January 2, 2010 [Video] Ice Stock!

The stage is built, the instruments in tune, the speakers wired, and the McMurdo crowd is ready to rock Ice Stock!

The mainstage.

This is the tenth year of the Ice Stock Music Festival at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Groups of talented amateur musicians all around the station form bands or practice on their own in preparation for this one-day celebration. There are ladies playing ukuleles (they call themselves the "Ukaladies"), folk singers, reggae-ska groups, an awesome 70's disco cover band, classical musicians, jazz trios, and a little bit of everything in between. In true festival style, booths are set up around the concert area to provide coffee (from Sawbucks Coffee), for artists to sell their wares, and for the Mt. Terror Rugby team to feed the masses  chili, burgers, nachos, and hot dogs, and for concert-goers to make tie-dye bandanas and have their faces painted. The outdoor concert ran from noon until 6:30, but the show did not stop then- there were venues all over McMurdo where the singers kept singing and the music kept playing until late at night.

Best brew on the continent!

Hula-hoopers, robot costumes, couch sitters, and dancers galore!

Jean Pennycook and I

Guitar playing penguins!