Perth Voice Interactive

HIDDEN Treasures is my favourite music festival in WA.

Every winter, local artists play left-field venues in Fremantle like The Buffalo Club, The Navy Club and the old Wyola Club.

Crumbling heritage mingles with neo punk and alt rock in a strange and intoxicating brew.

It’s an odd juxtaposition, like historian John Dowson shredding on a pink Van Halen guitar.

All this makes for a unique and highly memorable night out.

The annual music festival is getting a well-deserved retrospective exhibition: Hidden Treasures – 14 years of live music in Freo.

Exhumed from the City of Fremantle archives, there’s an entertaining mix of photographs, posters and programs.

Many of the photos have the feel of a lock-in or a secret gig where things are teetering on the brink of chaos (imagine wet steamy crowds packed into tiny venues late at night and inches from the stage).

“The photos of Alter Boy’s performance at PS Arts Space in 2021 are so evocative of Hidden Treasures events over the years,” says exhibition co-curator Ofa Fotu.

“Photographer Tashi Hall captured the excitement of the punters, vibrancy of the stage, and the artists’ joy of performing for a live audience.

“The black and white photographs by Neil Wallace capture the early years of Hidden Treasures, with all their grit.

“It’s a powerful reminder of the festival’s role in artist development and its contribution to Fremantle’s reputation as a hub for original live music.”

Aside from well-known local artists, the festival has been an incubator for young musical talent, featuring students from John Curtin College of the Arts, Fremantle College and Hilton Primary School

It’s also given some ailing venues and working man’s clubs a much-needed shot in the arm, especially The Buffalo Club, which is now enjoying a renaissance under a group of young volunteers.

Along with some other Herald staff, I used to frequent The Buffalo Club before it was trendy.

We enjoyed free games of pool and cheap pints, but for all its quaint charm it was moribund and needed a membership drive (sadly the notice board was usually filled with dates of funerals).  

“One of the most striking aspects of the exhibition is how it highlights the symbiotic relationship between the performers and the iconic venues that have hosted them,” Fotu says.

“The infamous black and white striped wall with horns of The Buffalo Club features prominently in several images, a testament to its partnership over the years.

“Equally signature are the fairy lights and rope lights of the Navy Club, the pillars of PS ArtSpace, and the transformed second floor and balcony of The National Hotel.”

So while it’s fun to walk around the exhibition and say “Remember when we saw San Cisco ” take a minute to enjoy the venues in the background, which are a bit like the fifth Beatle.

“These venues are as much the stars of Hidden Treasures as the bands themselves,” Fotu says.

“They’ve provided the perfect backdrop for countless memorable performances and have played a crucial role in nurturing our local music scene.”

Hidden Treasures – 14 years of live music in Freo is at the Moores Building Arts Space on Henry St, Fremantle until February 16. If you took a cool photo of the festival, bring along an A4 print of it with your name in the bottom corner and the exhibition team will hang it for you.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK