Rottofest Wraps 5th Annual Festival with Record Attendance
By: Caryn Robbins Sep. 10, 2013
Rottofest wrapped up its fifth annual festival with record attendance, as over 2000 punters, comedians, musicians, and filmmakers descended upon Rottnest Island to enjoy a weekend of comedy, film and music on 7 and 8 September.
The Festival is fast gaining a reputation for discovering emerging local and international comedy talent. Since performing at Rottofest in 2012, controversial US comedian Anthony Jeselnik has had his Comedy Central series, The Jeselnik Offensive picked up by SBS, which is currently being broadcast nationally on Monday nights. Australian comedian Dayne Rathbone has grown his cult following since performing at Rottofest 2012, performing at Fringe World Perth, Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and has recently received rave reviews at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.Highlights of Rottofest 2013 included 'acid-tongued prince', Joel Creasey, who had the room in hysterics for his entire set, which included stories about his first ever Celine-Dion-in-Vegas-experience and the first time he ever heard the F word, in Year 4.
National headliner Heath Franklin's Chopper, legendary Australian comedian Greg Fleet and the smartest, most casual comedians in the land, Smart Casual all played to sold out crowds.
"When I heard about Rottofest, I thought it sounded like a cool idea, but after being there I realised it's one of those festivals I wanna do every year, even if I'm not invited. I had so much fun, I felt guilty they were paying me. Great audiences, awesome comics, beautiful spot." said Heath Franklin.
"Rottofest is such a brilliant, intimate, interactive festival where both the audience and the artists get everything they want from each other, including time to sit down and share a beer." said Greg Fleet.
Despite having to catch a shuttle bus to vote, all punters travelled to the Kingston Barracks at the edge of the island to cast their vote mid-festival on Saturday and the new Prime Minister even made it into Tomas Ford's Miracle Hangover Quiz on Sunday.
Music headliners reggae-pop band Sticky Fingers (NSW) wowed both the crowd and the bouncers with their on-stage antics as much as their music. The lead singer has firmly established his rock-star status with a brief brush with the law regarding his controversial stage dive and crowd surfing. Other music highlights included incredible performances by Lime Cordiale (NSW), Grace Woodroofe, Sun City and The Brow Horn Orchestra.
The winners of the 2013 Rottofest's Funniest Shorts were How to Stop Cats Forever by West Australian director Kristen Turner who won $1000 for FUNNIEST SHORT FILM and Single Parents directed by Melbourne-based director Fabian Lapham who won $500 for FUNNIEST SKETCH at Rottofest for the second year running.
Rottofest will return to Rottnest Island in September 2014, details to be announced at www.rottofest.com.au
photo credit JESSICA WYLD
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