Festival Showcase -Beyond The city 2021

After yet another crazy year, this year's Beyond The Valley took a different approach; taking the festival out Gippsland, and bringing it to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. With two packed days of local talent, Beyond The City promised a cracker of a New Year's festival, and delivered on every front.

DAY ONE

Kicking off day one on the main stage was electro hip-hop artist Sophiegrophy, who has been taking the Australian hip hop scene by storm. With a few festival performances under her belt, and more to come, we're excited to see what's next in store for this artist. Three piece Melbourne band Telenova are up next, bringing to the stage their perfect blend of haunting vocals and intricate instrumentals. As a relatively new band, the trio played fan faves Lost Highway, their Like a Version (Madonna's Hung Up) and ended on hits Bones and Blue Valentine. Here's to hoping that we see Telenova at plenty more festivals to come.

Western Sydney-based Big Skeez was a last minute replacement to the line-up, and he wasted no time warming up the crowd for the crazy day ahead. Playing tracks No Trace and the homage to his hometown, Westside, Big Skeez was a bundle of energy, jumping around the stage and getting everyone to bounce along with him. Up-and-coming pop artist Sycco has been taking the local music scene by storm lately, working up quite a following across the country. It goes without saying that the young artist has been hard at work - earning herself a nomination for Unearthed Artist of the Year back in 2020. Running through tracks Happy You're Here, My Ways, and Dribble (the single that started it all), the audience is also treated to a couple new songs, which have us all swaying along. With a smile on her face the whole time, Sycco had everyone's attention throughout, and we really can't wait to see what she has in store for the future.

Brissie artist Eves Karydas continued on the pop train, smashing out her catch as anything hits one after the other. Opening with There For You and Damn Loyal, Eves had the audience dancing and singing along from the get-go. We're all treated to her Like a Version of Ruel's Painkiller, before belting out Get Me So High and the anthemic Further Than the Planes Fly. Given the year we've all had, it was quite fitting that the set ended on Complicated - which Eves had everyone chanting along to. Melbourne-based rapper Allday riles up the crowd upon his entrance, cracking into First Light and new single Eyes on the Prize. Backed up by Japanese Wallpaper and Memphis LK, new track Good Thanks and Void from his latest album Drinking With My Smoking Friends went down a treat. Drawing in some truly massive crowds, Allday finished off his strong set with modern classics Sides, You Always Know the DJ, and In Motion.

Self-acclaimed icon Partiboi69 spins his tracks next; bringing his trademark weirdness to the audiences. The enigmatic producer has racked up a following through social media over the last few years through his crazy videos and dance tracks, and his set is no different. With the audience jumping along to every beat, Partiboi69 just kept the party rolling. Australia's sweetheart Mallrat is up next, opening with killer track Nobody's Home, and When I Get My Braces Off; her single written for her little sister.  When it comes to hit single UFO, Allday rushes back on stage for his part, much to the audience's delight, and rolling into Better, everyone is encouraged to get up on their friends' shoulders. Always a pleasure to see live, Mallrat hit the mark, finishing an already awesome set on Groceries and Charlie.  

In such a short amount of time, Spacey Jane have captured the hearts of listeners across the country. The Perth four-piece released their debut album Sunlight in the midst of lockdown last year, which propelled them straight into the stratosphere. With an energetic stage presence, Spacey Jane co-headlined BTC like they'd playing festivals for years - playing tracks Lots of Nothing, Skin, and Booster Seat, and closing out with Good For You - the single that kicked them off. Finishing off the day was the powerhouse known as PNAU; the ARIA winning and multi-platinum selling producers. With their huge catalogue of hits, the trio were the perfect closing act for what was already a fantastic day. With incredible production value and effects, the act pumped out hits such as Solid Gold, Baby, the party-starter Go Bang, and even their Cold Heart remix. 

DAY TWO

Opening up the main stage on day two was IJALE; a Melbourne producer. Blending dance beats with Afrocentric sounds reflecting his Nigerian heritage, IJALE is an artist to watch. His scope of tracks shows the musician's versatility; ranging from electronic bops to easy listening. Neo-soul artist KYE follows up, with her big tunes and effortless vocals. The singer has had success this year with a few big tracks which are performed flawlessly; the emotional Sometimes and disco-heavy Finest Quality. We've had the pleasure of seeing KYE earlier in the year, and needless to say, we're looking forward to seeing her again.

Playing her first show in 10 months, Alice Ivy returned to the stage without skipping a beat. The producer has been collaborating like crazy over the last few years, and in doing so, has racked up an impressive catalogue. Drawing in a dance party from the audience, Alice Ivy ran through her unique ethereal soundscapes, including her hit with Ecca Vandal, In My Mind. Kicking it up a notch was North-East Arnhem Land five piece King Stingray, whose Yolŋu surf-rock has pulled in massive numbers of fans from across the country. Lockdown anthem Get Me Out propelled the band into the spotlight, when it took out #1 Most Played Australian Track on triple j earlier in the year. Now, armed to the teeth with their energetic tracks, including debut single Hey Wanhaka, the five piece are quickly becoming an Aussie fave.

Jaguar Jonze commanded the attention of all as she walked onto the stage, kicking of with the anger-driven WHO DIED AND MADE YOU KING? - her response to the latest #MeToo movement that's been rocking the industry. This multi-talented artist was easily one of the festival highlights, with her amazing stage presence and seemingly unending energy. Killer tracks DEADALIVE, Rising Sun and banger Rabbit Hole were effortlessly belted out, and had the audience singing along with every word. Closing off the incredible set was her Like a Version shared with Hermitude; Nirvana's Heart Shaped Box, which was only received by screams from the crowd. Electropop act Boo Seeka are next up, bringing upbeat vibes to the day. Pulling the audience in with his every word, frontman Ben 'Boo' Gumbleton is a bundle of energy; with the audience hanging on his every word. The haunting Deception Bay has punters swaying along, while Moonlight Run and Humans has everyone in a steady bop along. 

Continuing along the ethereal route is Gold Coasters Lastlings, who have become a mainstay in the festival circuit. Leading with bop No Time, the sibling duo pulled in massive crowds, who clamoured to the front to be a part of it all. Deja Vu and False Reactions are met with screams and sways from the audience, and soon enough, we're all surprised with a new song. An extended version of Take My Hand finishes up the duo; leaving their final lyrics ('I'm not ready to let you go') lingering in the air. We're definitely looking forward to hearing more of their new music at the next event. Everyone's faves Ball Park Music are always a fantastic festival band, and this year's BTC set was only a testament to that. Playing hit after hit, the Brisbaners put on a hell of a show, opening with The End Times and Everything Is Shit Except My Friendship With You, and leading into new tracks from their latest self-titled album. New song Sunscreen went off with a bang, and Exactly How You Are had punters climbing up onto their friends' shoulders. Classic She Only Loves Me When I'm There and the swelling Cherub marked the end of the band's energy-filled set, and had everyone smiling. 

Cosmo's Midnight kept the good vibes going - bringing on guest vocalist Sayah for their set. Twins Cosmo and Patrick Liney have managed to find the perfect blend of genres for their electronic dance act, which has earned them a massive following over the years. With the crowd pulsating along with the music, it was hard not to get caught up in it all. Another brother duo, Lime Cordiale, kick off their set with a cheers to the packed out music bowl, and swiftly down their shots. After taking out the #1 album in the ARIA charts and placing four songs under 40 in 2021's Hottest 100, the boys have been only getting bigger and bigger. Addicted to the Sunshine and Screw Loose make the audience go absolutely off, and a cover of Eminem's My Name Is and the Divinyls' I Touch Myself are the cherry on top. Before everyone knows it, the set comes to a close with bangers Robbery and Inappropriate Behaviour - which the audience sings along with in perfect time.

Music producer Hayden James has the honour of bagging the New Year set, which he expertly builds up until the last second. Kicking off with his gold certified track Something About You, James' flow and control was evident throughout, as the producer masterfully mixed what would become everyone's soundtrack to the end of the year. The excitement in the air is palpable as midnight draws closer, and suddenly, there's only a few minutes to go. Smash hit Numb is the build up to 2022, and James times the breakdown perfectly as the clock hits midnight. The confetti and streamer guns are ablaze, and the audience is a flurry of people hugging, jumping and celebrating. For those that aren't ready to stop partying, Hot Dub Time Machine takes over just after midnight - blasting music throughout the decades, and taking the audience on a blast to the past. The man behind it all, Sydneysider Tom Lowndes, has cultivated his act into a big 'ol nostalgia trip that is enjoyed by all punters, and has earned his place at the main stage of festivals worldwide. 

With a killer lineup, perfect weather, and good vibes everywhere, Beyond The City was a triumphant return for festivals in our beautiful city. After a rollercoaster of a the better part of two years, BTC was the transition into the new year that we all needed - so here's to a solid 2022!

Back for its third time around was Ability Fest, with this year's event being held in the picturesque Alexandra Gardens. Brought to life by bonafide legend Dylan Alcott, Untitled Group and Triple J, Ability Fest's goal to be inclusive to all and normalise disabilities was smashed out of the park. With an incredible cause, and an equally impressive line up, Ability Fest was a triumphant welcome back to festivals in Melbourne - full of plenty of feel good vibes, and inspiring moments.

Melbourne indie-rockers Rudely Interrupted brought their catchy-as-anything hooks and plenty of energy to the main stage. Having been around for just over a decade, the band have had some incredible moments throughout the years; copping a nomination for the Melbourne Music Prize back in 2016, and being the first indie band to play for the UN in 2008. Finishing up their set with their anthemic Love You Till I Die, we were more than happy to be Rudely Interrupted! 

Up and comer KYE switched up the vibe, playing her take on the neo-soul genre, and getting the audience onto her wavelength. With an effortless cool, and flawless vocals, KYE's recently released EP, Good Company, is a showcase of her raw talent - and her Ability Fest performance was a testament to this. Singles Gold, Finest Quality and Sometimes were highlights for all, and had us all swaying along to her powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics. We're excited to see what the future holds for KYE - she's definitely one to watch.

NSW DJ Ninajirachi shifted the audience into gear, blasting her hyperpop across Alexandra Gardens, and pulling mass crowds her way. The Unearthed High finalist has worked hard over the years, playing major Aus festivals, including Splendour and Falls, and all this festival experience shows. One of her latest tracks, Dracodraco, soon begins its slow build up, before its heavy drop sends the audience into a frenzy. Her debut single Pure Luck isn't too far off, and is met with screams from all round; much to the producer's delight. With Ninajirachi's blend of intricate, atmospheric instrumentals and delicate vocal work, it was easy to see how this young artist has skyrocketed herself through the Australian festival scene.

Ray of sunshine Alex the Astronaut was up next giving the audience an absolute ripper of an acoustic set. Her hit Happy Song kicks off the set, immediately launching the audience into a singalong. Despite playing to a massive crowd, there was an incredibly intimate atmosphere, as Alex spared no details about the inspirations behind each song. After telling everyone about how she recently discovered she was autistic, she plays a new, unreleased song, Octopus, which explores these feelings. The emotional I Like to Dance is up next, which has quite a few punters moved to tears. We're then told a story about Alex's first ill-fated gig in New York - the inspiration behind her uplifting Rockstar City, which has us all bopping along in no time. The good vibes keep coming, as Alex blesses us with her Like a Version of ELO's Mr Blue Sky, before finishing the set on a high with feel good hit I Think You're Great. Right back at you, Alex!

Lastlings are next on the main stage, playing their unique electro-pop that seems to transcend all time and space. The Gold Coast sibling duo have wasted no time becoming big-hitters in the festival circuit, having released their acclaimed debut album, First Contact, in the last year. Opening their set with fan fave No Time, the audience is instantly entranced and is swaying along with the duo's soundscapes. Siblings Amy and Josh are captivating throughout the entire set; their ethereal beats and vocals intensified by incredible lighting and FX. Singles Out of Touch, Deja Vu and False Reactions keep the dance vibes going, with the audience hanging on to every beat. Closing the set is I've Got You, which is a slow burn at first, but quickly swells into a euphoric dance anthem; expertly transitioning intoTake My Hand, which Lastlings has the crowd singing along to the very end. 

Rapper Illy switches up the pace, showing off his trademark swagger, with opener Then What, much to the audience's delight. Illy gets personal, celebrating his first show in six months, as well as Melbourne's triumphant win at the Grand Final. It is only fitting then that hits Last Laugh and Catch 22 are up next, which have the crowds jumping along and belting out lines. For the second time that day, we're gifted with another Like a Version, this time Illy's hit covering Silverchair, Hilltop Hoods, Paul Kelly, and Flume. After apologising to the ASL interpreters, Illy has the audience screaming a well needed 'Fuck you' to COVID, before leading into fan hit Swear Jar. We're then all treated to a new, unreleased song about leaving a night out when it's getting too good - which only kept the party vibe going. A massive shoutout to the guy crowdsurfing in a wheelchair during this song - you're our new hero! Finishing off the massive set isTightrope and Papercuts - which the audience goes absolutely wild over.

The enigmatic Confidence Man command the stage next; complete with choreographed dancing, costume changes, and plenty of attitude. Opening up with Does It Make You Feel Good?, the band come out to a manic audience, who are screaming along to every word. Before the song is over, Janet Planet runs off stage to put on knee pads, which she promptly makes use of during hit single Better Sit Down Boy; sliding and taking dives across the stage. The band isn't even halfway through their set before Janet and Sugar Bones run off stage for their costume change, and launch straight into banger Try Your Luck.  With dance moves to be envious of, along with their signature deadpan delivery, Confidence Man deliver hit after hit, with new single Holiday and classic Don’t You Know I’m In A Band. Closing off their flawless set is the track that started it all, Boyfriend (Repeat), which has the entire audience crouching down and jumping at the song's breakdown. This isn't the first time we've seen Confidence Man, and it won't be the last - we're excited to see these guys take on more festivals.

With an impressive record of featured artists in his back catalogue, producer What So Not has the right recipe for crowd-pleasers. Playing to a packed out lawn, Emoh Instead (AKA Christopher John Emerson), ran through his hits, along with a few remixes thrown in here and there. The DMA's featured single, The Change, and Every Single Time (with Example and Lucy Lucy) went down a treat with the audiences - with all singing along with hands in the air. We're treated to What So Not's remixes of The Pixies' Where Is My Mind and t.A.T.u's All the Things She Said; iconic tracks given new life with the producer's own spin. And of course, his remix of RÜFÜS DU SOL's Innerbloom is met with yells, friends lifted to shoulders, and plenty of 'yeeewwws' throughout.

The good vibes are kept going just before the final set takes off. The man himself, Dylan Alcott, takes to the stage to announce an act for next year's Ability Fest; aspiring DJ Cooper. Peking Duk help announce Cooper's DJ slot on next year's main stage, with the help of a giant cheque, much to everyone's delight. It's an incredibly moving moment, and has us all excited for the young artist's festival debut in 2022. Peking Duk kick off the party, with touring vocalist Micci belting out the duo's Wombats featured track Nothing to Love About Love, and later on kicking off a killer cover of Sweet Dreams. The Canberran duo, made up of Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles, waste no time remixing anything and everything they can get their hands on. Squid Game theme mashed up with Lean Wit It Rock Wit It? Random TikTok sounds mashed up with other chart toppers? It shouldn't work, but Peking Duk work their magic and make it possible. Before we know it, it's reaching the end of the set, and fireworks are going off while smash hit High is raging on - signalling the return of live music.

With all of the festival's proceeds going to the Dylan Alcott Foundation and all the incredible volunteers and organisers that made this festival possible, you couldn't have asked for a better day. A big shout out to all the amazing features that made this festival incredible; ASL interpreters, viewing platforms, accessible facilities and ramps - all things that should be necessities for all features. If there's anything that Ability Fest taught us, it's how all music festivals should be run. That, plus music festivals are officially back!

Grapevine's return to the Yarra Valley marked the start of something new, with Grapevine Presents Golden Features. Set across the rolling fields of Rochford Wines, punters flocked to the vineyards to welcome back the boutique festival. Although this was the little sister festival to the massive Grapevine Gathering, this didn't make any difference to festival-goers, who celebrated the return of live music to our beautiful city. Full of zest and Rochford's offerings of wine, this fantastic festival up had everyone dancing into the night.

Opening up the stage for the day was local Melbourne DJ Mell Hall, whose signature disco remixes went hand in hand with the perfect weather. Mashing up today's hits with soulful, disco rhythms, Mell Hall's eclectic style has seen her rising up in the local music scene. DJ-turned-Triple J radio host Ebony Boadu was next up, leading into her set with a seamless transition. Boadu's years of DJ-ing were evident, and her engagement with the festival's crowds was undeniable - playing hits from Cardi Bi, Glass Animals and Azalia Banks, as the crowd rushed to the stage.

Local producer Stace Cadet's high energy set kicked the audience into gear, and unsurprisingly, it was the siren-filled track Energy that took it up a notch. Racking up multiple number 1's in the Aria charts, Stace Cadet has been shooting for the stars, with the up-and-comer supporting big names such as Vera Blue and Northeast Party House - so it's fair to say that we'll see a lot more of him in the future. Bag Raiders' DJ set follows up; and what entails is a series of remixes, mash-ups and medleys, which the crowd goes wild for. The Sydneysiders have spent the past 15 years carving a trail for themselves, so it's no wonder the duo are seen on most festival line ups these days (and rightly so). 

After a thorough warm-up, Grapevine welcomes Motez to the stage, and at that point, the weather gives out and the rain starts. Luckily for us, the Adelaide-based producer has plenty of bangers up his sleeve, which keeps the crowd warm from their never-ending dancing. Radio hit The Future goes off with a bang - and if you weren't dancing before, you definitely were now. The cherry on top was the stunning graphics that built up the atmosphere that Motez created, pairing perfectly with his feel good music. Here's to hoping that we get to see a lot more of Motez down in Melbourne!

Opening up their set with the mammoth dark-pop hit No Time,Gold Coast duo Lastlings had the crowd eating out of their hands from the very beginning. Fresh off the release of their debut album First Contact, siblings Amy and Josh Dowdle took no time stirring up everyone with hits such as Deja Vu and Out of Touch. With the perfect blend of delicate vocals against  intricate melodies, Lastlings cemented their place in the festival circuit, proving once again that they are here to stay.

It comes to the last act of the night, and everyone is still dancing hard through the rain. To wrap up the night, Golden Features blasts fan faves Worship and Falling Out, among plenty others, ending the day on a massive high. Sydney producer Tom Stell is the man behind the mask, who boasts millions of online streams, not to mention four gold records. Stell's attention to detail in every track is further emphasised by a jaw dropping light and laser show that accompanies his impressive back catalogue. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end, and before we know it, Grapevine comes to a close. To sum up the day perfectly, we will quote Golden Features' hit song Raka (feat. The Presets); 'I wanna dance 'til I die'.

Completing a bigger lap around the sun since its last sighting, Sun Cycle Festival returned in style, taking over the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for a Saturday night to remember. Run by Crown Ruler and WAT Artists, the first big event of 2021 had our team dancing along to the soul, jazz and electronica; safely partying alongside more people than we’d seen in 2020. 

Entering the venue, we checked in with masks at the ready and made our way to our seats. One couldn’t help but gaze out at the new set up of Sidney Myer; a sea of tables, chairs and pirate pods sprawled across the venue to accommodate the latest set of restrictions. Thankful to be out and about again, we arrived bright and early to see everyone pouring in and experiencing the same feelings of wonder and excitement to be at a large-scale event. 

In the daylight hours, the Welcome to Country was led by Uncle Colin Hunter, a proud and passionate Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Elder. Taking the time to educate punters on the impact 2020 had on the indigenous community, Uncle Colin marvelled at the crowd and told us it was ‘good to see people out in Melbourne again’. 

Hosting the event for the evening was DJ Sophie McAlister and Chris Gill from Northside Records. With lots of fun and playful banter throughout each intermission, these two kept the tunes spinning and the party non-stop - without missing a beat. 

The first act of the night was Australian band Izy. Fresh from releasing their latest hit single ‘No Further Than You’, their neo-soul tunes and catchy song writing were music to our ears. The trio brought something for everyone, and their variety of tunes and range of musical talent had everyone dancing along. Wax’o Paradiso was up next - the duo of Edd Fisher and Simon TK, who were self-described as bringing along ‘splendid krautback discotheque consisting of magic possums’'. Also known as the ‘Dimboola triangle of lost groove’, the pair lived up to their usual reputation and brought the party to the next level, where it stayed for the rest of the night. It was great to see the guys back in action, even if their time slot was shorter than their typical 3-4 hour festival slot. 

C.FRIM was next on the list, coming out to receive the biggest round of applause, as well as the first widespread standing ovation for the night. Sporting a larger than life fluffy lime green hat, she performed a set filled with energetic beats that had people kicking the air and ready to make up for lost time. Mildlife lived up to their name, bringing with them a mellow psychedelic sound to chill out the crowd and bring a sense of bliss. Popular songs from their set included ‘The Magnificent Moon’, ‘Rare Air’, and their title track from last year’s album release ‘Automatic’. The psychedelic jazz enthusiasts had flute solos that would make Ron Burgundy blush, and were exactly what the festival needed. 

Before we knew it, the headliner of this evening was upon us. Fresh from her trip from Europe, CC:Disco (aka Australian DJ Courtney Clarke) had her triumphant return to Melbourne at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Finishing the night with a variety of fun disco beats that have toured the globe, the party got even looser as people lapped up the final beats of live music. 

Celebrating a diverse community with a lineup of eclectic and variety of talents, Sun Cycle did not disappoint. You’d be hard pressed to find a better crowd, and we had a great time getting to know our fellow punters. At the end of the evening, we were sad to see it end, but elated at what had been achieved, and the night that had been. 

Ambitiously transporting punters to the Parklands... and a whole new world. 

Instead of piling into a van on the way to Byron Bay, this year we rolled out of bed and straight into the lounge room for the biggest weekend plans a Melburnian has had all year. Eager for the 60+ hours of curated content from the team at Splendour, we logged into the world of SplendourXR; beer in hand and ready for anything. As the direct result from $1.5 million in funding from the RISE government initiative, the experience developed by Sansar captured everything you could imagine at a weekend festival. We selected our avatar and walked through the gates of the festival and towards our first act of the day. 

SplendourXR showcased an incredible mix of Australian and International talent, so we found ourselves a little spoilt for choice. Wondering whether to stick to the acts we knew and loved, or to venture out on a quest of self discovery in the hope of having a new favourite band at the end of the weekend, SplendourXR allowed us the chance to choose both. We took any opportunity we could to wander around aimlessly between sets to get the full festival experience. When we weren't at the Amphitheatre, Mixup Stage or the GW McLennan stage watching acts, it was great to wander around and explore all that was on offer at SplendourXR, from the Global Village to the Tipi Forest, and even the Smirnoff Seltzer 'The Wilds'. We even dropped by Forum Comedy to watch some pre-recorded shows filmed recently in Melbourne, from Australia's favourite comedians.  

One of the best things about attending an online music festival is that there were less set clashes than usual, and instead of getting our steps in rushing between stages, we were able to leisurely enjoy each artist and take in the entire experience. It was amazing that every set throughout the weekend interpreted the assignment of preparing for a VR festival differently, and the interesting creative decisions that accompanied each artists live set. 

Opening up the virtual festival was a moving Welcome to Country; introducing overseas viewers to Australia's Indigenous culture and customs. North-East Anrhem Land five piece King Stingray were the first to kick off Splendour at the Amphitheatre, sharing their unique brand of Yolŋu surf-rock. As a band representing the melding of cultures, King Stingray's music represented a celebration of indigenous culture and multiculturalism - what Australia stands for. 

Sydney duo Cat & Calmell took the Mix Up stage for a wild ride with their power-pop, catchy-as-hell anthems. Dropping bop after bop, with hits such as therapist, dramatic and dumbshit, the song that started it all, Cat & Calmell churned out some awesome set changes and singalongs - with the duo visibly having the time of their lives. The enigmatic Client Liaison was up next at the Amphitheatre, where the Melbourne synth poppers wasted no time setting the pace. Sprawled on the floor in all white, the duo and their band opened with Off White Limousine; leading into Intervention and Champagne Affection set in a pastel wonderland (complete with the duo enjoying some bubbly, of course). Playing out like a series of music videos, their set was cinematic; culminating in a powerful close involving a pharaoh costume, an audience of angels, plenty of religious imagery, and their newest track House of Holy. As always, Client Liaison know how to put on a good show - and it was great to see them take this virtual format and run with it.

Next up, we caught Methyl Ethel, who were decked out in all white jumpsuits at the GW McLennan stage. As the brainchild of Perth native Jake Webb, the indie outfit opened strong with tracks No Fighting and Sign of the Times. Webb's hypnotic vocals were easily at their best in hits Neon Cheap and Scream Whole. Of course, the set couldn't have ended better without closing with the infectious Ubu - if you weren't singing along by that point, you definitely were by the end. Fellow Perth band Pond were up next, starting off with the all-too real Tasmania. The psychedelic rockers' performance was on-brand; a neon landscape fresh out of a dreamscape. The soaring melodies of Sweep Me Off My Feet goes down a treat, and is swiftly followed up with America's Cup, and it becomes clear why Pond has done so well on festival circuits, both in Australia and internationally.

Transporting us to another realm with her delicate folk-pop was AURORA, who has managed to win everyone over with her unique style and musical versatility. With a green screen showing the Norwegian singer-songwriter as playing on the 'stage', we couldn't help but sway along with her slower tracks, then jump along with newest release  Cure For Me and classic Queendom. Running With the Wolves is a track not to be missed live - and this did not disappoint. This was our fourth time seeing AURORA, and it won't be our last. Up-and-comer Griff played an intimate studio performance, belting out hits such as Heart of Gold and One Foot in Front of the Other. The English musician has made it big online in the last year, so seeing her in a live setting was an incredible experience. Ending on a high note with the anthemic Black Hole, we're definitely putting Griff on our watch list.

We decided to swing by the Comedy Club for a break of pace and some laughs. The all-star comedy line-up could be found in SplendourXR at The Forum Comedy Stage and brought us much entertainment over the full weekend. Broken down into 10-15 minute sets, we managed to watch Nazeem Hussain, Nath Valvo, Michelle Brasier, Greg Larsen and Kristy Webeck on night one, followed by Anne Edmonds, Geraldine Hickey, Lloyd Langford, Tim Hewitt and Scout Boxall the next. The key highlight for us at the Comedy Club was a moment of realisation that Lloyd Langford's story about his partner giving him a wedgie was immediately followed by a set from Anne Edmonds, who we came to realise is his actual partner. What a time.  

It was a wide consensus that the highlight of the weekend was Phoebe Bridgers; performing a stripped back close-up set with full band from a small studio space. Bridgers performed seven tracks from her critically acclaimed 2020 album Punisher, including our favourites Kyoto, Chinese Satellite and I Know the End. Backed up with tracks from her debut album Stranger in the Alps were Motion Sickness and Scott Street. It was bitter-sweet to see Phoebe's set from the comfort of our lounge room, but we were so happy to finally catch her live. 

Playing in a post-apocalyptic warehouse, à la green screen, CHVRCHES' Splendour set was like watching one big music video - so no complaints here. Bursting onto stage with new hit He Said She Said off upcoming album Screen Violence, the Scottish trio thundered through their set like the pros they are, playing oldies but goodies Recover and The Mother We Share, as well as their powerful contribution to the Death Stranding soundtrack (complete with the titular game's Odradek scanners in the background). New tracks Good Girls and How Not to Drown from the upcoming album were big highlights, and had us excited for CHVRCHES' next live shows. Before we knew it, the set was ending on a high with Clearest Blue blasting through our speakers - which is still the perfect way to end a CHVRCHES set, in our opinion.

We started off our Sunday afternoon with Gretta Ray, former Triple J Unearthed winner. Opening with Passion and Unwind, Gretta acknowledged how strange it was to be performing the set to a VR audience rather than in person. Performing a mix of old and new tracks, we enjoyed everything she had to offer; including the drip-fed 'duologies' that she had released throughout the year. Reminiscing on one of her favourite career memories of playing Splendour 2017, she ended the set with crowd-favourite Drive and Bigger Than Me. With her debut album Begin To Look Around out August 27, we can't wait to hear what's next in store. 

Next up was AViVA, AKA Aviva Anastasia Payne, an Australian singer-songwriter who we've been dying to see. With her iconic yellow and black hair and colour coordinating yellow microphone, we were captivated by AViVA and her band, with her set based in a post-apocalyptic world. Performing all her hits from her debut album Volume I, we sung along to all of the bops including GRRRLS, BLAME IT ON THE KIDS, RABBIT HOLE and PSYCHO. If you want to see her live, headline shows for her Queen of the Freaks tour are scheduled for November around Australia. 

Spacey Jane brought their indie-rock to SplendourXR; performing almost the entirety of Sunlight, their debut album, which has skyrocketed them straight to the forefront of the Aussie music scene. The group from Perth played everything we were keen to hear, including Skin, Good Grief, Weightless, Straightfaced, and Sunlight . Of course, everything was building to the moment they unleashed Booster Seat - their most successful track to date, and number #2 on the Hottest 100 of 2020. Finishing on Good For You, we couldn't help but miss the atmosphere of the festival goers losing their minds to such as solid performance. 

British musician Holly Humberstone played an intimate piano set from an op shop in Camden, while also raising awareness for mental health. Playing stripped back versions of hits such as Overkill and Falling Asleep at the Wheel, Holly's dark pop melodies mixed with her chiming vocals are a winning combo. Closing off the set with hit track The Walls Are Way Too Thin (you've heard this on on Triple J for sure), we found ourselves wanting more and more of her music. With a growing fanbase that she's accumulated over the past year, we're sure that's due to grow even bigger after her Splendour performance.

Brisbane band The Jungle Giants took to the Amphitheatre swathed in pink lighting and their usual upbeat vibes. Starting off strong with Sending Me Ur Loving, the indie pop band ran through their impressive back catalogue, with hits such as Quiet Ferocity, On Your Way Down, and newest track Love Signs. Bringing Hatchie on stage for Treat You Right was a big highlight; watching the two vocalists riff it out. Used to Be in Love and Heavy Hearted were the closers for their set, which had everyone in a good mood by the end.

Of Monsters and Men once again blew us away with another amazing set, as the Icelandic band delivered reimagined versions of their hit songs we've come to know and love. The thumping Alligator starts the band's set off, closely followed up by the enchanting Róróró and Little Talks. Vocalists Nanna and Ragnar play off each other effortlessly; delivering flawless vocals every song. Empire and Crystals were standout performances for us, and closing tracks Dirty Paws and Six Weeks hit the ball out of the park - drawing an end to a perfect set. 

Jungle were our self-discovery act of the festival, having known them but never seen them live. From the moment they came on stage, the British electronic music project by producers, Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland blew our minds. The transition from Talk About It to Keep Moving was blowing up the chat, and from there we sat back and enjoyed tracks from their main album For Ever. We got down to Beat 54 (All Good Now), Happy Man, Cherry, Casio and Pray. We were simply along for the ride and loving every minute of it. 

Hyper-pop princess Charli XCX is always a sure fire to take your festival line up from 100 to 170 - and that's exactly what she did. Jumping onto the stage with opening track Spinning (from her collab with No Rome and The 1975), Charli kicked the festival into gear with her catchy as hell songs and non-stop positive energy. Covering off her hits I Love It, Gone, 1999, and our personal fave Boys, Charli's set really had us up and moving; and judging by how crazy the live Splendour chat was going - everyone was feeling it! Year after year, Charli has cemented herself in the festival circuit, so it's easy to see why everyone loves her.

Performing from a rooftop in Barcelona, Vance Joy took us on a journey across his albums Dream Your Life Away and Nation of Two. As well as showcasing his new track Missing Piece, he played the first cover we'd heard all weekend, with Coldplay's Green Eyes. The set had a calming presence that brought us back down to Earth. From Mess Is Mine to Saturday Sun, Georgia and Fire and the Flood, Vance performed so far from home, and yet it brought us back to every moment we've seen him live or been listening to him in the car. Finishing with ukulele in hand, we knew it was time for the usual Riptide sing-a-long, figuring there would be many households across Australia and other parts of the world singing along as well. 

The Killers headlined day 2 of SplendourXR with a hit-laden set with full band and back-up singers. Performing all the songs The Killers are known for, the band played an even mix from their albums Day & Age, Hot Fuss, Battle Born, Imploding The Mirage, and Sam's Town. It's hard to fault the Las Vegas rockers who bring an incredible energy and countless power ballads anywhere they go. Highlights of the set included Human, When You Were Young, Somebody Told Me, The Man, Read My Mind, Mr Brightside, and the crowd-pleasing finisher, All These Things That I've Done. 

The after-party commenced in the early hours of Monday morning over on Discord, where Grimes performed her 'Grimes Metaverse (Super Beta)' DJ set using an audio-only platform to showcase new tracks to her allegiance of fans. New songs dropped in her set include Shinigami Eyes, Chris Lake Collab, 100% Tragedy, Utopia and Player of Games. 

SplendourXR Breakdown

Pros

• Every act brought a unique take to the VR challenge, and almost all of them hit the mark. 
• The hilarious back and forth conversations in the live chat throughout the weekend were absolute gold. 
• Drink prices were affordable and the selection limitless.
• Bathroom lines were a lot easier to navigate. 

Cons

• Not every punter has a gaming PC and was not able to enjoy the full VR experience.
• Grimes' after-party set was moved onto Discord as an audio-only performance. 
• We missed being at North Byron Parklands and the full Splendour experience (but this was the next best thing). 

Overall, SplendourXR was a hit. In an unprecedented and other-worldly experience, the weekend exceeded our expectations and was as much about the musical acts as it was about coming together and finding a way to enjoy the experiences we've all missed so much. We are looking forward to attending Splendour in the Grass sometime soon, and seeing all of our favourite people, places and artists in real life. 

What's next? - SplendourXR RELIVE 

The good news is you can RELIVE your favourite sets, catch up on anything you missed or watch it all for the first time by purchasing a Splendour XR RELIVE ticket. Goodbye avatars and VR! There were some crazy creatures walking around in-world across the weekend, but from here on in it's all about the performances. RELIVE gives ticket buyers on demand, 7 day access to all artist sets, each and every one created especially for Splendour XR!

RELIVE tickets available now.

 St Jerome's Laneway Festival has been an important part of the Australian summer festival circuit for many years, known for consistently bringing out the best upcoming international and Australian talent for all to enjoy. 15 years in, the festival continues to deliver and grow with this year's iteration bringing out The 1975, Charlie XCX, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and many more. The Melbourne leg took place at Footscray Park on a beautiful summer day, and our team explored all there was to offer at Laneway 2020. 

First stop on our planner was to head to the River Stage, alongside the Maribynong River, to catch punk-rock band Pist Idiots. The crowd, packed in numbers and not deterred by the early time slot, brought their A game as we enjoyed the mosh pit and good vibes as we bopped along to a range of the bands well-known hits, a new song and some crowd favourites. Special, Smile and Roundhouse were our favourite moments of the set, and the band kicked off what we knew was going to be a big day ahead of us. 

Following the first mosh of the day, Omar Apollo came out in style on the Dean Turner stage. Real name Omar Velasco, the Mexican-American singer-songwriter performed his perfect blend of jazz, R&B, funk, alternative, soul and pop music to the enthusiastic crowd. Bringing us back to Earth, Omar wowwed us with his smooth vocals from albums Stereo (2018) and Friends (2019), as well as his incredible dance moves. Finishing the set strong, we were delighted to hear Unbothered, Brakelights, Hit Me Up, and break-through hit Ugotme. We hope to see Omar return to Australian shores soon enough. 

The next set in the afternoon was delivered by Oliver Tree. Having done our research prior to attending the festival, this was one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the day, and Oliver made every moment count. From coming onto stage on a scooter, wearing a tracksuit and flare jeans, the American vocalist, producer and filmmaker from LA brought his band and bowl cut for an afternoon of fun. The genre-blurring genius who has been described as 'part meme, part something less definable' played tracks from his EP Alien Boy and debut album Ugly is Beautiful. 

There was hip-hop, electronic, dance and pop music, wrapped into a magnificent stage show that involved a costume change, a punch on between band members, a bulletproof vest that read 'Protect This Bowlcut', a world-first performance of what turned out to be AC/DC's Thunderstruck and finishing the set off with a scooter trick. Did we mention they also played music? Highlights included hit track Alien Boy, Hurt, Do You Feel Me and Miracle. There were things that occurred in the set that we never thought we'd see live on stage, and now, we've come to expect this level of theatrics from all future performers. 

We headed back over to the Dean Turner stage to catch New Zealand indie-pop darling BENEE whose chill beats, hilarious stage presence and great tracks allowed for a continuous sing-a-long throughout the set. Wasting no time, BENEE performed Tough Guy, Wishful Thinking, Supalonely and Soaked in succession, winning over the crowd with ease. Performing tracks from EPs FIRE ON MARZZ and STELLA & STEVE, BENEE has already managed to become a local that Australians want to claim as their own. When she returns to Melbourne again, which she will, we would love to be there. 

At this point, it was time for one of the biggest moments every punter had been waiting for; the chance to see Tones and I play a hometown show, after being booked out for the majority of 2020 performing some of the biggest festivals and shows around the world. The River Stage became as packed as the evening performances, as everyone gathered to see what all the hype has been about. The woman behind the music, Toni Watson, armed with her trusty keyboard and loop pedal, belted out her indie-pop tracks from her debut album The Kids Are Coming. Having won four out of eight nominations at the 2019 ARIA Music Awards, Tones and I has been the breakout artist of 2019, taking the world by storm. 

Tones delivered an electrifying set, performing hits such as Never Seen The Rain, Johnny Run Away, The Kids Are Coming, and of course, Dance Monkey. The latter provided the biggest sing-a-long at the festival, possibly to date. There were also many surprises, with a cover of Flume and Chet Faker's Drop The Game, Youth Group's Forever Young (shout out to the OC!) and new single You're So Fucking Cool. What was clear at the end of her set was that Tones and I is not going anywhere, and we look forward to seeing what 2020 will deliver for the Melbourne local. 

At the next stage of the festival we faced our first clash, and decided to divide and conquer. Hatchie took on the Fishbowl stage, while Hockey Dad dominated the Dean Turner stage. Highlights from singer-songwriter Hatchie included her tracks Sure, Try, Obsessed and Stay With Me. The best moment of the afternoon was hearing Hatchie exclaim, 'Melbourne, you always come out for us - even more than our hometown!' Over on the Dean Turner stage, Hockey Dad turned up a wild set with their alt-rock antics; with frontman Zach Stephenson and fellow band member Billy Fleming performing one of the most enjoyable sets of the day. With a full backing band in tow, the live experience was enhanced and we partied on to Join The Club, I Wanna Be Everybody, new single I Missed Out and main single Seaweed. 

Having seen DMA's at their first ever show in Melbourne, it's incredible to see what the trio from Sydney have managed to achieve in the following years. Excited to see them again at the River Stage, we followed the masses to hear Tommy O'Dell and crew play through tracks from their albums Hills End and For Now. Wanting the set to last the night, we enjoyed the time we had with the boys, and appreciated the chance to hear both old and new tracks. Play It Out, Silver, Delete and Lay Down were the stand outs - and DMA's proved once again why they have a loyal following, both in Australia and internationally. 

We headed over to the Future Classic stage to see The Chats - a band who have hit it big in the previous year and have grown a loyal fan base ready to enjoy their pub-rock in a festival setting. The first thing we noticed about the set was that it was the most amount of people we'd seen at this end of the festival in the entire day. The set had everything - a mosh pit, songs like Bus Money, Smoko and The Clap. The self-defined 'best band in the world' had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hand, closing with an incredible rendition of Pub Feed with tour mates Bad//Dreems joining them for the ultimate Aussie banger. 

At the conclusion of The Chats, we stuck around the Fishbowl Stage to see one of our favourite artists Stella Donnelly. We weren't sure what to expect as a festival set, having seen Stella in intimate venues around Melbourne, but regardless, she delivered by opening with a solo performance of Mechanical Bull and a duet of Mosquito, after inviting her band to join her on stage for a wonderful performance. Synchronised dance moves and crowd participation for Die, bittersweet feels from Season's Greetings, an important discussion with Boys Will Be Boys and even a cover of Dido's Thank U. The 'EDM machine' that is Stella Donnelly (at one stage pretending to play Sandstorm), showed us what to expect from 'Festival Stella' and we loved every second. 

We rushed back over to the main stages for one of the most incredible live bands known to Melbourne; King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. As the undisputed best named band known to date, frontman Stu Mackenzie and band returned for a hometown victory lap as they performed an entirely different set at each leg of Laneway Festival. Playing tracks from Infest the Rat's Nest and Flying Microtonal Banana, we've learnt over time the best way to enjoy a Gizzard concert is to just roll with it. Their psychedalic visuals powered through their set, with highlights including Open Water, Rattlesnake, Planet B and Am I In Heaven? The strangest thing about seeing the band at a festival was not seeing them for 2-3 hours, as is common practice. Nonetheless, the band were the perfect choice as we transitioned to the night time and prepared for the headliners to take to the stage. 

Preparing for the final set on the River Stage, we secured our spot in the front row to see Charli XCX bring her pop antics to Laneway Festival. Charli brought with her an impressive set up and production and captivated her audience by launching straight into Next Level Charli and I Love It. Cue a mass sing-a-long, while the energy continued to pulse as the crowd enjoyed Gone, White Merecedes and Vroom Vroom. The set featured heavily from albums Charli and Pop 2, continuing the party with I Got It, Boys, Unlock It, Girls Night Out and finishing with banger 1999. Charli brought the party to the next level and had everybody ready to close out the night in style. 

It was now time for the headliners to join their fans, as The 1975 and frontman Matty Healy emerged to one of the loudest and most energetic crowds we've ever seen. Screaming their way through opening track People, they brought it right back down for Give Yourself A Try, TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME and Me & You Together Song, wooing the crowd off their feet and onto each others shoulders. The 1975 came prepared to prove they are headline material and performed an incredible range of new tracks from their album A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships and old classics from their previous albums. 

Highlights included It's Not Living (If It's Not With You), Somebody Else, Love It If We Made It (featuring an introduction by Greta Thunberg), Chocolate and Sex. The energetic band finished on The Sound, as fans and punters alike were overjoyed at a wonderful end to the perfect day. From the incredible music, to the food and drink options, the lack of lines and the friendly people throughout the festival, Laneway Festival manages to prove once again how to have a good time as they put on one hell of a show. 

Grapevine Gathering returned for its third year, this time moving from the Yarra Valley’s Rochford Estate to new venue Grapevine Estate in Mickleham. With an awesome music lineup perfectly paired with an equally impressive food and drink lineup, Grapevine offers plenty of reasons to jump into one of Melbourne's up and coming boutique festivals. 

At midday on a perfect 23 degree day, the gates open, and there’s a rush to get in and check out what the festival has to offer. Sunscreen on and a drink in hand, MEL Live headed straight to the stage to check out the killer lineup. 

Opening the stage was local five piece band Big Words, playing tracks from their R&B-infused EP Hollywood, a Beautiful Coincidence. With their breezy, summer vibes, their set was the perfect start to the day. The charismatic Kira Puru is on next; and immediately starts riling up the crowd. Her feel good music has the early crowds swaying and singing along, and hit single Molotov only has the audience even more excited for the day to come. Kira's stage presence is undeniable throughout her performance, and it was great to see such an artist live. 

Next up is a DJ set in the form of Lovebirds. Hailing from Berlin, Lovebirds is the solo project of Sebastian Döring, who brought his retro synth-driven to the masses. The DJ set is one of many of the day, and draws in a massive, bopping crowd who don't stop dancing until the very end. Keeping the dance party going with 80s synth vibes is Touch Sensitive, who arrives onstage with a bass guitar. Laying down thundering basslines to his hits, such as Lay Down and Pizza Guy, Touch Sensitive (AKA Michael Di Francesco) seemed to be having an absolute blast onstage, and the audience loved it.

After a short break, Jack River takes to the stage; looking very reminiscent of Stevie Nicks. Belting out newer tracks Confess and Ballroom from her album Sugar Mountain, Jack River has quickly cemented her place in the Australian electropop scene. Her mix of syrupy sweet lyrics and 90s grunge guitar work is a match made in heaven, and the perfect addition to any summer festival. The audience laps up Jack River's every word, and goes especially crazy when the opening notes of her collaboration with Peking Duk, Sugar, start playing. The single translates well on stage; bass ringing out across the winery. With a voice and personality as unique as her's, there's no way anyone will be forgetting Jack River soon.

While everyone's on a high following Jack River's set, Late Nite Tuff Guy takes to the stage in another DJ set. As the stage name of Cam Bianchetti, in another life he was known as DJ HMC, and was huge in the underground dance scene. Needless to say, his reputation as such was more than evident, as track after track had the audience going crazy.

Fan favourite Mallrat, AKA Grace Shaw, follows up the already strong lineup, with a powerful set that has everyone chanting and jumping along. Playing instant-hits Groceries and UFO were undoubtedly crowd pleasers, and had every single person in the audience screaming for more. Bringing it down a notch, Mallrat breaks into a cover of Florence + the Machine's Girl With One Eye - offering a much needed break from all the jumping around in her set. The crowd is then treated to the Simlish version of latest single Charlie - which was only recorded very recently. Of course this is followed up with the English version we know and love, before finishing up the set with her anti-party anthem Uninvited. A somewhat ironic close to the set, but nevertheless, it absolutely went off.

Dark-indie trio Crooked Colours shook the stage up with their take on the electro pop genre, offering the audience a more chilled approach to the day. Their set was almost a cool down period for the crowds, leading into what would be a heavy night ahead. Decked out in old-school and modern pilot gear, Flight Facilities smashed through their killer track list. Bringing out special guest Owl Eyes for a good part of their set, the duo played favourites Crave You, Arty Boy and Need You. Set antics were aplenty, and at this point in the night, the audience was a mass of flailing bodies waving along to the music. 

Headlining the day's lineup was Irish powerhouse Two Door Cinema Club, who seamlessly worked their way through hit after hit. Opening with Talk and classic tracks Undercover Martyn and I Can Talk, the band cycled through their impressive back catalogue as well as new album False Alarm. Frontman Alex Trimble worked the crowd, showing off his incredible stage presence, and getting the crowd jumping and dancing along. Classic What You Know and closing track Sun gets a massive rise out of the audience, who clearly don't want the band to stop playing. Throughout the set, it was evident that the band sure knew how to work the stage - contrasting suits, lighting and backgrounds aside. Putting on a mammoth of a show, it was fair to say that Two Door Cinema Club were easily the highlight of the day for MEL Live.

After a long day of countless banger after banger, the festival sadly came to an end. For some, it was a trek back to their cars or buses, and for some, it was a chance to kick on elsewhere. Either way, it was an incredible day, where it was evident that everyone there had an amazing time. We can’t wait to see what Grapevine has in store for 2020, and hope to be a part of it! 

MEL Live were invited to attend Ability Fest 2019 at the Coburg Velodrome on April 7 2019. 

Supported by UNTITLED, the Dylan Alcott Foundation, ANZ and Vanessa, the festival brought together amazing Australian acts in the name of supporting Young Australians with disabilities. 

Highlights 

Gold Coast band Arroyo performing their singles Hold and Please Just Let Me Know, finishing on a cover of The Killers When You Were Young. 

Talented indie-pop darling Eliza Hull singing her songs and rocking out on the piano, dedicating one of her songs to the festival while speaking of her own personal disability. 

Melisa Bester a.k.a. E^ST bringing her indie-electronica to the main stage, bringing the first big crowds of the day to sing along to her tracks including Life Goes On and I Don't Lack Imagination. 

Joyride performing from his debut album Sunrise Chaser  and showcasing his loveable hip-hop tunes for an adoring crowd. Key moments included Aunty Tracey's Cookies and 6am. 

Fan-favourite electronic artist Kilter bringing out all his friends to play alongside him throughout the set with guitarist Timi Temple, and vocalists LANKS and Y O R K E. 

Half human, half machine Kim Churchill and his one-man band had the crowd wild as they sang along to every lyric in his folk, rock and blues. The perfect set for a pleasant Sunday afternoon, equal parts relaxation and party. 

Australian supergroup ARC - Antipodean Rock Collective brought to Ability Fest a who's who of Australian music with members from You Am I, Jet, Spiderbait and Powderfinger. They also thought (correctly) that they would play through a setlist of Australia's best music. It was well received to say the least with the crowd singing and dancing along. 

As nightfall descended on the punters at Ability Fest, it was time for Northeast Party House. Familiar with the Australian festival scene, the Melbournians performed their indie dance music with tracks including Calypso Beach, For You, Heartbreaker and The Haunted. Northeast Party House are always a favourite at festivals and Ability Fest proved to be no exception. 

Dylan Alcott. Seeing him on stage and hearing him speak about the purpose of Ability Fest was one of the highlights of the night, putting a day and night of fun into perspective. Discussing the true meaning around the festival's origin, we couldn't help but feel the gravity around what's next in festival inclusion. As the young generations continue to set the example, it was great to look around and know that everyone believed in what was being discussed. Exciting times ahead. 

The Presets, electronic duo consisting of Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes, have been around since 03' and have been playing the Australian circuit for many years. Regardless of how many times we've been privileged to see them, each time brings a new element with an impressive light show and dance music in tow. The boys came out to the stage and delivered, dropping Martini, My People, Do What You Want, Closer and This Boys In Love during their action packed set. 

A big thank you to all of the sponsors in inviting us along to enjoy and appreciate an inclusive atmosphere which was as much about enjoying good music with good people as it was about bringing awareness to the new normal and what we should ask for to ensure all people get to experience this more often. 

Beyond the Valley returned for its fifth year at Lardner Park, running over New Years Eve and bringing in the New Year. The festival featured an Australian artist heavy lineup; showcasing some of the best local and international talent. 

MEL Live attended BTV from December 29 to January 1, bringing in the New Year in style. Featured below are some of our highlights from the weekend. 

Brisbane singer-songwriter Clea opened the main stage on the Saturday, enchanting the audience with her catalogue of dreamy pop. Having seen Clea perform across small Melbourne venues including the Workers Club, it was great to see her opening the festival’s second day and fitting flawlessly into the strong line-up of artists ahead. The main stage was now warmed up and ready to go as Triple J Unearthed NIMA winner Kuren took to the stage, amping up the audience with an energetic electric drum intro. Powering through his popular tracks with booming synth and bass, Kuren’s energy and lightning-quick vocals had everyone jumping along and getting into it. After hearing Kuren’s recent single Never Enough live, it became clear that he is one to watch. 

City Calm Down have always been one of our favourites to perform at a festival. Playing tracks from Echoes in Blue and In a Restless House, CCD came out and played all of the crowd favourites and have proven time and time again that they are deserving of a place on any festival line-up. Tracks including Pleasure & Consequence, Son, Rabbit Run and Joan, I’m Disappearing had the crowd sent into a frenzy, with the band animated and passionate as they performed their setlist. It was great to see Jack Bourke on lead vocals commanding the audience to get involved and sing along. 

The afternoon took a chilled turn as Tash Sultana took to the stage. Tash has become almost a staple to the festival circuits, with their easy listening psychedelic rock. Playing a set full of singles from their first EP, the audience was treated to tracks such as Notion and Big Smoke. Every face in the crowd watched carefully as Tash set up each song; methodically looping each track with finesse, before ripping into squealing guitar solos. After numerous shout outs from the audience, their wish was answered as Tash finished with Jungle. 

There’s a reason Client Liaison are one of Australia’s favourite party bands. Consisting of frontman Monte Morgan and keyboardist Harvey Miller, the indie-pop duo brought their 70s resurgence to Beyond the Valley’s main stage. Opening with Canberra Won’t Be Calling Tonight, we see an image of John Howard projected onto the big screen - we should have known at this point that it wouldn’t be your typical set. Suddenly, we are three tracks in, and there’s a cover of Need You Tonight by INXS - a cover that would make Michael Hutchence proud. As Client Liaison went on, the energy never wavered, performing tracks including Survival in the City, Off White Limousine and finishing on World of our Love. If you ever get the chance to see Client Liaison live, you should take it. If you are already a fan, you’ll know why. 

The third day commenced with murmurmur opening up the main stage, after winning the Triple J Unearthed competition for Beyond the Valley. Frontman Will Fletcher, having performed the previous day with City Calm Down, showed us what he’s capable of. Bringing a dose of indie-pop to the festival, the emotive vocals and strong guitar hooks had us raring and ready for each of the songs ahead. Highlights included Cable Car and Marmalade, and as we reflected on what was a perfect way to start the day, we left the set knowing we would want to see murmurmur again, and soon. 

Following on from murmurmur was electro-pop sensation Nicole Millar, smashing out hit after hit from her debut album Excuse Me. Millar’s stage presence took control, an undeniable force with unending energy and gutsy pop ballads to back it up. Opening on Signals, her set took control of the crowd as she performed odes to 70’s revival with tracks including Gimme a Break. Her set covered all bases, ticked all boxes and we were captivated by what she brought to BTV. When she closed her set on her collaborative single with Peking Duk, High, the audience were both delighted and wanting more. 

What can we say about Alex Lahey that hasn’t already been said. Melbourne’s local resident artist and Triple J fav performed all of her hits in her usual fashion, featuring tracks from debut album I Love You Like a Brother and masterpiece EP B Grade University. Launching into the set with the album’s title track to get the crowd moving, the dancing continued Perth Traumatic Stress Disorder and Let’s Go Out. Our personal favourite Backpack featured half-way through the set to slow things down a little, before Alex finished strongly on the back of her three biggest singles; Every Day’s The Weekend, You Don’t Think You Like People Like Me, and I Haven’t Been Taking Care of Myself. As always, Alex delivers. 

DZ Deathrays continued the party, but rather than having the crowd dancing the circle pits began to form. Launching into Gina Works at Hearts early was a bold move that paid off and had the audience reeling and ready for more. Like People from DZ’s latest album Bloody Lovely garnered a mass singalong from the audience, as well as classics Ocean Exploder and Reflective Skull. The thundering drum beats and guitar shredding powered the increasingly large mosh pit - which grew crazier by the minute. Two songs before the end, we see a flare light up the sky as the crowd is bathed in orange. Emerging from the pit battle-worn and victorious, each DZ set keeps everyone on their toes in the name of good music. 

As the orange smoke cleared, crowds rushed in to get a good spot to see Vera Blue; Australia’s sweetheart. As the white light surrounded the stage, Vera Blue came out to screams and shrieks from her dedicated fans, looking fabulous in her striking red dress. Performing songs from her well-received debut album Perennial and EP Fingertips, Vera Blue had the audience singing along and wrapped around, well, her fingertips throughout the entire set. Opening with Magazine and Give In, she continued to play crowd favourites including Fingertips, Hold and Regular Touch. She closed her set out as the sun went down, encouraging the crowd in a sing-a-long of Lady Powers. It’s easy to see Vera Blue is ready to take that next step as she begins to headline events across Australia. 

The Jungle Giants were up next and the crowd was reeling with excitement as the main stage packed out from the first row to the back of the festival. A momentous occasion for the 4-piece Brisbane band, the significance of the performance was not lost on vocalist Sam Hales, who told the crowd in a matter of years the band had gone from struggling to find a full setlist for their previous performance at BTV through to a proud moment of having too many songs to choose from. The decisions made by the band on what they were to perform consisted of hits from their latest album Quiet Ferocity and some of the old favourites too. Launching into On Your Way Down and finishing the set with songs including Used To Be In Love and Feel The Way I Do, the Jungle Giants victory lap was surely a moment that we all got to enjoy. 

The party vibes continued with Canberra-trio SAFIA taking to the stage, and thundering through their massive catalogue of hits. Playing tracks such as My Love is Gone and Counting Sheep, the trio even had time to sneak in a cover of Feel Good Inc, as well as a snippet of Oops I Did It Again, much to the audience’s delight. Playing the second Peking Duk collaboration of the day, Take Me Over, the set was perfected with amazing visuals and the incredible energy emanating from the trio. Being the last act on the main stage that night, SAFIA showed everyone how to close a stage - confetti cannons included, of course. 

Gold Coast band Arroyo opened the main stage for the festival’s last day, playing their fifth show ever. Given that they were a relatively new band, their set was polished and was a perfect opening act. Netherlands-born and Brisbane-based artist Wafia carried on the relax and chill vibe that had been set, delivering her soft electro-pop tracks to a large audience that had gathered to see her performance. Having cemented herself as a festival favourite in recent times, she performed a strong set with tracks from her various EPs and feature artist tracks. Finishing with crowd-pleaser Bodies, we look forward to the opportunity of seeing Wafia at many more festivals in the future. 

Mass crowds were drawn in for Brisbane’s Ball Park Music, starting off their set with The End Times from their latest album Good Mood. It was evident that the band was a long-standing fan favourite - a definite contender for one of Australia’s best current bands. Frontman Sam Cromack’s intensity grew with each song, churning out classic It’s Nice to Be Alive, and roaring through Hands Off My Body - another track from the band’s latest release. Closing the set with She Only Loves Me When I’m There, Ball Park Music once again proved themselves as a heavyweight festival act; one that we just can’t get enough of.

In the first week of January on an almost bi-annual basis, it is typical that UK band The Kooks will grace the Australian shores to perform their catalogue of hits and provide us with a listen to their new album. In this instance, taking their show to Beyond the Valley on New Years Eve, The Kooks performed tracks from their latest album Let’s Go Sunshine and many songs from their most popular album Inside In/Inside Out. The crowds attended in the masses as it became clear that everyone at the festival was now at the main stage and the party was truly beginning. 

Starting with Eddie’s Gun and Always Where I Need To Be, The Kooks had everyone singing and dancing from the moment they hit the stage. The energy was electric and the band a solid choice to a stellar New Years Eve lineup. Closing their set with Seaside, Junk of the Heart (Happy) and Naive, The Kooks appearance at the festival could not be understated as everyone was now ready for the band deemed worthy to bring in 2019. 

The New Year; an opportunity to say goodbye to the year that was and a chance for new beginnings. What better way to bring in the New Year than being invited to dance and party with Pnau. The electro-pop trio from Sydney launched into a wild set filled with strong lighting, powerful vocals and, of course, keytar. 

Commencing the performance with Changa and Nothing in the World, the BTV punters lapped up every second of the performance, Kira Devine’s guest vocals blowing us away. The raw energy continued as they rolled through Wild Strawberries and Go Bang. As midnight fell upon as, Pnau encouraged the crowd to look after one another - starting 2019 right with a performance of Come Together. As the party raged on, the set finished with a crowd favourite, Chameleon, as we all danced the night away. 

Beyond the Valley proved itself once again as a contender for one of the best New Years festivals on offer. If you are looking to attend in 2019, we’d recommend getting your friends organised, and getting on to tickets as early as you can! 

MEL Live attended the Queenscliff Music Festival this year, choosing to camp out and gain the full festival experience over the full 3 days. Read on for a recap of our favourite moments from the festival. 

What We Expected 

Ali Barter, beloved pop-rock singer-songwriter, wowed the crowds of the main stage after having just completed a 40-date national tour with the Preatures. Bringing to life all of her upbeat songs from her debut album A Suitable Girl, it was plain to see that the passion and spark for her new materials was alive and well. With a surprise guest appearance featuring Kram from Spiderbait, and a cover of their song Calypso, Ali was having an absolute ball on stage - telling the audience it was one of her career highlights. The set featured a strong series of hits from her album including Please Stay, Cigarette and her main single and final track Girlie Bits. 

Aussie fan favourite Sarah Blasko took to the stage, a flurry of hands and head banging, with an energetic set filled with all of the songs from her newly released album Depth of Field. The performance was magical, with Sarah entranced in her songs and the vibes of the QMF audience members. Our favourites included new songs A Shot and Never Let Me Go, as well as some old classics such as We Won’t Run, I Awake and I Wanna Be Your Man. Sarah’s raw energy makes it clear why she was such a drawcard for so many punters to see, and why the festival booked her into one of the headline slots for the weekend. 

Melbourne local and worldwide sensation Courtney Barnett took a break from her significant international touring schedule to spend some time not too far from home, headlining Sunday’s festivities. From her humble beginnings around the Northern suburbs, to headlining festivals in every country across Europe and throughout America, almost everyone at QMF piled into the tent to see the final performance of the festival. Rolling through her albums and range of EPs, it’s incredible to see how many hits Courtney has up her sleeve, from her most recent release Tell Me How You Really Feel and her first album Sometimes I Just Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit. 

For an hour-long festival setlist, the band managed to perform the majority of the requests from the crowd catering to all demographics and showcasing how lively and vibrant a CB Show can get. Courtney performed her way through fan favourites Avant Gardener, History Eraser, Depreston and Elevator Operator, in addition to some of her new singles including Charity and City Looks Pretty. An absolute drawcard for the festival and perfect way to finish the weekend, Courtney and the band did a solid job of showing everyone how it’s done.  

The Moments We Didn’t Know We Needed Until They Happened 

• Tim Snider’s (USA) after dark violin display, with loop pedal, guitar and vocals.  
• Oh Pep! performing in the Uniting Church with stained glass windows, acoustics and the promise of an orchestral set at the Corner Hotel the following weekend.
• Fraser A Gorman live at the Queenscliff Town Hall, singing songs of alien abductions. 
• Tassie local Maddy Jane performing at the Salt Lounge; an intimate art gallery setting. 
• The Blues Train
  • Watching Alana Wilkinson’s upbeat acoustic set leaving everyone laughing, singing and at one point, crying along (one of us had something in their eye). Alana’s passion for music and life in general had us back in the Salt Lounge later that afternoon for more, and it wasn’t just to take another look at her amazing merch (picture a turtle in space because why not). 
  • Unearthed artist Nancie Schipper’s day-dreamy tunes and relatable lyrics, that we managed to catch across two sets while taking in the views along the Bellarine Coast. 

Overall, the Queenscliff Music Festival proves once again that it’s an unmissable event and we can’t wait to book in the dates for 2019.