October 7, 2024 • 17 mins
Ability Fest is a not-for-profit music festival designed for everyone to experience the magic of live music. At the helm is former Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott - a big music fan, and an even bigger fan of challenging the status quo. On today's podcast, Dylan talks to Sam about his own experiences at music festivals, why Ability Fest is different, and whether its existence is actually desired.
You can buy tickets to Ability Fest here.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Already and this is the Daily OS.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Oh now it makes sense. Good morning and welcome to
the Daily OS. It's Tuesday, the eighth of October. I'm Sam,
I'm Zara not for profit music Festival. Ability Fest is
Australia's first all accessible music festival and one of the
(00:28):
leading torch bearers globally in inclusive events. On today's podcast,
we're joined by former Australian of the Year Dylan Orcott,
the curator and founder of the festival, to discuss with
him what makes this festival different, the current barriers that
prohibit people with a disability from accessing live music and
music festivals in Australia, and whether ability Fest should be
(00:51):
there in the future. That'll all make sense when you
listen to the longer chat I have with Dylan straight
after the headlines. But first, Sarah, what is making news
this morning?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Independent Senator Fatima Payman is expected to announce her new
political party this week. Payman quit the Labour Party earlier
this year, saying her values no longer aligned with those
of the leadership of the Labour Party. It came after
she crossed the floor on a motion calling on the
Senate to recognize the State of Palestine. Payman herself is
(01:23):
not up for reelection until twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The Iranian government has summoned Australian ambassador to Iran in
McConville to a second meeting in the space of a
month to answer for what Iranian media describes as Australia's
quote repeated bias in its public statements relating to the
ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In a statement, Australia's
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or DEFAT, said Australia
(01:50):
makes no apology for the views it has expressed about
Iran's actions. The destructive cycle of violence in the region
must stop. Prime Minister Anthony Abernezi condemned Iran's ambassador to
Australia last week after he said former Hesbala leader Hassan Nasralla,
who was killed in an Israeli air strike last month,
was quote a blessed martyr.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Authorities in Florida have issued the largest evacuation order in
the state since twenty seventeen's Hurricane Erma, just two weeks
after a Category four storm, Hurricane Helene caused massive damage.
According to the US National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Milton has
already intensified into a Category one storm and it's due
to make landfall later this week as a category three hurricane.
(02:37):
The death toll from Hurricane Helene currently stands at two
hundred and twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
And today's good news, researches from the University of Queensland
have discovered a molecule in the lethal venom of a
funnel web spider that could be used to minimize the
injury to a heart during a heart attack. Further research
into the molecule's use will now begin, with the goal
of bringing a product to market within a decade. About
fifty five thousand Australians have a heart attack every year. Dylan,
(03:11):
thanks so much for joining us on the podcast this morning.
The first thing I wanted to say is that we're friends,
and I wanted to tell the audience that because it
leads into my first question, which is I've been to
music festivals with you in the past, and I have
a vivid memory of me asking you to come with
me to see an act and you saying, look, I'm
just not quite sure if I'm going to do that
(03:32):
journey this early in the day. I'm going to do
it a bit later in the day. I know you
don't mind me bringing this up because we had that
experience together, but that did confront me. How is it
being a music festivals for you in a wheelchair as.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
High out of my day? On public record? We're friends,
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I love that it's well known from the last time
we chadded where you said you and I discussed stuff
over a beer.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Oh no, exactly right. Or look mate, growing up when
we used to go to first together, there was no
such thing as accessibility for people with disability. Do you
know what my accessibility was? You? My friends? That was
the only way that I could get around. And I'm
lucky that I had incredible mates who were willing to
(04:15):
never let me miss out on an opportunity. But guess
what if I didn't have that, Well, I'm not going.
And for a lot of people with disability, that's still
the reality of what it's like to go to a
music festival. That's why we start at Ability fest and
we'll talk about what that is in a minute. But
it is cool that festivals in Australia and all around
(04:36):
the world are really starting that journey to care about
consumers with disability. Do you know why they should care,
because it's good business, because we like music just like
everybody else.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
But do you know how it made me? It made
that example that you just gave.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
It made me feel like an inconvenience to my friends sometimes,
and that's not a vibe you want to have at
a festival, do you. But the reason that I love
music festivals is it doesn't matter about your race, religion,
how you look, your disability. People are just there for
the music. Yeah, And that was actually one of the
first times in my life, when I was seventeen years
(05:14):
old and snuck in the Falls Festival underage, that I
felt included. Mate. It was beautiful because we were all
just watching the music together and we were sharing that
moment together, and it was one of my favorite places
in the world, was a music festival, and I just
wanted to provide that opportunity to more people disability who
aren't as lucky enough as I am and privileged as
(05:36):
I am to have beautiful friends who made sure that
I wouldn't miss out, And that's kind of why Ability
Fest was born.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
So I remember on that occasion, the issue was that
there was a lot of gravel around and that it
was hard for you to travel over that type of surface.
But zooming out a bit and perhaps not talking about
that example, but music festivals more generally, what are the
barriers for people with a disability that come up the
most at a festival?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I kind of them down to the hardware and the software.
The hardware is the built environment. So the environment that're
on what you just said then, gravel, grass hills, long distances,
lack of bathrooms, not being able to see anything because
you are a touch tall than I am, although you
do have a grade behind when I get to sit
(06:20):
behind you. You know, they're the things that are really tough.
For not being able to hear the music right if
you're deaf or hard of hearing, you know, lights for
people who are neurodiverse, whether it's lights, lasers, fireworks, whatever
it is, they can be barriers for people. But there's
also the software as well. Staff not having education around disability, right,
(06:44):
security guards not understanding your needs and saying you can't
do something even though it's actually safer or easier for
you to do it right. So there's the hardware and
the software, and you know what, all of these things
can be fixed. All of them can be rectified if
you listen to people's lived experience, so you ask people
(07:05):
disability what you need and you actually invest and do
it rather than just talk about it. And those barriers,
some of them are harder than others to overcome. But
what we try and do at Ability Fest is kind
of set a gold medal standard of what it is
like to create a built environment that is accessible but
(07:25):
also create a culture that is inclusive. So accessibility inclusion
the two different things, and they go hand in hand.
There's no point everyone without the other. And I mean
with a bit of effort, it's quite easy to be
able to get both of them.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Okay, So the first ability Fest is in Melbourne on
October nineteen. Then for the first time, I think we've
got one in Brisbane on October twenty six as well.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Were Turan Baby, We're Turin.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
It's incredible, it's grown a lot in the couple of
years that it's been in existence. What would I notice
as a consumer if I was at Ability Fest that
would make me feel like I'm at a festival specifically
designed and attempting to highlight inclusivity and accessibility. How would
I feel different?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
You know what you would first notice that it's just
like any other festival and.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
It's really good music.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
It's just a fucking good party. Yeah, that it's just
an awesome party, brother, That's what you'd notice first and foremost. Secondly,
the out of accessibility features so people disability can come
and party with their everybody mates are just cool to see.
There are things like elevated platforms so people like myself
in a chair will be able to see or any
other mobility eight pathways you just talked about gravel and grass.
(08:34):
We leave floorings, it's easy to push. We have os
Land interpreters on stage communicating in sign language for the
deaferent Heart of Hearing community. They can also wear vibrating suits.
They're called haptic suits. How cales this?
Speaker 4 (08:46):
So you can say you're at the main stage, the
dance stage.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Or the scient disco and if you can't hear the music,
the suit vibrates to whatever track you choose. How cool
is that. We also had fifty bartenders at ability Fest
last year who spoke Iceland, so in order of drink
as well, we have a sensory room for people who
nerodiverse if they need to go in there and take
a recharge or whatever they need to do in there.
(09:11):
We try and think and kate for everything. We have
the Sunflower Initiative for people in visible disabilities so they
can be seen. I think I'm i going to ask
you I'm biased because I founded it.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
It's a pretty beautiful culture, there isn't it.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
It's beautiful, Like.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
How do you describe it? It's like it's almost like tangible.
I know it sounds a bit kitch, but like just
the genuine authenticity and love that is in the air.
Because think about it. If you're listening right now, think
about your best friend. Imagine they have a disability and
they've never been to a festival with you. Imagine you
both get into experience that for the first time. I
(09:47):
mean some mean you've been there. How do you describe it?
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Well, I think that it's a sense that nobody has
their guide up and that nobody has any sort of
physical or non physical barriers to experiencing the same thing
for everybody. But also I think that it's you can
feel the fact that people are creating stories that they're
then going to talk to their mates about that they
saw this good band, that they had this experience. Like
(10:12):
there's a sense that memories are being created and that's
what I find really special. I also learn a lot.
I mean, this is education for people without a disability
as well. Who go I mean, this is not just
a festival for people with a disability. It's for everybody.
And I personally every year learn more and more. I
mean the haptic suits. I can't wait to see them.
That's fascinating.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah, and I learned as well. Mate, Like people think
I'm some disability di alama who's got all the disability
answer and say, nah, I just know what I know,
you know what I mean? And I think the core
thing about our festival it is built by people with disability.
We have access consultants from my firm GSA who will
have disability, and we ask our community like we'll be like, hey,
(10:53):
I don't know what it's like to be deaf, so
I'm like, how was it? And I'd like this was sick?
Do this next time? We're like done, you know what
I mean, And we just try and we don't get
everything right, but we're just try and do our best.
And you know the best thing about Ability Fest as well,
it's all going to a good cause. Every single dollar
raise goes to the dealan all Got foundation to support
young Australians with disability a TOI their dreams. We pay
(11:14):
for you know, equipment for young athletes to become Paralympians.
We pay for union tape courses for those who can't
afford it, we pay for startups. We've actually played for
people to become DJ and producers, you know, things like that.
And it's pretty cool that for sixty bucks this year,
which is very very cheap, you get to watch Unctionality,
Keita Alexander, club Sport James James, James Kingston right, and
(11:38):
you're also as a result donating to you know, support
young as Ausis with disability. So we're pretty pretty proud
of what we do.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
But where nothing without support of people like you made
and the public.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Are get to come.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
You've just highlighted there a number of the activities. But
in your earlier answer when you went through how it's
an accessible festival, I was thinking how much this must
all cost and what I wanted to ask you was
what's the role of government in all of this? So
in the last government Creative Arts Policy, one point two
million dollars was allocated to proposed accessibility activities at Live
(12:10):
music venues and music festivals. What's your take on that
amounts that framing and the role of government in this conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Yeah, well, firstly, the Victorian and Queensland government events so
supportive of ability. First they're funded it right, which is unbelievable,
and it's so cool that they put a stake in
the ground. And we care about people with disability or
accessibility challenges and these are the same opportunity to go
to shows and enjoy it. We wouldn't be able to
do it in the current climate without that, And I
(12:41):
think what we've heard before from corporates is it's too
expensive to be accessible and it's not right. It's actually
an investment in your business because if you are accessible
and inclusive, we will come. People with disability are consumers
and we will buy tickets as long as we get
to experience it like everybody else. But government plays an
(13:01):
equally important role because if they care about their constituents
and twenty percent of their constituents have a disability, well
then you've got to invest in that portion of the
population so they get opportunities like everybody else. What I
will say is festivals and music gigs have got better
but they need to get better quicker.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Who's the onus on Well, it's on.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Both to be honest. What we find in not just
music festivals but my work in the industry is government
blames corporate and corporate blames government, but both need to
work together to be able to do it. And you know, mate,
I'm not going to see in you a complaint five
years ago. I don't gave a shit. So it is
getting better, but it's about listening to our community about
(13:47):
what we need and talk is cheap and action speaks
out on the words. And for Victoria and Queensland government
to invest in this, we're really proud of that. We're
really pumped and really grateful for it, and we want
other people to follow it suit we actually do as well.
We build our site and then on Friday, the day
before the festival, we take every single major.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Event from the state through the site. We show them
what it's like.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
We show them their platforms, the pathways, the sensory room,
all the accessibility things that we've done, and we're like
copy us, like do this right, so let's work together
to do it.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Last question for me, Dylan, So if you're saying that
that's the gold standard. And if you're saying that that's
the example that you want to set for the rest
of the Australian and potentially international music and live events industry.
Is the ultimate aim here for you for there to
be no ability Fest because every festival is ability Fest.
Would that be success to you?
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Yeah? Matelit My success in life is to be redundant
as an advocate, as a motivatial speaker, as everything that
I do, Mate, I just want I don't want to
get up on stage and go on a podcast. I
have to talk about it anymore because it's just normal,
because that is normal and you know what we are
getting there. But there's only a select few people of
(15:05):
which I'm one of them, who gets a platform and
a voice to talk about it. And that's not good enough.
You know. It can't just be a select couple of
paralympians or a guy who won AUSTRAIGHTU of the Year
who gets the mic. Then there's to be more in
multiple industries, you know what I mean. But in saying that,
I'll never stop being myself, mate, and I'm so lucky
and I love my life and people always go, how
(15:28):
do you wake.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Up every day and go Oh, how am I going
to change the world today?
Speaker 1 (15:30):
What am I going to go?
Speaker 4 (15:31):
No, mate, I just get up and go how am
I going to be doing?
Speaker 1 (15:33):
And what cool shit can I do that I love
doing that might make a change and change perceptions. You know,
if every single festival around the world had accessibility features
so we could come, I'd be doing metaphorical backflips because
I'm not very good at flipping, because I'd be pumped, mate,
And that's what I want, I really do. But you know,
(15:53):
I'm lucky work in the music industry. Got some really
good mates, and I went to Coachella with I really
that's dom Don Dolla this year and Coachell it hit
me up and we're like, mate, come look, check out
our accessibility features because we saw what you did at
ability Fest and we've done some of it. Wow. Calls
that that's awesome. That's so cool, mate, but you know,
like that's what it's about.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
And it made me pumped. And that's what Literally, that's
why I get out of bed. Brother, That's why I
get out of bed. And I'm so grateful so many
people like yourself, like the Daily Odds have supported me
from day dot Mate, scared, not just my story but
the things that we believe in. And I think as
a result, we are getting changed. We really are. We are.
So I'm just saying advocates. We'll say otherwise, but we are.
(16:35):
We are getting better. There are more voices out there.
Things are changing, it's just about them changing quicker. And
you know, employment, education, it's all plays a role. And yeah,
hopefully I've played a small role in that. We'll see
what happens in the future.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Well, it's full steam ahead to Ability Fest on the nineteenth.
I'll be at the Melbourne one there with you, Dylan,
but I'm so excited that it's in Brisbane as well. Dylan,
thank you so much for joining us. I'll throw a
link for the ticket in today's show notes. But a's
a real example. I think of industry, public sector, private
sector music fans coming together and celebrating, which is pretty special.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
And mate, I'll be there if you're comfortability first and
you see me, make sure it comes sackoday. People are
sometimes scared, but that's what.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
I'm there for.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
And yeah, please buy a ticket. It's all going a
good home at the Delannock Got Foundation. And if you
buy a ticket, you win a new play car, you
win a key, you go on the draw. So tickets
still available. I'll see you all in Melbourne, Britty.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Thanks so much, dell Well.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda
Bungelung Calcuton woman from Gadigol Country. The Daily oz acknowledges
that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the
Gadigol people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres
Straight Island and nations. We pay our respects to the
first peoples of these countries, both past and present,
Already and this is the Daily OS.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Oh now it makes sense. Good morning and welcome to
the Daily OS. It's Tuesday, the eighth of October. I'm Sam,
I'm Zara not for profit music Festival. Ability Fest is
Australia's first all accessible music festival and one of the
(00:28):
leading torch bearers globally in inclusive events. On today's podcast,
we're joined by former Australian of the Year Dylan Orcott,
the curator and founder of the festival, to discuss with
him what makes this festival different, the current barriers that
prohibit people with a disability from accessing live music and
music festivals in Australia, and whether ability Fest should be
(00:51):
there in the future. That'll all make sense when you
listen to the longer chat I have with Dylan straight
after the headlines. But first, Sarah, what is making news
this morning?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Independent Senator Fatima Payman is expected to announce her new
political party this week. Payman quit the Labour Party earlier
this year, saying her values no longer aligned with those
of the leadership of the Labour Party. It came after
she crossed the floor on a motion calling on the
Senate to recognize the State of Palestine. Payman herself is
(01:23):
not up for reelection until twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
The Iranian government has summoned Australian ambassador to Iran in
McConville to a second meeting in the space of a
month to answer for what Iranian media describes as Australia's
quote repeated bias in its public statements relating to the
ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In a statement, Australia's
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or DEFAT, said Australia
(01:50):
makes no apology for the views it has expressed about
Iran's actions. The destructive cycle of violence in the region
must stop. Prime Minister Anthony Abernezi condemned Iran's ambassador to
Australia last week after he said former Hesbala leader Hassan Nasralla,
who was killed in an Israeli air strike last month,
was quote a blessed martyr.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Authorities in Florida have issued the largest evacuation order in
the state since twenty seventeen's Hurricane Erma, just two weeks
after a Category four storm, Hurricane Helene caused massive damage.
According to the US National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Milton has
already intensified into a Category one storm and it's due
to make landfall later this week as a category three hurricane.
(02:37):
The death toll from Hurricane Helene currently stands at two
hundred and twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
And today's good news, researches from the University of Queensland
have discovered a molecule in the lethal venom of a
funnel web spider that could be used to minimize the
injury to a heart during a heart attack. Further research
into the molecule's use will now begin, with the goal
of bringing a product to market within a decade. About
fifty five thousand Australians have a heart attack every year. Dylan,
(03:11):
thanks so much for joining us on the podcast this morning.
The first thing I wanted to say is that we're friends,
and I wanted to tell the audience that because it
leads into my first question, which is I've been to
music festivals with you in the past, and I have
a vivid memory of me asking you to come with
me to see an act and you saying, look, I'm
just not quite sure if I'm going to do that
(03:32):
journey this early in the day. I'm going to do
it a bit later in the day. I know you
don't mind me bringing this up because we had that
experience together, but that did confront me. How is it
being a music festivals for you in a wheelchair as.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
High out of my day? On public record? We're friends,
Thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
I love that it's well known from the last time
we chadded where you said you and I discussed stuff
over a beer.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Oh no, exactly right. Or look mate, growing up when
we used to go to first together, there was no
such thing as accessibility for people with disability. Do you
know what my accessibility was? You? My friends? That was
the only way that I could get around. And I'm
lucky that I had incredible mates who were willing to
(04:15):
never let me miss out on an opportunity. But guess
what if I didn't have that, Well, I'm not going.
And for a lot of people with disability, that's still
the reality of what it's like to go to a
music festival. That's why we start at Ability fest and
we'll talk about what that is in a minute. But
it is cool that festivals in Australia and all around
(04:36):
the world are really starting that journey to care about
consumers with disability. Do you know why they should care,
because it's good business, because we like music just like
everybody else.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
But do you know how it made me? It made
that example that you just gave.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
It made me feel like an inconvenience to my friends sometimes,
and that's not a vibe you want to have at
a festival, do you. But the reason that I love
music festivals is it doesn't matter about your race, religion,
how you look, your disability. People are just there for
the music. Yeah, And that was actually one of the
first times in my life, when I was seventeen years
(05:14):
old and snuck in the Falls Festival underage, that I
felt included. Mate. It was beautiful because we were all
just watching the music together and we were sharing that
moment together, and it was one of my favorite places
in the world, was a music festival, and I just
wanted to provide that opportunity to more people disability who
aren't as lucky enough as I am and privileged as
(05:36):
I am to have beautiful friends who made sure that
I wouldn't miss out, And that's kind of why Ability
Fest was born.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
So I remember on that occasion, the issue was that
there was a lot of gravel around and that it
was hard for you to travel over that type of surface.
But zooming out a bit and perhaps not talking about
that example, but music festivals more generally, what are the
barriers for people with a disability that come up the
most at a festival?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
I kind of them down to the hardware and the software.
The hardware is the built environment. So the environment that're
on what you just said then, gravel, grass hills, long distances,
lack of bathrooms, not being able to see anything because
you are a touch tall than I am, although you
do have a grade behind when I get to sit
(06:20):
behind you. You know, they're the things that are really tough.
For not being able to hear the music right if
you're deaf or hard of hearing, you know, lights for
people who are neurodiverse, whether it's lights, lasers, fireworks, whatever
it is, they can be barriers for people. But there's
also the software as well. Staff not having education around disability, right,
(06:44):
security guards not understanding your needs and saying you can't
do something even though it's actually safer or easier for
you to do it right. So there's the hardware and
the software, and you know what, all of these things
can be fixed. All of them can be rectified if
you listen to people's lived experience, so you ask people
(07:05):
disability what you need and you actually invest and do
it rather than just talk about it. And those barriers,
some of them are harder than others to overcome. But
what we try and do at Ability Fest is kind
of set a gold medal standard of what it is
like to create a built environment that is accessible but
(07:25):
also create a culture that is inclusive. So accessibility inclusion
the two different things, and they go hand in hand.
There's no point everyone without the other. And I mean
with a bit of effort, it's quite easy to be
able to get both of them.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Okay, So the first ability Fest is in Melbourne on
October nineteen. Then for the first time, I think we've
got one in Brisbane on October twenty six as well.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Were Turan Baby, We're Turin.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
It's incredible, it's grown a lot in the couple of
years that it's been in existence. What would I notice
as a consumer if I was at Ability Fest that
would make me feel like I'm at a festival specifically
designed and attempting to highlight inclusivity and accessibility. How would
I feel different?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
You know what you would first notice that it's just
like any other festival and.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
It's really good music.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
It's just a fucking good party. Yeah, that it's just
an awesome party, brother, That's what you'd notice first and foremost. Secondly,
the out of accessibility features so people disability can come
and party with their everybody mates are just cool to see.
There are things like elevated platforms so people like myself
in a chair will be able to see or any
other mobility eight pathways you just talked about gravel and grass.
(08:34):
We leave floorings, it's easy to push. We have os
Land interpreters on stage communicating in sign language for the
deaferent Heart of Hearing community. They can also wear vibrating suits.
They're called haptic suits. How cales this?
Speaker 4 (08:46):
So you can say you're at the main stage, the
dance stage.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Or the scient disco and if you can't hear the music,
the suit vibrates to whatever track you choose. How cool
is that. We also had fifty bartenders at ability Fest
last year who spoke Iceland, so in order of drink
as well, we have a sensory room for people who
nerodiverse if they need to go in there and take
a recharge or whatever they need to do in there.
(09:11):
We try and think and kate for everything. We have
the Sunflower Initiative for people in visible disabilities so they
can be seen. I think I'm i going to ask
you I'm biased because I founded it.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
It's a pretty beautiful culture, there isn't it.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
It's beautiful, Like.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
How do you describe it? It's like it's almost like tangible.
I know it sounds a bit kitch, but like just
the genuine authenticity and love that is in the air.
Because think about it. If you're listening right now, think
about your best friend. Imagine they have a disability and
they've never been to a festival with you. Imagine you
both get into experience that for the first time. I
(09:47):
mean some mean you've been there. How do you describe it?
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Well, I think that it's a sense that nobody has
their guide up and that nobody has any sort of
physical or non physical barriers to experiencing the same thing
for everybody. But also I think that it's you can
feel the fact that people are creating stories that they're
then going to talk to their mates about that they
saw this good band, that they had this experience. Like
(10:12):
there's a sense that memories are being created and that's
what I find really special. I also learn a lot.
I mean, this is education for people without a disability
as well. Who go I mean, this is not just
a festival for people with a disability. It's for everybody.
And I personally every year learn more and more. I
mean the haptic suits. I can't wait to see them.
That's fascinating.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah, and I learned as well. Mate, Like people think
I'm some disability di alama who's got all the disability
answer and say, nah, I just know what I know,
you know what I mean? And I think the core
thing about our festival it is built by people with disability.
We have access consultants from my firm GSA who will
have disability, and we ask our community like we'll be like, hey,
(10:53):
I don't know what it's like to be deaf, so
I'm like, how was it? And I'd like this was sick?
Do this next time? We're like done, you know what
I mean, And we just try and we don't get
everything right, but we're just try and do our best.
And you know the best thing about Ability Fest as well,
it's all going to a good cause. Every single dollar
raise goes to the dealan all Got foundation to support
young Australians with disability a TOI their dreams. We pay
(11:14):
for you know, equipment for young athletes to become Paralympians.
We pay for union tape courses for those who can't
afford it, we pay for startups. We've actually played for
people to become DJ and producers, you know, things like that.
And it's pretty cool that for sixty bucks this year,
which is very very cheap, you get to watch Unctionality,
Keita Alexander, club Sport James James, James Kingston right, and
(11:38):
you're also as a result donating to you know, support
young as Ausis with disability. So we're pretty pretty proud
of what we do.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
But where nothing without support of people like you made
and the public.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Are get to come.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
You've just highlighted there a number of the activities. But
in your earlier answer when you went through how it's
an accessible festival, I was thinking how much this must
all cost and what I wanted to ask you was
what's the role of government in all of this? So
in the last government Creative Arts Policy, one point two
million dollars was allocated to proposed accessibility activities at Live
(12:10):
music venues and music festivals. What's your take on that
amounts that framing and the role of government in this conversation.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Yeah, well, firstly, the Victorian and Queensland government events so
supportive of ability. First they're funded it right, which is unbelievable,
and it's so cool that they put a stake in
the ground. And we care about people with disability or
accessibility challenges and these are the same opportunity to go
to shows and enjoy it. We wouldn't be able to
do it in the current climate without that, And I
(12:41):
think what we've heard before from corporates is it's too
expensive to be accessible and it's not right. It's actually
an investment in your business because if you are accessible
and inclusive, we will come. People with disability are consumers
and we will buy tickets as long as we get
to experience it like everybody else. But government plays an
(13:01):
equally important role because if they care about their constituents
and twenty percent of their constituents have a disability, well
then you've got to invest in that portion of the
population so they get opportunities like everybody else. What I
will say is festivals and music gigs have got better
but they need to get better quicker.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Who's the onus on Well, it's on.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Both to be honest. What we find in not just
music festivals but my work in the industry is government
blames corporate and corporate blames government, but both need to
work together to be able to do it. And you know, mate,
I'm not going to see in you a complaint five
years ago. I don't gave a shit. So it is
getting better, but it's about listening to our community about
(13:47):
what we need and talk is cheap and action speaks
out on the words. And for Victoria and Queensland government
to invest in this, we're really proud of that. We're
really pumped and really grateful for it, and we want
other people to follow it suit we actually do as well.
We build our site and then on Friday, the day
before the festival, we take every single major.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
Event from the state through the site. We show them
what it's like.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
We show them their platforms, the pathways, the sensory room,
all the accessibility things that we've done, and we're like
copy us, like do this right, so let's work together
to do it.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Last question for me, Dylan, So if you're saying that
that's the gold standard. And if you're saying that that's
the example that you want to set for the rest
of the Australian and potentially international music and live events industry.
Is the ultimate aim here for you for there to
be no ability Fest because every festival is ability Fest.
Would that be success to you?
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Yeah? Matelit My success in life is to be redundant
as an advocate, as a motivatial speaker, as everything that
I do, Mate, I just want I don't want to
get up on stage and go on a podcast. I
have to talk about it anymore because it's just normal,
because that is normal and you know what we are
getting there. But there's only a select few people of
(15:05):
which I'm one of them, who gets a platform and
a voice to talk about it. And that's not good enough.
You know. It can't just be a select couple of
paralympians or a guy who won AUSTRAIGHTU of the Year
who gets the mic. Then there's to be more in
multiple industries, you know what I mean. But in saying that,
I'll never stop being myself, mate, and I'm so lucky
and I love my life and people always go, how
(15:28):
do you wake.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Up every day and go Oh, how am I going
to change the world today?
Speaker 1 (15:30):
What am I going to go?
Speaker 4 (15:31):
No, mate, I just get up and go how am
I going to be doing?
Speaker 1 (15:33):
And what cool shit can I do that I love
doing that might make a change and change perceptions. You know,
if every single festival around the world had accessibility features
so we could come, I'd be doing metaphorical backflips because
I'm not very good at flipping, because I'd be pumped, mate,
And that's what I want, I really do. But you know,
(15:53):
I'm lucky work in the music industry. Got some really
good mates, and I went to Coachella with I really
that's dom Don Dolla this year and Coachell it hit
me up and we're like, mate, come look, check out
our accessibility features because we saw what you did at
ability Fest and we've done some of it. Wow. Calls
that that's awesome. That's so cool, mate, but you know,
like that's what it's about.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
And it made me pumped. And that's what Literally, that's
why I get out of bed. Brother, That's why I
get out of bed. And I'm so grateful so many
people like yourself, like the Daily Odds have supported me
from day dot Mate, scared, not just my story but
the things that we believe in. And I think as
a result, we are getting changed. We really are. We are.
So I'm just saying advocates. We'll say otherwise, but we are.
(16:35):
We are getting better. There are more voices out there.
Things are changing, it's just about them changing quicker. And
you know, employment, education, it's all plays a role. And yeah,
hopefully I've played a small role in that. We'll see
what happens in the future.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Well, it's full steam ahead to Ability Fest on the nineteenth.
I'll be at the Melbourne one there with you, Dylan,
but I'm so excited that it's in Brisbane as well. Dylan,
thank you so much for joining us. I'll throw a
link for the ticket in today's show notes. But a's
a real example. I think of industry, public sector, private
sector music fans coming together and celebrating, which is pretty special.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
And mate, I'll be there if you're comfortability first and
you see me, make sure it comes sackoday. People are
sometimes scared, but that's what.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
I'm there for.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
And yeah, please buy a ticket. It's all going a
good home at the Delannock Got Foundation. And if you
buy a ticket, you win a new play car, you
win a key, you go on the draw. So tickets
still available. I'll see you all in Melbourne, Britty.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Thanks so much, dell Well.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda
Bungelung Calcuton woman from Gadigol Country. The Daily oz acknowledges
that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the
Gadigol people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres
Straight Island and nations. We pay our respects to the
first peoples of these countries, both past and present,
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