higgins, Operator Please, Paul Kelly and Architecture In Helsinki
attracted about 20,000 concert-goers to the Domain today.

The Greens were out in force campaigning against the use of drug sniffer dogs at Homebake.

But police said they had made at least 29 mostly drug-related arrests and issued court
notices to 40 people for possession of drugs including cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis and
LSD.

Two people had been charged with supplying a prohibited drug, police said.

NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon complained that government resources should be redirected
to catching the "Mr Bigs" of the drug world.

"It's the big drug manufacturers and dealers who need sniffing out, not young people
stepping out to enjoy a day of music with their friends," she said in a statement.

ARIA award winners Operator Please played the festival for the first time today with
the Gold Coast band's teenage members overcoming early nerves to finish an energetic set
to screaming applause.

"It's exciting, I find it such an adrenalin rush," bassist Ash McConnell told AAP after the show.

Vocalist Amandah Wilkinson said it was overwhelming to play alongside some of her favourite
bands.

"It never ever sinks in," she said.

Architecture In Helsinki vocalist and musician Kellie Sutherland said Homebake was
very special to her.

"I grew up in Sydney, Homebake was the first festival I went to. I feel happy to be
playing again," she said.

Something For Kate lead singer Paul Dempsey, playing a solo set, broke away from the
day's line-up of electro acts.

Dempsey said he felt "a little sad" without his usual band members to keep him company on stage.

But he said he still enjoyed the vibe of summer music festivals.

"Outdoor festivals - you go along with your friends and have a day in the sun, see
a bunch of bands, get sunburnt, drink too much, fall over," he said.

Australian music great Paul Kelly, who played Homebake in 2002 and 2006, said festivals
were a good way to get around and see different bands.

"We have a bit of a festival set which is a bit different to what we do in our own
show," he said.

AAP sg/pc/jt/de

KEYWORD: HOMEBAKE NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.