19 - 22 September 2024 - Prince's Square Launceston, Lutruwita / Tasmania

Reflections on Day 1: Opening Night

September 10 2014
The Junc Room
The Junc Room

Junction Arts Festival has begun! And what a fantastic way to kick off the Festival; a transformation of the city landscape through exciting new additions such as a massive Twister board in Civic Square, the UTAS School Of Architecture and Youth Futures donation of “The Castle” and an incredible paint job by local legends, ARTSKOOL. You would have probably seen our signage everywhere too, guiding you to the Festival locations and hubs, as well as hosting our program and general information regarding the Festival.

Civic Square aka The Junc Yard is looking amazing. A hub for family performance, The Junc Yard is filled to the brim with little and large activities for parents, children and those in-between. Why not play on the massive Snakes and Ladders board, or play twister with a huge group while waiting for your turn at Terrapin Puppet Theatre’s I Think I Can, the interactive installation that invites the public to engage and play by becoming temporary residents via an intricately detailed tiny human puppet in a miniature town. The Junc Yard also hosts our info booth (this year, it’s a “Castle”!) which will help address all of your Festival questions and queries. Hop into Civic Square during the Festival to catch a film at Cinema Under the Stars, the beautiful Australian family classic Babe is showing tonight, or pop into The Cubby House where you can see One Tacky Tree or Multi-lingual Rock & Rhyme,this years collaboration with Launceston LINC.

Just a stones throw away from The Junc Yard, on Cimietre street is The Junc Room, our festival club which last night played host to the Opening Night. And what an opening it was! The Old Salvage Centre looked amazing, once again transformed into a comfortable, alluring space by our clever team of crew and volunteers. With a great bar, four food options (can anyone turn down Wanderlust, a great little coffee stand, a baked good from A Piece and some vegetarian dumplings?) and Amanda Parer’s giant Intrude bunny to make Lewis Carroll envious, the Opening Night was fabulous last night. It really set the tone for the rest of the Festival. Did you catch Funktional featuring The Scottsdale Choir? An amazing array of talent performing Rat Pack tunes straight out of 1960’s Las Vegas. Funktional took the stage for a second time, this time on their own playing their distinctive blend of funk and soul that got everyone moving and shaking. Closing the night was DJ Grinning Cat playing disco, pop and funk on vinyl turning the Old Salvage Centre into a space fit for a nightclub, or dance floor straight out of Saturday Night Fever!

Funktional featuring The Scottsdale Choir
Funktional featuring The Scottsdale Choir

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