13 Weeks Out. Meet Daniel.

It’s getting really busy down at St Kilda Festival HQ. Most of our production team have started, they’ve posted their master plans up on the walls and are plotting where everything’s going to go, what time everything’s going to be bumped in and out.

We’re well and truly into making the Festival.

This week we meet Daniel.

Hi Daniel, introduce yourself please.

Yes, ok, I’m Daniel, Master of the Universe [humour] and also Producer of Yalukit Willam Ngargee Festival – the outdoor Indigenous festival that kicks off St Kilda Festival week. It’s held In O’Donnell Gardens and features music, dance, kids entertainment, market stalls and a whole lot more. Plus some satellite events – visual art exhibitions and a book launch.

I’ve actually just started this job (he’s been here a week) but worked on the Bless Your Black Arts Festival back in the early 2000’s, which then turned into Yalukit, so it’s great coming back.

What are you doing at the moment?

At the moment, I’m finishing off programming the main music day (Saturday 5 February), sorting out contracts and getting all my marketing information together. I’ve met with our designers this week and will start working on print materials – posters, programs etc soon.

Busy then?

Yes, very

And the YWN Production Manager starts in a couple of weeks; when we’ll really get into the planning the logistics of the day.

Any programming secrets you can let us in on?

The line up this year is very strong. We’ve got a lot of new and younger acts… some local, some interstate… hip hop, r ’n b, indie rock …

Oh, something I’m particularly looking forward to in the dance program – a troupe of ballroom dancing-waltzing elders and a twilight ceremony.

What’s your favourite colour?

Black… no green, can I say both? It changes

It’s not really that important… you’re busy and it's Friday.. I’ll go now.