St Jerome’s Laneway Festival – it’s here this week, finally! Starting as a tiny laneway party in Melbourne in 2005, and has now expanded to become one of Australia’s largest festivals, with locations across the country, New Zealand and Singapore. We’ve picked some artists we reckon you can’t miss at this year’s Laneway hits your city.
Aldous Harding
New Zealand’s resident goth-folk star Aldous Harding is known for her enchanting live shows, making catching her Laneway set a no brainer. While many have tagged her songs bleak, the passion with which she performs make for a captivating and deeply affecting experience. Expect to be blown away by a performance as explosive as it is melancholy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3QFM7XJ23I
Miss Blanks
Ringing in the new wave of Australian hip hop is Brisbane rapper Miss Blanks. Her unapologetic stage presence and fire rhymes have been wowing audiences around the globe, but her work outside of music is also widely celebrated. She’s given a TED Talk in London and spoken at NYU, and is known as an activist, fashion icon and social media star. Go and see Miss Blanks embody the word “Boss” at your local Laneway.
Cable Ties
Melbourne post punk powerhouse Cable Ties have well and truly blown up since emerging in 2015. With belting vocals and shredding guitar riffs, Cable Ties show the best of Melbourne’s feminist punk scene. Expect the pit to get crazy at Cable Ties’ set, but also expect to soon get caught up in it!
Spike Fuck and the FML Band
The name truly says it all. Melbourne’s Spike Fuck creates 80s new wave tracks that explore gender, love and addiction. As a trans woman and recovering heroin addict, Spike has an interesting take on life that shines in her self proclaimed “smackwave” music. At Spike’s set you’ll find highly personal songs and crazy onstage antics.
SHAME
One of the best and brightest new bands to come out of South London is Shame. The alt-punk 5 piece are no strangers to the stage, performing at Pitchfork Paris before having released any songs. Their debut album has received critical acclaim for their frenetic and politically charged sound, and the boys have already earned a reputation for exhilarating live shows. Check them out before they blow up this year!
TOKIMONSTA
American producer Tokimonsta’s career has been full to say the least. She was trained as a classical pianist, received a degree in business and worked for a video game producer before cementing herself as one of the best new producers in the game. As the first female signing to Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label, Toimonsta is in demand, collaborating with massive stars including fellow Laneway artists Anderson .Paak. Check her out!
Baker Boy
There are few musicians that have made as big an impact as Baker Boy in such a small amount of time. His 2017 debut “Cloud 9” made waves as the Arnhem Land rapper switches between English and the Indigenous Yolngu Matha language. Since blowing up last year, Baker Boy has risen to the top of Aussie hip-hop, playing tons of shows and raking up the accolades at triple j unearthed’s NIMA awards. Baker Boy is unmissable this year’s Laneway.
ST. JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL TOUR DATES
More information? Head here.
January 27th | The Meadow, Gardens By The Bay, SINGAPORE
January 29th | Albert Park Precinct, AUCKLAND
February 2nd | Harts Mill, PORT ADELAIDE
February 3rd | Footscray Community Arts Centre & The River’s Edge, MELBOURNE
February 4th | Sydney College of the Arts, ROZELLE
February 10th | Brisbane Showgrounds, BRISBANE
February 11th | Esplanade Reserve & West End, FREMANTLE
Photo of Miss Blanks by Savannah van der Niet.
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