Summer sizzles around Oz

Summer festival season has arrived once again, but not soon enough it seems for avid music fans. There is a smorgasboard of summer flavours to entice any palette and if live music is your bag then you’re bound to be sultrily seduced by what’s on offer through the next few months. 
 
First up is the usual dance floor phenomena which accompanies the Summadayze festival and Summa Field Dayze on the Gold Coast. Two Many Djs, Major Lazer and Danny Howells provide a mixed-bag of musical treats which fit the electronica bent. For ticket and venue info visit: fuzzy.com.au.
 
If dirty electro is not your cup of tea then thanks to those who bring you the fantastic Falls Festival in Marion Bay and Lorne the touring road show is being taken to the Northern States. Sunset Sounds touches down in Brisbane on January 6 and will play host to Moby, The Temper Trap, Lyrics Born and Art Vs Science, not to mention the larger than life Yeah Yeah Yeahs. For ticket info visit: sunsetsounds.com.au.  
 
No sooner than you’ll be saying au revoir to your New Year’s celebrations but the Big Day Out Festival will kick off once more, this year with another super line-up. The Mars Volta, Passion Pit, Powderfinger, Muse as well as Lily Allen make this a variety filled day out for music fans. Visit bigdayout.com.au for further artist info.
 
But if it’s getting too big for you then why not throw your attention to a smaller scale festival, Laneway – smaller for it’s laneway restrictions but large in its band repertoire.
 
Taking place in lanes all over the country: Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane; Laneway will showcase international folk sensation Mumford and Sons, as well Florence & the Machine, Whitely and Sarah Blasko. Visit lanewayfestival.com.au.
 
Further to this will be February’s dressing down of the urban flava when Salt n Peppa, Busta Rhymes and the Uk’s Friendly Fires all make an appearance as part of the Good Vibrations Festival happening again nationally. Visit jammusic.com.au for further info.
 
You’d think you’ll be tuckered out though whe n no sooner does this festival wrap up but we’ll be hit up by the likes of Prodigy, Above and beyond and Franz Ferdinand when Future Music Festival touch down hitting all major cities with their delectable dance-crazed addicted artists. Go to futureentertainment.com.au.
 
Taking us right up to Easter and out of summer will be the 21st Blues and Roots festival happening again in Byron. This line-up promises a mad-hatters cup of Crowded House (reformed for this festival only) as well as blues musician Buddy Guy and amazing dance elicitors the Buena Vista Social Club. The festival unveiled late in November gun entertainer and crowd stealer – Jack Johnson as well. Visit bluesfest.com.au for ticket and date information.  

Ruth Bailey

Posted: December 29th, 2009 under FESTIVALS.
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Sunsets over a long queue at Sunset Sounds

Brisbane’s Botanic Gardens were trampled by a stampede or rather millipede of festival-goers recently as the organisers of the Falls Festival (Victoria) took their line-up on the road and headed North to the Sunshine State for the first time.

Day One

Cold, wintery conditions like those experienced in Lorne (Victoria) and Marion Bay (Tasmania) this Christmas/ New Year period were nowhere in sight as frazzled organisers struggled to allay frustrations with Brisbane’s hot and bothered though eager fans all converging on the entrance in one long hour.

The line-up of the two-day festival which boasted big names including The Kooks, The Hives, Tegan and Sarah as well as Santogold and Franz Ferdinand, was obviously an appealing drawcard for the Brisbane crowd, but with the Botanic Gardens situated in town and the timeslots of lesser known bands filling early openings the desire to head in made for a headache for many who chose a pre- twilight entrance.

Some fans waited no less than an hour and half on one of Brisbane’s hottest days this summer.

Once inside the desire to quench a strong thirst was not easy to overcome because the queues for drink lines were far too long to keep anyone happy.

If you chose to forgo the drinks queue and choose instead to witness the music, you were treated to a number of quality sets.

It was thought controversial by the older crowd to place Tegan and Sarah on at the same time as Gomez, it was my conclusion though that half of the crowd aged 23 or under had no idea who Gomez were which allowed the two girls from to draw a healthy crowd.

Gomez did provide a special performance smattered with hits from their 10 album repertoire, highlights were a crowd rousing performance of Catch me up, as well as Bring it on and Silence they played a lot of new stuff too.

Faker produced a lack lustre set for them, however people at the River Stage location seemed content to sit on the hill and take in their sound. A decision for most in my contingent not to tackle the other stages as it was just too exhausting in the heat to move about! So as the very predictable this Heart Attack was strummed out in it’s final death knock throws, we said good bye to Faker and hello to The Kooks from London.

It appeared most of the festival had gathered to hear them. Luke their lead singer turning out a high-energy well paced and exciting set of songs, highlights including Ooh La and She moves in her own way as well as Do you Wanna. I’m absolutely certainly a majority of the female crowd were reduced to quivering messes as this young heart breaker chopped and changed between acoustic and hard indie-rock sounds.

Another little break for Day one and The Hives, Sweden’s crazy rock’n’roll scenesters in their loud 1950s styled get-up, were cut off by organisers for being too loud in their sound. This meant when sound was returned to them they were determined to deafen our ears. Onstage antics and high levels of crowd interaction as well as a number of well known songs featured from their current, Black and White album and treats from Tyrannosaurus Hives bringing smiling faces amongst the 10 000 strong crowd.

One was left to feel a little sorry for the Australian closing act, The Cat Empire who were staged somewhere over yonder throwing out lots of old favourites from their repertoire but also engaging their crowd in some Arabian-esque tripped out sounds.

Day Two

Entering day two of Sunset Sounds and already things were flowing smoothly. No hefty waiting in queues meant a much more chilled out crowd to deal with than the previous day.

The first act on my agenda though a little later in the bill, was Santogold and the songstress from Brooklyn did not disappoint an adoring crowd. She seemed overwhelmed with the Australian show of support for her. Along with her signature gold-hooded back-up dancers and a dj spinning tracks behind her, she sang with passion and enthusiasm some of her better known tracks including Say Aha, Run for Cover, Les Artistes and Creator had the crowd elated. Asking members of the audience on-stage to join her was a very popular move and the crowd were left wanting more as she exited the stage.

Move over Santogold because an Injured Patience of the Grates was next in the house. The Grates set providing an opportunity for their fans to dance about like loons, but Patience dressed as Snow White was restricted to remaining seated in a regal high-backed chair fit for a queen – Brisbane’s very own, Queen of Pop-rock.

Songs from their successful album Teeth Lost, Hearts Won including Burn Bridges, Aw Yeah and Carve your name peppered amongst older tracks like Science is Golden gave them a most ‘footastic’ set for fans to revel in.

The Grates ending on a high note, left the stage and it was a short time later that the final act for River Stage Sunset Sounds picked up their instruments and played. Franz Ferdinand. This crazy four-piece struck a chord with their opener Matinee, moving quickly through some very old and recognisable tunes including none other than Take Me Out and following on their single of their moment Ulysee’s. Entertaining to say the least and definitely dance-worthy it was my companions and my decision to leave Franz along with almost all the crowd in front of them, in search of something more.

What did we find, Donovan Frankenreiter, the US roots/surf music master and he had his own possee of listeners to herald him a star. The sultry, summer evening sky, illuminated by his stage and gazing into the distance as he punched out some wonderful feel-good music ‘Lovely Day’ and ‘I got you’ suited to mood of the evening, one couldn’t help but feel that Sunset Sounds had regained our respect and restored faith in the music gods. If it doesn’t matter to you it doesn’t matter to me, lyrics to It don’t matter one of his last songs of the evening, the crowd riotous with happiness at seeing this relaxed surfer-hippy in action.

Other notable mentions from friends in other stages throughout day two were CW Stoneking with the banjo twang and also Ash Grimwald not quite Xavier Rudd but something of a blessed musician anyway!

Ruth Bailey

Posted: March 15th, 2009 under FESTIVALS.
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Things we learned at V Festival 2007

Finally, the V Festival phenomenon has travelled from the UK to reach Australian soil. A line-up large enough to span three continents with the punters ready to pay homage to the likes of The Pet Shop Boys, Beck, The Pixies and Groove Armada, there is nothing left to do except Go!

It is a merry troop (on our bus anyway) who set out on the winding journey from Carrara Stadium to a place none of us knew existed. Nestled somewhere inland of the Gold Coast - Merrimac lies Avica Resort aka: “by the way, where the hell are we?”

What a great venue it is though, perhaps selected for its natural acoustics rolling acres of rich, green lawns that housed three big stages. This Stage, That stage and the Other stage (a novel way for organisers to identify them) each waiting to burst forth with some cranking tunes.

Event organisers had taken the time to compile a list of a dos and don’ts to assist in making the day the ”greatest of our mortal lives” I took the liberty of recording my own dos and don’ts to get festival goers by.

Don’t furrow your brow at the bad fashion you spy wandering through the gates. Surrender to the fact V Festival focuses on the fashion of earlier eras more so than any other.
Chances are you will be caught cringing at band members, sporting designer silver pointy shoes and no, they won’t be girls. You know who you are Mr Valentino.

Do make sure you bring a packed lunch.
For eating while waiting in the queue for drink tickets. Half an hour will pass in no time.

Do embrace the rain.
We are in drought and just because the heavens have waited 43 days to open, we should be happy it occurred at all.

Don’t expect to comprehend the logic that goes along with purchasing said drink tickets – it won’t be explained to you.
The system is not like other festivals where you purchase tickets as per type of drink you wish to consume. Rather exchange your money for tokens of equivalent value. This requires that you to calculate how many drinks you think you’ll consume a task for some more mathematically challenged among the group.

Do read your map to understand where you are in relation to the key stages.
This will take some time especially if you are navigationally retarded.

Do expect to be frustrated when you learn you are confined to drink in locations that aren’t really in close proximity to any of the stages.

Do smile politely when the person in front of you at the bar is requesting four Jaeger- bombs and the bartender doesn’t understand what this entails.

Do beg, borrow, or steal a Virgin branded mobile to present to the girls at the VIP section of the V Bar.
They will then give you a silver wristband with VIP emblazoned on it. You will be free to rest tired tootsies and take advantage of pristine toilets as well feel free to buy drinks located in close proximity to somewhere that is playing music.
Or better still, know the promoters who have gold VIP wristbands to give away at their discretion. This will entitle you to the above luxuries but also an open slather = free bar.

If you are able to snaffle a VIP wristband, do then smile all day knowing you don’t have to worry about half of the above do’s listed.

Do be mindful of those rocking out to the music, be it to the Pixies or The Rapture.
Whilst it’s great to see shirtless bodies must they gyrate up against you in 80s fashion victim attire? Yes it’s great they are able to enjoy dancing but encourage them not to do it on top of you.

Do run through the meadows and commune with nature.
Why not? It’s a novel adventure this Avica Resort V Festival.

Do have a sense of humour for when you get back to the car and are forced to sit in another long queue (not dissimilar to the one you encountered buying drinks tickets) to get home.

Do make sure you buy your ticket for the next V Festival.
You won’t be disappointed – the crowd is friendly, and there is plenty of fantastic music to appeal to all music tastes.

Photos by Angus Martin

Posted: October 11th, 2008 under ALBUMS, FESTIVALS, LIVE GIGS.
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