”Fkn Insane! Sexy Amazing. Dance like nobody is watching. I’m off-chops right now, loving everybody. This is sick! 2 Chainz is lookin 4 my booty cos I got a big booty. Do you want to go out with me then break up right before Drake? We love Future!”
These were just a few of the sentiments I gained from punters when asking about what they thought of the Future Music Festival held at the HBF Arena on Sunday. The past two years have seen a big difference in the way Future Music delivered it’s reportedly world top 10 festival, and this year looks like they’ve started to find the balance. There were a few hiccups during the day but overall it was a solid effort from the team.
The weather looked like it was conspiring against the festival early on, with blue skies across Perth until you looked in the direction of the Arena to find looming storm clouds. Luckily they decided not to crash the party too early and it was soon perfect festival weather again. Keeping in tradition with last year there was some trouble gaining entry with the perimeter blocked off while DJs could be heard starting up inside. For what reason? No one was really too sure. But once inside you were able to fully appreciate the dance playground on offer to crowds.
This year saw usual suspects Red Bull hosting a little beats and refreshment corner, the brilliant return of the foam pit Foam-A-Rama stage, as well as a random carnival ride section. The three main stages were back with the Cocoon stage relocating from the warehouse to outside. It seemed like the layout was really well thought out, a crucial element for a festival charging a few brutal clashes. Yet when it came to transitioning between the neighbouring Future Live and Future Dome stages traffic was not great, the shipping containers and food outlets separating them ended up closing in the tented area resulting in the dreaded shuffle queue to get to the next act.
The first DJ to catch who put on a pretty damn decent set for the days standards was Boston Switch on the Future Live stage, and while I am extremely biased for anyone who throws some Gorillaz into the mix, the set was a myriad of favourites without sounding like a dated top 40 house party. He had the steadily growing crowd amped from the onset, keeping us on our toes with sample tid bits like the Lion King and some Outhere Brothers.
Keisza hit the stage wearing some shorts that caused controversy over whether they were ginger bread or donut print, but thrilled with a performance straight from the “Hideaway” video that brought her to the world’s attention. Just half an hour after landing in Perth she had her troupe throwing their high energy choreography at the crowd, including the incorporation of weird light up ping pong paddle devices.
Next up was the one and only Darude in the Future Dome, packed out as everyone waited anxiously with Darude teasingly slipping a few seconds of “Sandstorm” between each track while raising a ”We love Future” chant. Finally he delivered what the crowd wanted to hear, demolishing the tent in EDM nostalgia to end a good set all up.
Sigma seemed to be the set everyone was trying to find each other after the Futuredome traffic jam, or gave up to make new friends. He upheld the standard of the Future Live stage before the infamous Hilltop Hoods hit the ground running with their hip hop anthems. There really isn’t much to say that isn’t already obvious about the way the Hilltop crew handle their live performances; backed by a band with the MC’s on point it was the case of sit back and have a good time.
Then came the hard choice to make. Example or Nero? Proven to be undeniable powerhouses at previous other festivals it came down to who had released new music since then? Running to the Future Dome to catch Nero it seemed the fervour and eagerness of the crowd was not going to quit, it was hard to believe it was already 6 hours into the festival. Pounding out those gritty basslines from a wall of static screens, singer Alana held front of stage enchanting the crowd as we danced to favourites like “Promises”.
That’s when your body started to realise you had been running for 7 hours and started whining about things like ‘food’ and ‘sitting down’ and not being able to see through your sunnies anymore. Die Antwoord proved to be the act you either loved or didn’t understand as they pranced around stage with white body suited figures. A lot of the crowd seemed to settle down as night crept in, couples taking up spots around the Future Live stage awaiting the ambience of 2 Chainz and Drake while a few just seemed lost in the dropping temperatures. Drake was every bit of himself that the crowd had been yearning for as he strode across the stage under a spotlight, crooning every heartache.
The foam pit was now a dangerous temptress luring many into its depths only to realise jumpers at the merch tent were sold out. Luckily some innovators found a new use for the carnival rides as a moderately priced spin dry. As the storm chose this moment to through some hydration over the Arena punters tried to smooth talk their way into the roofed Sunset Club or sought refuge in the arms of a golden food truck. Chicken Treat hot chips will always be a saviour.
Heading across the arena for Knife Party, and to finally see an act play at the much hyped Supernova stage I was a little underwhelmed. Sure there were giant screens surrounding the stage to provide a surround system of visuals, but the stage itself merely boasted a ring of lighted triangles that didn’t seem to function well half the time. Outside of that it was the usual flame and confetti canons interspersed throughout the show. I’d say you had to be close up to appreciate it but even then I had more fun following the weird coloured inflatable orb snakes people were winding through the crowd during Avicii’s set like some EDM Chinese New Year celebration.
A benefit to Future’s recycling policy when it came to its lineup is the chance to go back and see the acts that lost out in the timetable clash war. Missing The Prodigy when they appeared two years ago it was time to right the wrong and see them return to the tented stage they had dominated. Waiting what seemed like too long the group appeared on stage every bit as dark and ominously electric as you’d expect. The seemingly small crowd grew and went off as lasers rose above, tracks like “Nasty” and “Firestarter” garnering an uproar with one punter excited enough to pull out a flare, covering the crowd in a red glow and a really bad rubbery after-smell.
Despite a few timeslot delays it was what you expected in a festival like this carried out surprisingly well. It’s not going to be out there ground breaking but you can always rely on Future Music to pull out an interesting lineup with enough gimmicks to keep you entertained. Grab some good mates and a bucket load of energy (or whatever your style) and you’re going to have a great time.
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