The family-friendly, nature loving, internationally renown, music, art, community and dance cyber tribal festival Exodus has returned for its eighth inception this weekend, January 9 - 12, at an all new location, which organisers say will make visitors want to stay a lifetime.
The 2009 Exodus Festival has moved to Rover Park near Drake, around 40km east of Tenterfield. Set among a stunning river, beautiful bushwalking tracks and the wilderness of the mountains, Exodus 2009 will continue to be a community gathering for northern NSW and a great opportunity for anyone to get back to nature in an extraordinary setting while enjoying creativity, art and music.
Festival organisers say Rover Park is an ideal location as the new home of the festival.
"It's the first time we've held it anywhere but Bald Rock," said one of the Exodus founders, Sarah Love. "Rover Park is fantastic, there is more access to water, more facilities and animals to entertain the children. The owners of Rover Park have been fantastic and so has the whole of Tenterfield Shire."
Tenterfield Shire Council has improved facilities into Rover Park in anticipation of the festival, including improvements to the roads that access the site.
"The road was set up this morning," Ms Love said on Wednesday, "We've had the lights trucks, water trucks and toilet trucks in from Brisbane today; all of the roads to the camp are open."
Exodus has always been known as a family friendly event, with whole areas devoted to creative activities for kids of all ages. There will also be areas for workshops for adults and kids, cabaret, lots of circus, street performers, fire dancers, celebratory spectacle, magic, and mystery with all the best market stalls doing their green best to recycle, reuse, and protect our earth.
"The festival is about diversity. We try to make it so there are no spectators, just participants," Ms Love said. "We're asking people to bring sunscreen, shoes, hats, drinks to re-hydrate and an open mind. What we're asking is that people leave glass and dogs at home."
Internationally renowned live acts plus an array of Australia's live acts and DJs will grace the two main stages from midday Friday until midday Monday. From Mexico comes Ecliptic/Luna Sound and Twilight, gracing the stages with some of Australia's finest live acts like Ganga Giri, Spoonbill, Ozzy/Liquid, Fyah Walk, Mystic Beats, Lost Keys and Deya Dova. The notorious trance stage will blast the system around the clock, with the market stage catering to diverse beat freaks and live bands and the chill out areas will be available for recharging throughout the whole weekend.
In the new native bush playground, Exodus is set to continue its long cruise as one of the most exhilarating, inspiring, and unforgettable events in the world dance calendar. Expect sunshine along with plenty of music, art, performance and unleashed creativity, bring your friends and family to camp, dance, swim, wander and enjoy Exodus 2009.
B Tickets can be bought at the Exodus website, http://www.exodusfestival.com, or on the door. A ticket will cover the full four days and three nights, and includes onsite camping. There are three main types of tickets available: adult, youth (12-18 years) and family (two adult tickets, and one youth ticket). Adult ticket on-line price is $98 or $140 on the door, youth tickets cost $56on-line or $70 on the door and family tickets cost $210 on-line or $301 on the door. Locals are especially invited to come along and can buy tickets at the door for on-line prices on presentation of identification. Anyone under the age of 18 must have be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Children under 12 are free and do not require a booking or a purchase.