From a passion for music and love for community comes a new and accessible music festival for any and all. Amplifii Music Festival is bringing together communities next month in the city of Playford.
Music festivals are major events across all cities and are one of the most popular ways to see your favourite bands but too often accessibility and inclusiveness get overlooked by the overall excitement and hype of big bill festivals.
Launched by music lover, Karren Kelly, along with the loving support of her intellectually disabled and autistic son James, Amplifii is changing the narrative. It was Karren’s sons love for music that sparked an idea for the community making the mother committed to organising a festival for those who prefer something more open and safer for families.
Originally scheduled for November, the festival was cancelled due to bad weather but now has a new January date announced. The festival is being held at the Playford Tennis Centre and you can expect a lively music festival while keeping wellbeing and comfort paramount.
After two years of lockdowns, music gigs and festivals have been sorely missed across the board so Amplifii is throwing an alcohol free event with all its profits going right back into its charitable core. Established as a not-for-profit, all proceeds will go directly back to Amplifii to continue its legacy
Main attractions will hit the centre stage getting the vibes up for the public including electronic music from Mr Bumbles, DJ DFOE, Some Brown DJ, Filip with an F, DJ JoSH and 8-piece throwback dance troupe Fizzy Pop with more bands and entertainment to be announced.
There will be plenty of calming spaces and activities outside of the music with a chill out zone outfitted for those who need to ease out of a sensory overload as well as easily accessible toilets and an allocated carers room. If you’re fiending for a feed there will be food vans to make sure everyone is well served and looked after.
Amplifii represents the true essence of connection through music and the sorely neglected accessible and open approach to events standing out with photo booths, silent disco and airbrush tattoos that just you can’t get a commercial festival.
Event organiser Kelly said, “I wanted a way for everyone to come together and celebrate through music in a safe and accessible way.”
Amplifii is comprehensive with its inclusions and she’s going the extra mile to make sure everything goes smoothly. They’ll have Auslan interpreters stationed at the event and security will be specifically trained around festival-goers with disabilities and understanding those behaviours.
Speaking on the behind the scenes of the event Kelly said, “Our volunteers are there to keep people happy and help people get up and have a dance. No one’s alone, we’re going to get everyone up and dancing and everyone will be happy to be around one another.”
Amplifii’s got assistance and support from over 30 sponsors to encourage its message from the passionate main backers to thank are Developing Links as well as Complete Disability Services SA (CDSSA), Fresh 92.7, Just Living, State Crane Trucks, Industrial & Constructive Scaffolding and Lighthouse Disability.
Both organiser Karren Kelly and the committee have been working tirelessly to put on an amazing event with plans to make the festival an annual event it seems feasible with the amount of love and overwhelming support from both the sponsors and disability community across the state.
For families and friends and all those living with disabilities comes a music festival catered to their needs seize the day to experience a music festival and support a passionate not-for-profit.
Where: Playford Tennis Centre, 50 Spruance Road, Elizabeth East.
When: Saturday 21st January from 4:30pm
Tickets are on sale now via Eventbrite.
Visit their website and Facebook for more information.
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