A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to hit up Laneway Festival where an impressive bill of cutting edge acts overtook the historic Sydney College of Arts. Between up and comers like Lorde and Chvrches, experimental acts such as Cashmere Cat, rappers like Earl Sweatshirt and Aussie favourites The Jezabels, gave punters a strong line up across a vast musical spectrum.
Vance Joy, fresh off his Hottest 100 win, played in the early afternoon to a smallish, but appreciative crowd. His performance was a little shaky with the occasional wobbles and stumbles, indicating that perhaps he has been overtaken by the success of enormous hit ‘Riptide’, but he showed strong songwriting chops that will keep him on bills for years to come. When the song finally came at the end of the set it had the crowd singing word for word as the the likeable lad from Victoria sang in the warm afternoon sun.
Producers XXYYXX and Cashmere Cat had a large turn out on the Red Bull presents Future Classic stage, bringing their experimental electronic music to Laneway Festival in the early afternoon. XXYYXX played a set largely composed of his own seriously bass-y tunes that enveloped the courtyard crammed with vibing punters. While too young to actually buy a ticket and attend the festival, the 17-year-old is seriously cool and sure to be on high festival rotation.
Danny Brown played the set of the day for us. Coming on at 6:30pm on the Courtyard Stage, the man with a cartoonish voice unleashed a raucous set to an eager crowd that seemed anxious to go a little mental. Unencumbered young men formed mosh pits during hits like ‘Dip’ and ‘Smoking & Drinking’, but they were far from the only ones to work up a sweat, with Brown’s set filled with bangers from front to back.
The sun setting over the Sydney College of Arts field during Lorde’s blissed out set was an almost perfect moment. The Kiwi sensation drew an enthusiastic crowd who danced and sung their way through her entire set. The 17-year-old proved herself to be a solid performer vocally and had strong stage presence as she writhed about on stage. All the kids (Lorde, XXYYXX and Earl Sweatshirt) earned pass marks with their performances and gave many reasons for fans to be excited about their future.
Good tunes, good vibes and great weather were the order of the day as organisers ensured the 12,000 strong in attendance had a blissful start to February.
Guest post by Matt Edwards, photography by Laura McWhinnie and Skadavy Sos.
