Hot diggity dang, festival season is nigh, a fact we’ve been reminded of today with the announcement of a fantastic lineup for Meredith Music Festival 2015. It’s the Silver Jubilee Meredith as well, so you’d think they’d come out all guns blazing to mark a momentous 25 years.
That they have.
Last year’s Meredith was one of Howl and Echoes’ favourite festivals (if you’re going solo this year you’d be well to the wise to read our guide to it). It’s a diverse and motley crew of artists young and old, local and international, rock and hip hop, electronic and uh… a sitar guy (who is actually really REALLY freaking good).
As always, this is one of the most diverse bills in the country, with some of the acts you’ll see ranging from powerhouse Melbourne punk rock trio The Peep Tempel, psych-rockers Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Shepparton’s (hell, probably Australia’s) hardest MC Briggs.
Also in the mix, fresh off a set at Splendour In The Grass that was rapturously received is Tkay Maidza, eclectic Swedish experimental fusion group Goat in all their costumed glory, Chicago post-hardcore veterans Shellac, Monterrey chillwave pioneer Neon Indian.
As far as the big name acts go, you’ll be treated to the stylings of the Thurston Moore Band, the titular Moore having enjoyed three decades as a founding member of some little known band named Sonic Youth. You can also catch one of the premier folk singer-songwriters of today, Father John Misty, who was the first announced headliner. He has also enjoyed the release of his sophomore album under that moniker I Love You, Honybear earlier this year as well as a stellar set at Glastonbury.
If you find the familiar scent of medicinal herbs wafting into your nostrils, follow your nose and you’ll no doubt find yourself in the hallowed grounds of the Sup, watching one of the defining acts of 1970s America in The Steve Miller Band. Hearing songs like Fly Like An Eagle and the timeless The Joker in a live environment should be a revelatory experience.
Few acts have had quite as strong a 2015 as Brooklyn-bred electronic rock duo Ratatat. We caught up with Mike from the band earlier this year to chat about their latest album Magnifique. A record he considers their best and one that has been electrifying audiences on the airwaves across the world. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone soulless enough to be able to withstand hearing the eclectic sounds of Mirando, Shempi or Abrasive or this year’s deliciously catchy Cream On Chrome without getting all kinds of funky.
Scarcely believable that Meredith managed to snag him is Big. Daddy. Motherfucking. Kane. You have got to be kidding me.
He’s never once played a show in Australia before and plenty of the uninitiated would have no idea who he is, but without Big Daddy Kane you’d probably never have had the likes of, oh you know, Wu-Tang Clan, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Eminem and so very many others. He is an absolute living, breathing legend who helped pioneer an entire sound and style.
Ain’t no half steppin’ about it, if you’re not in the Meredith ticket ballot (the only way you’ll be able to go) already, then get the bloody hell in there right now or risk missing out on some of the best psychedelic summer vibes you can get.
Meredith Music Festival is running from Friday the 11th of December to Sunday the 13th. The full lineup (in alphabetical order) is as follows:
Big Daddy Kane
Bully
Father John Misty
Floating Points
Fatback Band
GL
Goat
Harvey Sutherland
Jessica Pratt
Julia Holter
Levins
Lucy Cliche
The Peep Tempel
Master Khalil Gudaz
MC Jane Clifton
Mighty Duke and the Lords
Briggs
Moon Duo
Neon Indian
Optimo
Pearls
Power
Ratatat
Shellac
Steve Miller Band
The Thurston Moore Band
Tkay Maidza
Totally Mild
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats
Unknown Mortal Orchestra