03 November 2024, 5:30 AM
Words: Laura Dare. Courtesy Coast Lines MagazineHandpicked Festival is much more than just a music festival – it’s a unique celebration of family, community and the region's thriving wine industry, held each November. Coastlines spoke to its founder and producer, Kate Cooper, about how a concert in her grandpa’s backyard has grown over the past decade to become a beloved fixture on the Fleurieu Peninsula event calendar.Kate’s family, the Folletts, have a deep connection to Langhorne Creek – they’ve been growing grapes there since the 1850s, and making outstanding wine since 1987. Kate's grandparents still live on the original property at Lake Breeze Wines, while her three uncles occupy neighbouring land.Handpicked Festival was born from a conversation Kate had with her family at her grandmother’s kitchen table about how she could contribute to the family business."After travelling interstate and working in PR and events, I came home and my family asked if I wanted to come and work with them," Kate says.Initially hesitant, she saw an opportunity to showcase the family’s beautiful Lake Breeze Wines and bring more people to the Langhorne Creek region with a music event.She managed to convince the Follett family it was a good idea, and now the winery owned by Kate's grandfather serves as the picturesque backdrop for Handpicked Festival each year."The place where the festival is held is literally Grandpa's paddock," Kate says, emphasising the intimate, family-oriented nature of the event. Run by Kate, her sister Lauren Maxfield and her best friend, Nikki Earl; the whole Follett family is involved in one way or another.It’s this family connection that sets Handpicked apart from other music festivals."We really are a family-funded and family-run event," Kate says. “Everyone helps.”That includes her three uncles, Tim, Greg and Roger.“Uncle Tim is my go-to ‘site manager’, so he's the one that builds my signs, builds the bridges and all the car parking," Kate says. "Uncle Greg, who's the winemaker, is in charge of the bar, because we’ve got a massive barrel bar.”Her grandmother and mother also contribute to the festival's unique charm, sewing bunting and hand painting signs.Unlike many commercial music festivals, Handpicked's primary goal isn't to maximise profits."We're not just a music festival, we're a family winery,” Kate says. “So the point is to brand the winery and sell wine, whereas other festivals have to sell tickets, and that's their only income source."This approach allows the festival to focus on creating a memorable experience for people who attend, while promoting the Langhorne Creek wine region.The community of Langhorne Creek and beyond has wholeheartedly embraced Handpicked Festival."We just got so, so lucky,” Kate says. “I think we honestly have 500 tickets left for this year. We're almost sold out again."This support extends beyond just ticket sales. Local businesses and residents have rallied behind the event, recognising its value in putting Langhorne Creek on the map.Indeed, raising the profile of Langhorne Creek has been one of the festival's most significant achievements."Even to think, in the last 10 years, how much more exposure Langhorne Creek's got –there's been more wineries that have opened, we've had a brewery open,” Kate says. “We’re proudly flying the flag for the region, so I just hope that more people are recognising Langhorne Creek and we keep our region thriving."The festival's growth has been impressive, starting with 2,000 attendees in 2014 and now hosting around 7,500 people. However, Kate is adamant about maintaining the event's family-friendly, DIY feel."Keeping it at 7,500 people is lovely, because what it does is give people space. And the whole idea of the event is that it's still boutique, and you can bring a picnic rug, you can bring your kids, stretch out and relax."Sustainability is another key focus for Handpicked. The festival has implemented various initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including reusable cups, solar lights, hydration stations to reduce single-use plastic and a partnership with Scouts SA for recycling efforts.“We’re always looking at new ways to be more sustainable – this year we’re trying to work with a new company to do recycled fabric wristbands. We're trying to go through different companies to source recycled coreflute and vinyl."One of the festival's most enchanting features is The Cocktail Forest, a special space nestled among 100-year-old gum trees that Kate says they try to make more magical each year."We love the cocktail forest, and dear friends of ours mix up new recipes each year and turn our wine into cocktails that are beautiful works of art."The Lane, a vibrant marketplace, showcases local artisans and makers. This year, it will be extended into the Cocktail Forest area, creating an even more magical environment.Over the years there have been a whole lot of musical highlights onstage, including a Killing Heidi reunion, and big names like Missy Higgins, Amy Shark, Boy and Bear, JET, John Butler, and even Sporty Spice herself, Melanie C, who closed last year’s festival with a DJ set.But the festival's success has not come without challenges. Kate recalls the early days of cold-calling artists and feeling underestimated as a young female in the music industry. However, with perseverance and growing respect as the festival went from strength to strength, Handpicked has now reached a point where artists are approaching her to perform. There have been other setbacks along the way, including the COVID-19 pandemic that meant no festivals in 2020 and 2021. Then in 2022, a freak storm flooded the property and Handpicked had to be cancelled at the very last minute.Despite these obstacles, Kate doesn’t regret for a second founding Handpicked and all the work that has gone into making it the beloved event it is today. She is looking to the future, constantly seeking ways to make the festival experience even more special.This year sees the introduction of a new camping area for 58 camper vans, which sold out in just two days. The festival also offers a Tent City with family-friendly areas and overnight security to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.Handpicked Festival 2024 will be held on 9 November at Lake Breeze Wines, with an awesome lineup of artists including Angus & Julia Stone, The Jungle Giants, Matt Corby, Pete Murray, The Dreggs, Cyril and Coterie. Find out more at handpickedfestival.com.Photos supplied by Handpicked Festival
