Big Red Bash Birdsville: The world’s most remote music festival stalled after heavy rain in the Outback

More than 10,000 revelers heading to the world’s most remote music festival have refused to let a rare deluge rain down deep in the Australian desert during their parade.

A snaking convoy of cars, motorhomes and motorhomes heading to the Big Red Bash rock music festival in far south-west Queensland was stopped at multiple roadblocks in the Outback on Monday after record rains and flooding hit the region.

Birdsville, a normally arid town of just 110 residents about 22 miles west of where the festival is held, has been battered by nearly 6 inches (16 mm) of rain in the past 24 hours.

Three-quarters of the attendees had arrived on Monday night – the day before the festival starts – despite the road closures due to flooding (photo: Matt Williams)

Dozens of drivers lined up in the drizzle in Birdsville – Australia’s most remote town – to hose down their mud-spattered vehicles at the town’s famous artesian wells

Dozens of drivers lined up in the drizzle to hose down their mud-spattered vehicles at Birdsville’s famed artesian springs once the roads reopened.

Vince Filocamo, 60, had waited more than two hours to clean his Toyota LandCruiser, which was pulling a trailer with swags, firewood, stovetops and camping gear — all caked in layer upon layer of mud.

“We’re lucky we were at the end of the street when it was only 20-30 cars. It’s a block now,” he said.

“I just want to clean it enough so I can touch the car without getting it dirty. If I go to the festival like this, I can’t unpack because I can’t touch my car.’

But the unexpected pit stop didn’t dampen the spirits of the thousands of families who descended on ‘Bashville’ for its tenth anniversary, with headliners such as ICEHOUSE, Hoodoo Gurus and John Williamson.

Vince Filocamo, 60, had waited more than two hours to clean his Toyota Landcruiser, which pulled a trailer with swags, firewood, stove tops and camping gear – all caked in mud (pictured)

Festival goers were greeted by deep mud ruts as organizers advised 2WD vehicles to think twice in the slippery conditions

Festival founder Greg Donovan told Daily Mail Australia they had taken “extra precautions” to ensure the safety of visitors following the downpour.

“Despite the unfortunate weather conditions and unexpected rain leading up to the event, we want to reassure everyone that the event is still going ahead,” he said.

“The rain is gone now, so get ready for an unforgettable time at the Big Red Bash!”

Although road closures and harsh conditions made travel difficult, more than three-quarters of those in attendance had arrived by Monday evening.

Unfortunately, some were forced to return home.

“Our dream of attending the Big Red bash is over,” wrote one woman who was devastated.

‘We rented a 2WD camper and drove carefully this morning on the muddy dirt roads. We slipped so much that we thought it was the safest option to turn back.’

The festival’s natural amphitheater sits in the shadow of the Simpson Desert’s largest sand dune, Big Red, where kids on boogie boards have been seen bombing through the dunes (Photo: Matt Williams)

Organizers hope the mud dries up in the winter sun before the festival officially kicks off at noon on Tuesday (Photo: Matt Williams)

Heaven has opened in the same way in the area just three times this year: at the famous Birdsville races, on Christmas Eve, and this week.

The mostly scorched red landscape was turned into a swamp by the deluge, but organizers hope it will dry up in the winter sun before the festival officially kicks off at noon on Tuesday.

“Bad things come in threes, so hopefully the rest of the week goes by without a hitch,” said a happy camper in the ankle-deep mud.

The festival’s natural amphitheater sits in the shadow of the largest sand dune in the Simpson Desert, Big Red, where children have been seen bombing through the dunes on boogie boards.

Attendees donned rubber boots and winter gear to suit the conditions (Photo: Matt Williams)

Cars line up for a cleaning in Birdsville, 22 miles west of the festival campground

Road closures forced many festival-goers to camp at the Birdsville Hotel, one of Australia’s oldest

The festival, which has no Wi-Fi, running water or phone reception, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year after first starting as a footrace in the Simpson Desert before turning into a popular event on the music calendar.

Donovan, who runs the festival with his son Steve, said it was never his intention to create the world’s most remote music festival.

“You have to have stones in your head to have such a plan,” he told those present on Monday evening.