
Issue No 44		03 March 2000

Review

Rock and a Hard Place

By Michael Gadiel

A hippie festival? Alternative? No way...the music festival know as the Big Day Out (BDO) is fast becoming a mainstream youth cultural event, a snapshot of the broader society that unions are struggling to engage.

From Blacktown to Vaucluse form Cabramatta to Chatswood - the BDO spans the length and breadth of the youth demographic. Swelling from around 6, 000 in the early days to a whopping 52, 000 this year round - counter culture - a movement that began at the start of the decade is now blossoming.

With the national youth radio station, Triple J at its vortex - the alternative music scene in Australia is more alive than it's ever been. Previously confined to the University campuses and the back allies of Newtown, youth counter-culture is rapidly eclipsing mainstream culture. The movement is progressive, techno-literate, discerning, accepting, engaged, idealistic, and easy going. Older aficionados strut amongst the crowds of teenagers - I've never felt older...looking at the crowd painstaking outfitted in the coolest gear.

If shape of the music reflects the generation, then this generation is abandon. The line-up was dominated by dance and electronic acts. It's beginning to look as though electronic music is eclipsing the traditional rock scene. As Triple J takes up the market, the 80s sound "pumped out at'cha" from Triple M sounds increasingly out of touch.

Of the two International headline acts, Chemical Brothers and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers - neither is a traditional rock band; a far cry from the early days of the BDO with Nirvana and Violent Femmes on the main stage. The boiler room, the home of electronic music at the BDO was a late addition. Appearing in the second year, it looked like the freak/weirdo tent - nestled amongst the traditional alternative rock stages. Now joined by the Hothouse, the Boiler Room maintained its momentum throughout the day. With acts like Friendly, Josh Abrams, Goldie, Basement Jaxx and the Chemical Brothers the Boiler Room was the most progressive, dynamic and promising stage at Homebush - with some very solid Australian contributions.

Is this the post modern world? A rich and intricate blend of mini-cultures all interacting harmoniously:- scaties, surfers, goths, undergraduates, labourers - the youth are building a culture of individual expression yet with strong collective ideals - counter culture. Drawing its roots from the Hippie movement of the late sixties - we might be watching the emergence of a generation that, aided by the Internet and the mass media, are highly sophisticated and very well adjusted.

If this is the youth of today, then it's the mainstream of tomorrow, the shape of the future. Yet...they're the people the union movement is failing to recruit. For us to understand them and for them to understand us - we must engage. Working on the union stall over the years - I'm struck with how supportive young people are of unions. How positive they are about the principles we promote. They share our idealism of workplace democracy...they are positive and receptive to our message, but how do we translate this into membership? Admittedly this has much to do with the nature of the industries that young people are employed in - but if we are to get into those areas...the growing sector...we need to understand young people and we need to engage with youth culture.

That's why maintaining a union presence at youth festival and community events is vital - because we have as much learn about them as they do about us.

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 44 contents

Interview: The Big Fella
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley speaks about Labor�s evolving relationship with the trade union movement in the post-Accord era.

Unions: An Interactive Resource
The priority for unions in the 21st century is organising and growth. Greg Combet�s unions @work report identified the direction unions should be moving.

Media: Public Hearings
As the big media players look increasingly tarnished, the broadcasting minnows like FBi are seeking their share of the airwaves.

History: Labour History Under Siege
In good labour tradition, the history section of Workers Online begins the year with a call to arms.

Olympics: Games Greed Boosts Homeless Numbers
'Homeless in Sydney' is shaping up to be the theme of the Olympics with many property owners evicting tenants and pushing up rents.

Women: No Time To Be Casual
International Women�s Day is a day to take action. As a shop steward or union delegate why not use IWD as an opportunity to encourage the women in your workplace to join the union?

International: Serbian And Kosovo Unions Meet
The Italian metalworkers has hosted meetings on how to build a different future for the workers in the Balkans.

Labour Review: What's New
Read the latest issue of Labour Review our resource for students, activists and officials.

Review: Rock and a Hard Place
A hippie festival? Alternative? No way...the music festival know as the Big Day Out (BDO) is fast becoming a mainstream youth cultural event, a snapshot of the broader society that unions are struggling to engage.

» Directors: Two Strikes And You�re Out

» Track Workers Face Spot Drug Tests

» Big Bird Fights Ansett Jobs Flight

» LaborNet A Step Forward in Democracy

» From the Lorry to the Creche, We're Watching

» Penal Provisions Against Teachers Condemned

» Auditor General Moves on TAFE

» Yahoo! Under Fire for Union Censorship

» Unrest Bubbles Over Coke Sackings

» Jennie To Sign Off Online

» Basic Goods Sought for East Timorese

» Western Sydney Added to Campus Tour

» Pay Equity Update

» STOP PRESS: Mac Attack Tuesday