You have to love spring. The events just keep rolling on. Having finished the 2024 Elders Lismore Show for another year, we roll into the 2024 Nimbin Roots Festival this weekend.

There is a huge lineup of acts, both new and known, with some extra spice thrown in this year. A large group of naturalists will be joining the festivities, revealing all for the Peace and Love Parade through the streets.

Organiser Lou Bradley and husband Phil started the festival in 2016. Now in its ninth year, the festival will not disappoint.

Local fave, the Hussy Hicks, will be there, as will headlining acts Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock), Good Corn Liquor, Pierce Brothers, The Leads and local fun family band, the Buckleys.

Lou is really excited about the festival this year. She says, “Nimbin roots is really up close and personal. Even with our headlining acts, it's the same - it's so great. 

“This is the reason why people like Ross Wilson want to come back and Dog Trumpet with Reg Mombassa and his brother. They loved it so much last year they came back to play. And Reg helped with the poster artwork.

“They think it's their favourite festival.”

The festival is held in various venues. Your ticket includes a wristband that gives you admittance to any of the venues. 

“The Nimbin School of Arts Hall is the main venue; it's a nice, vibey venue.” It is the admin area, so get your tickets and wristbands sorted out there.

“The bowlo is what I call the really naughty, fun venue because it's always really packed, and people dance; it's great.

“Every year, I have a parade. It's a bit lame, but people really like it. We always meet at the back of the hall in the car park, and then we go and walk 200m down the street and sing. 

“People dress up, and have flags and stuff, and we sing, “All You Need Is Love”, over and over again. It's called the Peace and Love Parade.”

If you want to join in, just show up behind the hall at 3.15pm. If you are getting body painted, you can get that done at the Fig Tree from 2pm.

The final venue has a bit of a story behind it. Lou explains…

“This year, I've been paying a bit of attention to some campaigning that was going on, particularly around the Free The Nipple campaign. 

“It's illegal for women in New South Wales to be topless in public. I didn't think that was a thing. I didn't know it was illegal.

“That pricked my ears up a bit,” and after some discussion, Lou was approached by the Queensland Naturalists Club (QNA).

“They started talking to me about the ethics and the story behind being a nudist. The body's a vulnerable thing, and it kind of fits to me.”

The third venue is clothing optional. It’s called the Fig Tree and will be held at Djangbung Gardens.

QNA is well-equipped and excited about this opportunity. “They've organised private nudie camping, which has nothing to do with us, but they've organised that in a secret location, which apparently sold out!”

Curiosity peaked for those interested; we discussed the logistics of joining in.

“They come in special clothes that are easy to take off. They're all prepared. And there's all these ethics that go along with that. 

“You have to bring your own towel. So you can't sit on a seat unless you put your towel down. 

“There are naturist rules; you can't touch each other and behave in a sexual manner. These rules keep it clean and respectable.”

They will have signage available with the guidelines for those willing to get involved.

Lou talks about the roots of the Roots Festival. She has been writing and playing for over 20 years, “We raised our kids being full-time musicians in the hills of Nimbin.

“We wanted to make a roots event in the sense that it was for artists, singers, songwriters, or performers that were really just trying to get their music heard and not have to worry about being famous or applying for big festivals.”

In the beginning, not many acts were known. It was about getting together to share talents with other like-minded people. That ethos still exists, but with the newcomers, some older names joined the playlists.

“We've experimented with nostalgic style headline acts, we feel are true to their roots. Meaning they perform really regularly.”

Lou feels strongly about keeping the creative spirit in the region invigorated, “It is important, especially as things become more gentrified around the area.

“Often, people are attracted to artistically appealing places. It's why they come here in the first place. But then it kind of just gets snuffed out. It's really strange; the thing that people love about the area the most gets killed off.”

While Lou and other like-minded artists are around, that won't happen lightly. The plans for the 10th Nimbin Roots Festival are already underway.  

“At the festival this year, I'm announcing the date for next year. I'm going full circle. The 10th is going to be really super indie.”

Lou has a couple of surprises in store for that announcement, so you will have to wait for more.

As we wrap up the interview, I enquire as to potential involvement with the QNA crowd, Lou says, definitively, “I'll be keeping my clothes on. I'm a grandma. I'm not going topless. My poor children would have heart failure!”

If you are coming from Lismore or Mullumbimby on Friday or Saturday, a bus has been arranged. Be at the Northern Rivers Hotel in Lismore at 10.30am ($10) or the Mullumbimby Civic Hall at 9:45am ($20). They both return at 11pm. 

For more information on the festival, go to the website www.nimbinrootsfest.com.

Please note the Fig Tree had a late venue change last week from the Nimbin Bush Theatre to the Djangbung Gardens. Don’t show up at the wrong place with the wrong outfit!