Mad Max themed wastelander event POX-ECLIPSE to light up the Goldfields
Australia’s first ‘wastelander festival’, POX-ECLIPSE, is returning this year for its Gulag event, kicking off at the Southern Cross SX Speedway in Southern Cross from Thursday, October 10 to Sunday, October 13.
The festival, inspired by the legendary Mad Max film franchise, promises an unforgettable weekend filled with firepit storytelling, immersive live-action role-play, and epic days and nights of dancing.
Spanning two stages, up to twenty bands will take the spotlight, showcasing a diverse range of sounds. Confirmed acts include desert stoner rockers Death by Carrot, grunge punk outfit AppleBite, industrial groove metal band All This Filth, instrumental stoner rockers Apollo80, high-energy rockers Vulgarite, award-winning Fremantle artist Dan Howls, heavy rockers Mariana AU, groove metal act Kimura, dystopian sci-fi punk band Injured Ninja, and the hardcore rockers The Boys & Blake.
The idea for POX-ECLIPSE came from two friends who, after meeting at Blazing Swan nearly a decade ago, aspired to create a different festival experience for punters.
“Damon and myself had a mutual love of fast cars, heavy music and Mad Max,” said festival co-producer Kristan Angel.“We also had an interest in contemporary and historic fringe events such as Burnout at Mutonia Sculpture Park in SA and Desolation Centre, a guerrilla, punk, art movement, and series of events in the 80s. We wanted to create a space where groups of like-minded individuals could gather and share their love of this kind of creative freedom, which appealed to us and became a pipe dream for many years.”
“In the other side of the world, Wasteland Weekend was growing, a huge festival with many of the themes that appealed to us incorporated. We looked at that festival and thought it was ridiculous that Australia didn’t have something the same as this is the birthplace of Mad Max, the epicentre of the post-apocalyptic genre. After eight years of talking about it, we had had enough; it was time to make POX-ECLIPSE a reality.”
Drawing inspiration from other festivals, but with its own unique twist, those attending in a group of four or more people at POX-ECLIPSE can register as a ‘clan’ and set up camp within the walls of the ‘township’. Clans add to the experience of POX-ECLIPSE by creating fun activities or immersive experiences for other participants while also contributing to the post-apocalyptic theme of the weekend.
Additionally, attendees can apply to bring their Mad Max-themed vehicles to the event to take part in activities and camp within the walls of the festival in the Black Thumb quarter, or set up as traders in Barter Town. All other festival-goers not attending as a clan or with a themed vehicle will camp outside of the ‘town walls’ of the festival.
“It’s a thematic experience that combines a love of cars, music and role play, delivered through the energy of an entire community of like-minded creatives,” Kristan Angel added. “Everybody that comes together to create POX-ECLIPSE is very passionate about the event that they are volunteering to help make a reality, and it shows through the vibe.”
“There is so much to do and explore at POX-ECLIPSE, and it is all extremely entertaining with a huge focus on participation.”
POX-ECLIPSE is a fully licensed event, and therefore no BYO is permitted.
POX-ECLIPSE returns with Gulag at Southern Cross SX Speedway, Southern Cross, from Thursday, October 10 until Sunday, October 13, 2024. For more info and to buy tickets, head to quicket.com.au/events
