I was thrilled to be asked back to apply The Garb Wire sheen to the artist lounge at Listen Out Festival in Melbourne.
In just two days I delivered a tropical luxe space for international and local artists to recline in comfortably, get fed and relax in between sets.
The headline acts were A$AP Rocky, Skepta, Skrillex, Brockhampton, Snakehips and Petit Biscuit, to name drop a few, so I felt pretty compelled to do 179,000% better than last year.
I’ve always wanted to style a music festival environment, after attending events around the world – this year the artist lounge area was indoors, with killer views of the Port Phillip Bay – and furnished with luscious indoor plants to elevate whatever I would do.
The props
With the challenge of time and availability, I started with inspiration from Calvin Harris’ Feels music video with Katy Perry and Pherrell Williams frolicking in peak tropical surrounds. To be totally honest though, paradise is my jam, so I knew that I could make this work, no matter what I was faced with at the mall.
I presented tropical mood boards, with a tasteful selection of florals that only hint at the theme but aren’t as obvious as pineapple prints, frangipanis and hibiscus. The flowers and plants brought authentic, natural colour and lush greenery, and the furnishings were done to compliment the freshness.
Pastel colours, ceramics, white and blonde wood worked back with light grey, woven textures, wood and cork.
The venue already had a bounty of beautiful furniture and some cushions that sat nicely within the brief. Anything that didn’t suit what I wanted to achieve was promptly allocated to a (cupboard) different space.
When it’s time to bring in the living flora experts
My favourite florist Flowers Vasette helped me achieve my vision as usual. Between us we came up with a dazzling array of tropical flowers and foliage that worked perfectly with indoor ferns, floor standing palms and strelitzia from Botanical Events.
The space
The Harbour Room at the Melbourne Royal Yacht Squadron with its killer views and beachy accents, lent itself very nicely to my tropical vibes. The client was so enraptured that he recreated the look the following week at Listen Out Brisbane.
The Garb Wire 