Comedy, quokkas, crowd surfing, heckling, a Dockers win, rock star antics and a new Prime Minister wraps up the fifth annual Rottofest

Rottofest wrapped up its fifth annual festival with record attendance, as over  2000 punters, comedians, musicians, and filmmakers descended upon  Rottnest Island to enjoy a weekend of comedy, film and music on  7 and 8 September.

Highlights of Rottofest 2013 included ‘acid-tongued prince’,  Joel Creasey (pictured below left), who had the room in hysterics for his entire set, which included stories about his first ever Celine-Dion-in-Vegas-experience and the first time he ever heard the F word, in Year 4.

National headliner Heath Franklin’s Chopper, legendary Australian comedian  Greg Fleet and the smartest, most casual comedians in the land,  Smart Casual all played to sold out crowds.

“When I heard about Rottofest, I thought it sounded like a cool idea, but after being there I realised it’s one of those festivals I wanna do every year, even if I’m not invited. I had so much fun, I felt guilty they were paying me. Great audiences, awesome comics, beautiful spot.” said  Heath Franklin.

“Rottofest is such a brilliant, intimate, interactive festival where both the audience and the artists get everything they want from each other, including time to sit down and share a beer.” said Greg Fleet.

Despite having to catch a shuttle bus to vote, all punters travelled to the Kingston Barracks at the edge of the island to cast their vote mid-festival on Saturday and the new Prime Minister even made it into Tomas Ford’s Miracle Hangover Quiz on Sunday.

Music headliners reggae-pop band Sticky Fingers (NSW) wowed both the crowd and the bouncers with their on-stage antics as much as their music. The lead singer has firmly established his rock-star status with a brief brush with the law regarding his controversial stage dive and crowd surfing. Other music highlights included incredible performances by Lime Cordiale (NSW),  Grace Woodroofe, Sun City and  The Brow Horn Orchestra.

The winners of the 2013 Rottofest’s Funniest Shorts were ‘How to Stop Cats Forever’ by West Australian director Kristen Turner who won $1000 for Funniest Short Film and ‘Single Parents’ directed by Melbourne-based director Fabian Lapham who won $500 for Funniest Sketch at Rottofest for the second year running.

Rottofest will return to Rottnest Island in September 2014, details to be announced at www.rottofest.com.au

All photos by Jessica Wyld.