Review for Fairbridge Festival - Metior - Murdoch Empire Telegram and Indian Ocean Review Murdoch University Guild paper - edition 4, 2003. Article by Julia Formato.
Earthwise Junkadelic at Fairbridge Festival 2003 - "a colourful percussion group, who make wonderful music with anything from rubbish bins, to frying pans, to empty water bottles and corn filled shakers, entertained the early afternoon crowd with their energy and individual music style. With the inclusion of a human beatbox, they were really quite spectacular and, from crowd reaction, were set to win a lot of fans over the weekend."
Carnarvon Youth and Children's Festival 2003. Testimonial by Jillian Bourke, Festival Coordinator, Gascoyne Population Health Unit
"I am writing to congratulate your team of energetic and committed percussionists "Junkadelic" on their fantastic contribution to this year's Youth and Kids Festival.
"It was great to see Kate back in Carnarvon again. She had obviously spread the good word about our festival, for so many Junkadelic's to make the trip to Carnarvon for this year's event!
"Not only was the Junkadelic team energetic, innovative, vibrant and colourful, but their professionalism during the whole week was to be commended. Olly Watkins did a fantastic job with workshop facilitation both in the schools and at the after school workshops. The whole Junkadelic team was at all times ready, willing and able to lend a hand where it was needed throughout the week, and for this I am truly grateful.
"I will have no hesitation in inviting Junkadelic back to Carnarvon for next years Youth and Kids Festival, they were a truly amazing and worthwhile investment."
Joondalup Festival 2003. Testimonial by Shannon Howie, Art Teacher at Kinross College
"Kinross College's first entry into the Joondalup Festival will be a hard one to live up to. Imagine a huge flying monkey float with students playing percussion rolling down the streets of Joondalup .accompanied by a sea of creatively dressed students shaking their shakers.
"Junkadelic made this event happen for our school in so many ways. Ken Allen, as co-ordinator, was inspiring keeping everybody inspired and focussed. His flexible nature made him an absolute pleasure to work with.
"Students learnt numerous skills through their involvement with Junkadelic. They improved and developed their percussion skills, learnt how to transform recycled materials, think creatively and the construction and effort required to make a float. At all times Junkadelic role modelled how to work together as a team to achieve a common goal. The Junkadelic crew also made a real effort to develop a repore with the students- even coming back to perform at The College after the parade.
"In the Joondalup area student access to artists and The Arts is limited, therefore the experience with Junkadelic was vital for some of our students. Through Junkadelic students got to meet real practicing artists and take part in an Arts experience in their own community.
"Junkadelic are not afraid to think big and have the expertise to follow through. They were truly inspiring and are now a part of the college's foundation experience. Thanks Junkadelic for bringing a bit of colour and originality to the Northern Suburbs of Perth!"
WAVE Arts Festival 2003. Testimonial by Anna Lanza, Curriculum Consultant for the Arts
"As part of Warnbro Community High School's WAVE Arts Festival 2003, we were fortunate to have the junk percussion band, Junkadelic facilitate a series of workshops with students from our school, WCHS Learning Centre, Endeavour Primary School and Charthouse Primary School.
"The workshops were presented in a well organised, non threatening and an inclusive manner. This was vital as student ages ranged from 11 to 17years old, they had not previously worked together, some having little or no music knowledge and included students with learning disabilities. One of the Learning Centre Aids of a student with a critical learning disability was overwhelmed in her student's motor skill development and social interaction. She commented on the workshops being 'one of the best things' her student had been involved in. Overall it quickly became evident how much the students enjoyed the percussion activities through their new found confidence, team loyalty and self expression. From watching the band members communicating with the students, they were always encouraging, promoting student devise works and spoke to the students on an equal level. This gave the students a sense of ownership and commitment to all involved.
"The students with band members performed at the WAvE launch which was uplifting, energetic and extremely well received by the community. Since the launch two schools have been contact wanting their students to also take part in an Artist In Residency programme with Junkadelic.
"I thoroughly recommend Junkadelic to any school, festival or arts events on a number of levels. They truly are a group of young artists who celebrate the diversity of life, and uniqueness of the individual, all which can't help but bring a smile to your face.
"If you have any further questions regarding Junkadelic please do not hesitate to contact me on 9593 4055(work) or 9534 5504 (home)."
Junkadelic at the 2003 Fairbridge Festival. Testimonial by Steve Barnes, Artistic Director and Natalie Taylor, Youth Coordinator of the Fairbridge Festival.
"The Fairbridge festival engaged the group "Earthwise Junkadelic" as a core component of our inaugural Youth programme for the 2003 Festival. They were a key part of the outstanding success of this venture, and we were very happy with the choice.
"The key to the success of the programme was to have performers who engaged closely with a teenage audience, and involved them in a dynamic, constructive set of activities. The group succeeded in this beyond our expectations. A particularly positive element was the way in which they fostered mentoring of younger participants by older teenagers. A strong sense of community was developed in the Youth venue, and this flowed over into an exuberant presence in the finale parade. Junkadelic had the teenagers involved in constructing and operating a spectacular parade float, which was one of the highlights of the event.
"Their workshops and performances were well attended, highly professional and most entertaining.
"We strongly endorse Junkadelic's application for funding, and we warmly recommend them to other festival and event organisers."
Testimonial from Mary Henry, Director of The Curiosity Company, after our first performance for World Environment Day - June 2002, Forrest Place, Perth.
"I am delighted to recommend the unique and wonderful Junkadelic! I recently spearheaded the City of Perth's World environment Day. Junkadelic conducted creative hands-on workshops for primary school children annd then entertained city workers and shoppers with an energetic performance at Lunchtime. They also performed at the Perth City Train Station during high peak evening traffic. With their colorful costumes, huge smiles and creative instruments it was like a mardi gras party had arrived!
Ken and his team are professional, highly motivated and a sheer delight to work with. I am looking forward to working with them again."
