With the weather truly warming up for summer, Handpicked Festival couldn’t have ‘picked’ a better day to host their wine and music event at Lake Breeze Wines.
A beautiful mix of families, young mates and dedicated wine and music lovers were sprawled across the grass on picnic rugs and beach chairs throughout the afternoon, with Alana Jagt, The Winter Gypsies and Jimmy and the Mirrors welcoming more and more into the grounds.
‘The Lane’ showcased a number of stalls where you could purchase some colourful nicks and nacks to liven up the house from Gilbert and Co Homewares, some crafty jewellery form LP Handmade, and a vast selection of natural extra virgin olive oil based body products from Vineyard Road.
You had your henna, your photo booth, some face painting for the kids, and of course the token flower-crown shop. We took a peek into the Cocktail Forest, where the overflowing jugs were filled in bright colours and delicious flavours (Rose Sangria was our favourite).
Alternative indie group, Leo, generated a some more people up on their feet, and eventually the whole audience’s lungs became one as we sang along to their cover of ‘With or Without You’.
It broke our hearts to hear The Jezabels had to pull out at last minute due to illness, but old mate Dean Lewis saved the show with his serenading piano fingers and emotional vocals, rocking up just on time to keep the party going.
In anticipation of San Cisco, two dedicated fans hopped up on stage, and next thing we knew the guy was down on one knee! The Handpicked proposal had the crowd in awe, with San Cisco emerging on stage shortly after and getting more people on shoulders – I’m pretty sure I saw some kid crowd surfing.
The long awaited soul and blues master was on next, and I was oh so ready with my red wine in hand for Matt Corby to take me to another planet. To finish off, Aussie rock stars, Jet, lashed out on stage for their first performance in SA in six years. Everyone grabbed a partner and swung through the whole set, and the buzz from their adrenaline couldn’t be shaken.
To say we’re excited for next year’s Handpicked in a serious understatement. Bring on more wine, more music, and a barrel load more of good times.
