Laneway 2015 – Sydney review & photos

FKA Twigs at Laneway by Philip Erbacher

Boasting a seriously impressive line-up, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival headed to Sydney on Sunday. Reviewer Ruth Hodge and photographer Philip Erbacher captured everything in words and pictures:

If you were wanting to go to a festival where Mac DeMarco burped a lot, and at one stage had a prominent hold on Connan Mockasin’s bait and tackle and his tongue down his throat whilst his mum, Agnes, danced amongst a quartet of almost-naked men in the background, then you should have been at St Jerome’s Laneway Festival in Sydney this past Sunday. (Yes, the sick dude was, in fact, my favourite act of the day.)

Photo by Philip Erbacher

A festival targeted to a lot of different tastes in music, the lineup brought the likes of Little Dragon, FKA Twigs (girl if you could just show me a couple more times and in slow-motion that thing you do with your body, that’d be great), Courtney Barnett, POND, Future Islands, St Vincent, Royal Blood, Angel Olsen, Perfect Pussy (um, hey adorable tiny woman with a huge friggin scary-ass yet impressive mouth), an amazing afternoon set from Jungle, and so so so many more.

Local and international names flogged it on stage for a crowd that was even more keen for them than the delicious spread of food that was available to alleviate the slow but steady decline of sobriety over the day.

Photo by Philip Erbacher109
I guess what gives Laneway Festival’s general atmosphere and attitude some serious brownie points is that everything was far too well-organised. The gates flowed effortlessly, everything is chilled out, people politely accommodate each other in the crowds, the excitement for food is real (I was in heaven) and everyone’s out to have a good time and not compete for the biggest a-hole award.

So nursing a two-day hangover (note to self, $3 beer and wine at a mate’s 21st does not equate to 10 beers in the space of three hours after a dinner comprising of twiggy sticks) did not suck as much as I feared it would. The hill overlooking the two main stages was the perfect place for a little cheeky nap, a cheeky feed and a cheeky dance.

026Photo by Philip Erbacher

I tagged along with a friend who has a pretty dope music taste which tends to, generally, match mine, but the festival brought out in me a sense of wanting to get to know some new tunes and melodies also. Whilst the crowds flocked to big names like Flight Facilities, Caribou and Flying Lotus towards the winding up of the night, I threw my lone wolf self into the late-night dance party that was Jon Hopkins’ set at the Red Bull stage and was not one bit disappointed.

The swift bus service from Rozelle to Sydney CBD after the festival wound up was actually the best post-festival-come-down experience I have ever had. Again, population of a-holes on the bus = zero. The party raged on at Oxford Art Factory, with DJ sets from the likes of Eagulls and another outstanding live performance form Future Islands.

Photo by Philip Erbacher Photo by Philip Erbacher
Fantastic work, Laneway Festival. You’re that kid in primary school that was an all-round achiever and also good-looking, but we couldn’t hate on you through jealousy because you were also a nice, genuine person. You’re that kid.

So cheers. Cheers for making our mums, “wish we were more like you”.

Photo by Philip ErbacherPhoto by Philip Erbacher
You can see a full photo album of all the bands and a bunch of punters at Sydney Laneway on our Facebook page. There are hundreds of photos there. Go go go!

ruth hodge

philip

 

Review by Ruth Hodge. All photos by Philip Erbacher.

YOU SHOULD ALSO CHECK OUT:

No related posts.

Category : live, music, music photography
Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,