As we hit the second day of 2012, we take a look back at how hundreds of thousands of music fans around Australia brought in 2012 through a string of events on New Years Eve and New Years Day.
PEATS RIDGE FESTIVAL
Over 10,000 music fans a day travelled to picturesque Peats Ridge – just an hour from Sydney, over three days – for the annual New Year’s music, arts and sustainability festival. Another 200,000 plus tuned in via YouTube as the Festival was streamed live for the very first time. “It was incredible to be able to show fans the world over – for the very first time what Peats Ridge is all about,” said Matt Grant, the festival director.
Festival goers welcomed in the New Year with music’s man of the moment, Gotye, pictured above (photo by Nick Lalak for the AU review). Other unforgettable moments came from funk and folk man, Xavier Rudd, and dance legends the Stanton Warriors. A-Skillz blasted everyone away to a spectacular light show across the valley, while drum ‘n’ bass legend L.T.J Bukem played a blistering set blasting the roof off the Lyrebird stage. Founds, Sleepmakeswaves and Hanni El Khatib were one of the many ‘finds’ of the festival – you’ll hear more about that in our forthcoming coverage.
Those who missed the action can see highlights online at http://www.youtube.com/peatsridge, with clips from the Festival and loads of artist interviews.
WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL
The 26th Woodford Folk Festival was jam packed with outstanding acts like Goyte, Xavier Rudd, Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro, Dachambo, and The Herd, kept the crowds dancing and enjoying themselves every minute of the 6-day long festival. The New Year’s celebration went off with a bang and the 3-minute silence at 11:30pm was truly magical as everyone held up a candle to send off the old year and bring in the new. Keep reading Phil Perez’s coverage on the AU review to find out more…
SHORE THING
As 2011 drew to an end, a sold out crowd of 15,000 music fans flocked to the iconic Bondi Beach to see off the year with a party to end all parties at Sydney’s most popular New Years Eve outdoor musical experience Shore Thing.
As the clock struck midnight, fireworks lit up the world-famous beach as the world’s hottest DJ Calvin Harris, literally ‘Bounce’-d us into 2012 with a string of the hits that have made him the most in-demand artist on the globe, including ‘Feel so close’ and ‘Bounce’.
Earlier on in the night, the legendary Snoop Dogg showed us why he’s the Doggfather of rap, as he delighted fans old and new with his set of crowd-pleasers like ‘What’s my name?’, ‘Gin & Juice” and ‘Drop it like its hot’, before ending with ‘We came here to party’.
Pendulum closed out the night with a monumental set that didn’t fail to keep the masses dancing their way into the New Year. For full line-up and all artist and event information go to http://www.shorething.com.au/
SUMMADAYZE & SUMMAFIELDAYZE
Speaking of Snoop Dogg, the Rap Superstar also played Summadayze on New Years Eve in Adelaide (where Justice and Bliss N Eso run in 2012) before flying to Sydney to perform at Shore Thing. He then traveled to Summadayze in Melbourne on New Year’s Day, and today can be seen at Summafieldayze on the Gold Coast on Jan 2nd, all of which are bringing in the New Years in style with a string of performances from artists around the world. Perth will get their taste tomorrow!
PYRAMID ROCK FESTIVAL
Phillip Island in Victoria was home to a blockbuster two day festival. With a leadup from party starters Bluejuice, the midnight set from headliners the Scissor Sisters was reportedly marred by bottle throwing from the crowd, which led frontman Jake Shears to write on Twitter: “I just rang in the new year on a stage getting bottled by a bunch of Aussie rednecks.” We’ll have to wait to hear from Kyle Bright, our man on the scene, to find out if this affected to the show or not. We’re guessing it didn’t and are sure everyone had a blast.
FALLS FESTIVAL
Meanwhile, back on the mainland in Victoria, tens of thousands of revellers descended onto the SOLD OUT Falls Festivals in Lorne, and in Marion Bay, Tasmania. Arctic Monkeys counted down to Midnight in Lorne – followed by a manic set from Crystal Castles, while The Kooks and PNAU had the respective honours on the main stage in Marion Bay.
NO YEARS FESTIVAL
Up in Brisbane, the Dum Dum Girls brought the year to an end with a magnificent set, which was preceeded by one of the finest local lineups in the country. Ball Park Music, Yukon Blonde (Canada), The Holidays and Oliver Tank rushed up from Peats Ridge to take part in the proceedings, while Jonti, The Jungle Giants, Last Dinosaurs and more all played out impressive sets. Check out the action here: http://noyears.tumblr.com/
SYDNEY RESOLUTION and HARBOUR PARTY
Meanwhile, those in Sydney were given the luxury of at least two major music events with great views of the Sydney Harbour fireworks. On Glebe Island, Sydney Resolution brought in the New Year with Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys, Jamiroquai and more. While at Luna Park, Wynter Gordon, The Potbelleez, Zoe Badwi, Yolanda Be Cool, Ajax, Beni, Cassian, Rufus [DJ set] and more excited a packed out crowd for the annual Harbour Party NYE.
FIELD DAY
As Sydneysiders rode off their hangovers on New Years Day, they kick started 2012 in the leafy-surrounds of Sydney’s stunning Domain, with 32 of the hottest Australian and International artists in music, including Justice (live), Calvin Harris, Example, Gotye, Moby (DJ set) and Flight Facilities entertained 20,000 young Sydneysiders as they partied their way into 2012 at Sydney’s original and best New Year’s Day extravaganza, Field Day, now in its 11th consecutive sell-out year.
As it had been the night before at Peats Ridge, an afternoon highlight was the entire smiling crowd singing along at the top of their lungs to Gotye’s number one hit ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’. French electro rock gods Justice were on hand with a huge stage set to provide the grand finale of the day – a full house witnessing the world premiere of their new live show pumping up crowds with all their hits and their recent album Audio, Video, Disco.
SPACE IBIZA
Finally, Sydneysiders were given another New Years Day option in the form of Space Ibiza’s News Years Day dance party ‘Space Ibiza Pres Kehakuma’, which brought some of the world’s most highly regarded house and techno stars down under for a surreal experience taking Sydneysiders to the sounds of the Ibiza shore. Now in its third year, the huge crowd (1000+) grooved away at the first event of the much-anticipated series at the fabulous Greenwood in North Sydney.
Seth Troxler, Radioslave and Eddie Richards were among the lineup. Tickets for Space, the sequel in February will come on sale in the coming months. Keep a close eye on http://spaceibizafestival.com.au for details, tickets and regular updates on all things Space!
