Live Review: Beaufort Street Festival 2013

Heading down to the festival early afternoon, sweltering heat overshadowed anything to boast. However, the beauty of Mt Lawley was on display with beloved icons from Elmar's German Butcher at the south end to Planet Video at the north end opening their doors to over 120,000 punters. The swarms of people, the live music and art, the food and the multitude of stalls set the scene for what was to be a great afternoon. If the masses of people eating iced goods were anything to go by, there was one thing on the agenda for most - keeping cool in the sweltering heat.

A crowd favorite was the fourth annual dog show. Small, large, fluffy, shaved, they had it all! Betty the Pug was a winner, with apparently adorable rolls and drooling tongue. Otherwise, the sheer volume of art, performance and culture was simply too immense to detail at length on this page: bins painted by Perth street artists, Sambanista drum processions, homemade ice-cream, eco-friendly garden tents, plastic and cardboard construction centres for children. On Beaufort Street this year, JumpClimb have done something unrivaled in Western Australia.

First up at the Music Feedback Stage was the self-professed comic nerd Wisdom2th, with his faithful sidekicks DJ Voxel and FroBot. Running hot on his heels was China Doll, whose country sound would've surely had everyone dancing if it weren't for the heat. Hundred Acre Wood rocked out a solid set, as well Jake & The Cowboys and The Disappointed. Even with the sun right in their faces they all made it look easy. Next up were the bubbly troupe of Simone & Girlfunkle who would be a little ray of sunshine in anyone's day. As the sun began to dip down, Freqshow  got everyone dancing on an eight-piece drum'n'bass journey. Anton Franc and Boom! Bap! Pow! kept the crowd going strong. At the Aviation Stage high on life These Winter Nights were full of energy, truly enjoying themselves and lifting the spirits of all the roasting spectators, while at the City Of Stirling Stage The WAJYO Swing Band honked its way into the hearts of appreciative onlookers. They performed the usual big band classics that had people toe-tapping. The heat retired people early but not without a full belly, happy ears and pink shoulders to accompany you home. The Streetbound area, meanwhile (located at the rear of The Queens) provided a welcome amount of shade, as well as ample cider/beverages and food to boot whilst the Pilerats DJs and The Monarchy vs Rex Monsoon played into the evening. And there's another BSF. Until next year.