Queensland’s Big Red Bash outback festival while Sydney is in coronavirus lockdown

While five million residents in Sydney and surrounding areas digest the difficult news their city would remain on lockdown for at least another week due to a worrying Covid outbreak, 10,000 revellers in outback Australia were busy partying on in the desert.

Queensland’s Big Red Bash is the world’s most remote music festival, held about 35km west of Birdsville on the edge of the Simpson Desert where the borders of South Australia, New South Wales and the Sunshine State converge.

The dog-friendly three-day festival, which runs from July 6 to 8, was established in 2013 and is now considered a ‘bucket list event’ for live music lovers.

But the stunning photographs of spectators having the time of their lives while standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the massive crowds will be a bitter pill to swallow for Sydneysiders who’ve been on stay-at-home order for almost two weeks already.

All residents of New South Wales are living under some form of restrictions until at least July 16, including mandatory masks and only five visitors round at a home, with dancing banned and 50 per cent capacity at major events.

In Sydney, the restrictions are even harsher – but no such rules are in place for Queensland, with roaring crowds packed into the beloved outback festival.

About 10,000 revellers in outback Australia are pictured partying in the desert at the Big Red Bash music festival in Birdsville on July 7

The stunning photographs of spectators having the time of their lives while standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the massive crow is in stark contrast to the situation in the Harbour City. Pictured: Empty tables and chairs are seen at a locked down restaurant in Sydney on July 6

The stunning photographs of spectators having the time of their lives while standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the massive crow is in stark contrast to the situation in the Harbour City. Pictured: Empty tables and chairs are seen at a locked down restaurant in Sydney on July 6

Russell Morris is pictured on stage shredding on guitar at the 2021 Big Red Bash in Birdsville, Australia on July 7

Russell Morris is pictured on stage shredding on guitar at the 2021 Big Red Bash in Birdsville, Australia on July 7

Boogie board riders (pictured) slide down the red sand dunes at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia

Boogie board riders (pictured) slide down the red sand dunes at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia

This year’s festival is headlined by Daryl Braithwaite, Paul Kelly, The Black Sorrows, Busby Marou and former Superjesus frontwoman Sarah McLeod.

Apart from kicking back to Aussie rock tunes, festival-goers are equally enamored with the starry outback sky and the jaw-dropping scenery, where the Wangkangurru-Yarluyandi Traditional Owners would gather for thousands of years to trade ‘grinding stones, ochre, weapons and other goods’. 

‘The concert and campsite grounds, known as Bashville, are located on an organic cattle station called Adria Downs,’ Organisers of the Big Red Bash said on their website.

‘The camping area sits on the dried-out bed of an ancient lake with the giant red sand dune as a backdrop.

‘It forms a natural amphitheater making it the perfect setting for an outback concert.

‘The majestic desert landscape is coated in red dust that comes from the small pieces of gibber rock present throughout the region.’ 

Organisers said that on the final day of the festival there will be two new world records attempts. 

One is for the Largest Nutbush Dance and the another for the Largest Twist Dance, with all proceeds going to the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service.

‘In 2019 more than 2,300 revellers stomped up a storm whilst setting their new Largest Nutbush Dance World Record, and if there’s anything 2020 has shown us it’s that the only way is up,’ organisers said. 

But the rocking outback festival wasn’t the only Queensland event putting the big smoke to shame, with tens of thousands also jamming into Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane for the Wallabies clash with France – Australia’s first rugby match against the Les Bleus since the Covid pandemic took hold.

Tens of thousands of Queenslanders pack into Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium for the Wallabies clash with France on July 07, 2021

Tens of thousands of Queenslanders pack into Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium for the Wallabies clash with France on July 07, 2021

The photo of Wallabies fans huddled together at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium is a far cry from the empty locked down streets of Sydney

The photo of Wallabies fans huddled together at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium is a far cry from the empty locked down streets of Sydney

An empty George Street in Sydney's CBD sits empty during the evening rush hour on July 7, 2021 with lockdown restrictions still in place

An empty George Street in Sydney’s CBD sits empty during the evening rush hour on July 7, 2021 with lockdown restrictions still in place

A woman wearing a face mask is pictured at Bondi Beach on July 2 with the Sydney in lockdown after a wave of Covid cases

A woman wearing a face mask is pictured at Bondi Beach on July 2 with the Sydney in lockdown after a wave of Covid cases

Five million Greater Sydney residents learned they will be stuck in lock down for at least another seven days as the Indian Delta variant of coronavirus continues to spread around the city with 27 new cases on Wednesday and 350 total infections.

Many of the new cases were recorded in Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool and Fairfield as the so-called Bondi cluster spread from the city’s east to the west. 

Fourteen of the cases had been infectious in the community, prompting Premier Gladys Berejiklian to keep schools closed and restaurants and shops shut until Friday July 16. 

The extension of lockdown applies to the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Shellharbour and Wollongong, while regional NSW residents will have to continue wearing masks. 

Ms Berejiklian said the state was facing its biggest test so far in the pandemic, and urged residents to follow the rules and limit their movement as far as possible.

Adam Thompson from Chocolate Starfish (centre) is pictured with the Crack Up Sisters backstage at the Big Red Bash 2021

Adam Thompson from Chocolate Starfish (centre) is pictured with the Crack Up Sisters backstage at the Big Red Bash 2021

Meanwhile in Queensland, spectators (pictured) watch Russell Morris perform at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7

Meanwhile in Queensland, spectators (pictured) watch Russell Morris perform at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7

The iconic and normally thriving Sydney Opera House forecourt is pictured lifeless and empy on July 6, 2021, as the city remains in lockdown

The iconic and normally thriving Sydney Opera House forecourt is pictured lifeless and empy on July 6, 2021, as the city remains in lockdown

Spectators (pictured) take selfies at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7 in Birdsville, as Sydney remains on lockdown

Spectators (pictured) take selfies at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7 in Birdsville, as Sydney remains on lockdown

‘It is so important for all of us to stick together. We’ve beaten the odds before and this is perhaps the biggest challenge our state faces since the beginning of the pandemic,’ she said. 

New South Wales wants to eliminate community transmission until ‘the vast majority’ of adults are vaccinated. So far only nine per cent of Aussie adults have had both doses of the jab as the federal government struggles to secure Pfizer supplies. 

The premier – whose parents are Armenian immigrants – warned harsher restrictions may be required in Sydney’s ethnically diverse west and urged families to stop mingling. 

‘Can I say to the communities in those areas, many have a similar background to me, please don’t mingle with family. I haven’t seen my parents since the lockdown started.’ 

The premier did not elaborate on what further restrictions could involve, except to say exercise could be limited. 

Ms Berejiklian said the decision to extend lockdown was ‘difficult’ but was taken to stop the state ‘living in and out of lockdown’ until more people are vaccinated.

Russell Morris performs at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia to about 10,000 spectators

Russell Morris performs at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia to about 10,000 spectators

A normally busy shopping area in Sydney is nearly empty of people on July 7, 2021 as lockdown orders are extended

A normally busy shopping area in Sydney is nearly empty of people on July 7, 2021 as lockdown orders are extended

This year's show is headlined by Daryl Braithwaite, The Black Sorrows, Busby Marou and former Superjesus frontwoman Sarah McLeod. Pictured: Spectators attend the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia

This year’s show is headlined by Daryl Braithwaite, The Black Sorrows, Busby Marou and former Superjesus frontwoman Sarah McLeod. Pictured: Spectators attend the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia

‘The reason why the New South Wales government has taken this position is because we don’t want to be in a situation where we are constantly having to move between lockdown, no lockdown, lockdown, no lockdown. 

‘What we want to do is give us our best chance of making sure this is the only lockdown we have until the vast majority of our citizens are vaccinated. 

‘We know the vaccine is the key to our freedom. The vaccine is key to saving lives and keeping the economy open.’ 

Ms Berejiklian said she made her decision based on the number of cases not in isolation. 

‘They are the numbers we are looking at when it comes to determining the length of the lockdown,’ Ms Berejiklian said.  

She warned case numbers will increase in Sydney’s west because household contacts of positive cases have been out and about in the community.

George street in Sydney's CBD was empty on Wednesday morning as stay-at-home orders were continued

George street in Sydney’s CBD was empty on Wednesday morning as stay-at-home orders were continued 

Apart from kicking back to Aussie rock tunes, festival-goers are equally enamored with the starry outback sky and the jaw-dropping scenery. Pictured: A huge crowd is seen at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia

Apart from kicking back to Aussie rock tunes, festival-goers are equally enamored with the starry outback sky and the jaw-dropping scenery. Pictured: A huge crowd is seen at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia

For thousands of years the Wangkangurru-Yarluyandi Traditional Owners would gather to trade 'grinding stones, ochre, weapons and other goods' at the site. Pictured: Spectators watch Russell Morris perform at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia

For thousands of years the Wangkangurru-Yarluyandi Traditional Owners would gather to trade ‘grinding stones, ochre, weapons and other goods’ at the site. Pictured: Spectators watch Russell Morris perform at the Big Red Bash 2021 on July 7, 2021 in Birdsville, Australia

A completely empty Martin Place is pictured during the evening rush hour on July 7, 2021 in Sydney, Australia

A completely empty Martin Place is pictured during the evening rush hour on July 7, 2021 in Sydney, Australia

‘I’m anticipating that tomorrow’s number will be higher than what we have seen today but they are at the moment concentrated in three local government areas,’ she said. 

Amid fears young people are not obeying lockdown rules, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant warned the virus was affecting the young as well as old. 

‘Of the seven people in ICU, one is in their 30s. A bit of a wake-up call to young people,’ she said. 

The other patients are one in their 50s, two in their 60s and three in their 70s, with two on ventilators.

In total, 37 patients are in hospital with 14 under 55 and eight under 35. 

The premier said she is working on a ‘roadmap’ to outline how New South Wales lives with the virus once this lockdown is over. 

Restrictions will remain until the ‘vast majority’ of adults are vaccinated, she said. 

Perhaps then, even Sydneysiders will be able to visit the Big Red Bash.

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