Since launching onto the Melbourne scene in 2011, with an annual event at the Forum Theatre, the boutique festival Sugar Mountain has become one of Australia’s most anticipated events. Always boasting an incredibly well curated lineup, the event endeavours to provide an experience you won’t have at any other festival. And by all accounts it achieves it with flying colours.
In 2014, it took a break and decided to move on from its original venue, meaning the upcoming 2015 event – featuring performances from the likes of Nas (perfoming the iconic Illmatic in full) and Ariel Pink, among many others – will see the event held at the architecturally impressive Victorian College of Arts for the first time.
But before we kick off the festival at the new venue, we thought we’d take a look back at some of our favourite performances – and best moments – from the three events held at The Forum. Join us now on a trip through memory lane of the 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Boomgates were a highlight of the last event in 2013. Photo by Serena Ho.
We’ve always been pretty big fans of Rat vs Possum, so was pretty excellent to see them hit the stage as part of the first event back in 2011. Photo by Mandy Hall.
Thee Oh Sees seemed to be some of Australia’s most frequent visitors when they played Sugar Mountain’s 2012 Event. Photo by Perri Cassie.
The Dirty Projectors were one of the highlights of the 2013 event. Photo by Serena Ho.
Hell yeah, HTRK. Another highlight from 2013! Photo by Serena Ho.
Artwork is always a big part of the event and 2015 will be no exception. Here’s one of the artworks on display at the 2012 event. Photo by Perri Cassie.
Loved this one too, from the 2012 event. Photo by Perri Cassie.
Here’s another from the 2011 inaugural event. Photo by Mandy Hall.
Hunx & His Punx – do we need to say more? Photo by Serena Ho from the 2013 event.
Lower Plenty were spellbinding at the 2013 event. Photo by Serena Ho.
Deerhoof lights up The Forum at the 2012 Sugar Mountain Festival. Photo by Perri Cassie.
We’re still not quite sure what was happening here, when Phantoscopia were playing in 2013. Photo by Serena Ho.
Qua put on an amazing light show to accompany his solo set in 2011. Photo by Mandy Hall.
Live shows don’t get much better than Tune-Yards, and their appearance at the 2012 festival was no exception. Photo by Perri Cassie.
They’ve gone from strength to strength since playing the 2012 event. Here’s World’s End Press playing the 2012 festival in a photo by Perri Cassie.
Always love a set from Jonti! Photo by Serena Ho from the 2013 Festival.
The Sugar Mountain Festival takes place at the Victorian College of the Arts on Saturday January 24th. For set times, site map, tickets and more details head to: http://www.sugarmountainfestival.com/
