In this week’s Festival Spotlight, we turn our attention to the increasingly popular Laneway Festival.
What started out as a small showcase of bands at St Jerome’s Laneway in
Melbourne, has become a mammoth touring festival, with some of the
worlds most respected artists taking the stage, and publications such
as Pitchfork giving the thumbs up along the way.
And this year, the festival jumps across the Tasman for the first time
ever. This, alongside the most impressive lineup yet, showcases Laneway
as a highlight of the 2009/2010 Summer Festival season. And when
festivals such as Future Music and Big Day Out
are doing little but recycling what has come from the past (not
necessarily a BAD thing, mind you), it’s ultimately refreshing to see a
festival put forth a wholly original lineup. As such, you can
understand why we’re so excited here at the AU review.
But before we look forward to the 2010 event, let’s reflect back at
what’s come so far. It would be fair to say that our head Melbourne
reviewer, Alexandra Duguid, wasn’t a big fan of the organisation of the
2009 event. You can read her full review HERE.
Looking froward to the 2010 event, Alexandra had this to say: “After
the shambles of this years event (excruciating amounts of time spent in
lines that leads to disappointment) the promoters claim next year’s
will lift its game.”
And it certainly seems they will follow this up with the goods. New
venues in both Sydney and Melbourne sound like they’ll supply punters
with a smoother running day; and for Sydneysiders, the removal of those
frustrating noise restrictions that make hearing Camera Obscura a bit on the difficult side a few years back, can’t be more welcome.
But it’s these very problems – the tight spaces, the long lines to get
into see your favourite band, the sound issues – that have made Laneway
the unique, boutique festival it has become known as. Ultimately, most
of these problems have been forgotten by punters, instead remembering
the special moments they shared with the bands they love. This said, I
don’t think anyone would complain if these problems were removed,
either! And with a lineup like 2010, I don’t think anyone would be
particularly happy about missing ANY of the bands on the lineup! The
fact that so many of these acts will clash is already making my head
hurt – but that’s a problem that’s become such a rarity at festivals in
Australia, I can’t help but smile.
For starters, Echo and the Bunnymen – who resurfaced in popularity in recent years thanks in part to ‘The Killing Moon’ appearing in Donnie Darko,
with a new album not far behind – are headlining the event. While
reviews of their recent live performances have been mixed, we can’t
think of a more appropriate place to see them than at the Laneway
Festival. A daring, yet fantastic choice by the promoters.
Fans of classic, breathtaking tunes also have the pleasure of Daniel Johnson
appearing on the lineup. I just have to ask: HOW ON EARTH DID THEY GET
HIM!? My heart seriously skipped a beat when I saw he was on the
lineup, and I’m sure this was the same for many. Well, I hope so
anyway, or else I may need a doctor.
These two highlights, combined with a remaining lineup that is comprised of artists as eclectic and Florence and the Machine, The XX, Mumford and Sons, Dappled Cities and N.A.S.A. leave us at the AU review (and this writer in particular) drooling at the seams.
We can’t wait.
For more information on the 2010 Laneway Festival, check out our Festival Guide or their Official Website. You can also have a gander at our recent interview with Ned Cooke of Dappled Cities, talking, amongst other things, about their upcoming stint on the Laneway tour!
You can also check out the Sideshows here: https://www.theaureview.com/guide/sideshows/laneway
