After 23 glorious years, Falls Festival continues to provide us with the most unforgettable moments across the New Year festivus. The 2016-17 lineup saw some major international names, as well as our best local acts rounding up another year in style. In Byron Bay, it was a balmy 33 degrees across the three day event and climaxed with a torrential downpour for the very last performances on day three.
Our final day began correctly with some good honest noise courtesy of Perth locals Tired Lion and New York lo-fi/ punk guys Parquet Courts. AlunaGeorge followed-up by filling out the Forest Stage tent, and DMA’s brought their usual high-energy, homegrown flavour. Thankfully, we managed to catch our breath afterwards and vibed along with Vallis Alps. Things picked up again during Golden Features’ set and by the time Catfish And The Bottlemen took the stage, the stifling heat had well and truly been broken and the rain had set in for the rest of the night. The crowd stood drenched for over an hour while stage equipment was dried off and excess water mopped up, but it was certainly worth the wait. Those brave punters that held out were then treated to a breathtaking performance by London Grammar and muzzed along with Alison Wonderland to close out another amazing Falls Festival.
Read our full review of Falls Festival in Byron Bay
In this gallery you will find Tired Lion, Parquet Courts, AlunaGeorge, Vallis Alps, DMA’s, Golden Features, Catfish And The Bottlemen, London Grammar, and Alison Wonderland.
PHOTOS: Falls Festival Day I
PHOTOS: Falls Festival Day IITired Lion
Parquet Courts
AlunaGeorge
Vallis Alps
DMA’s
Golden Features
Catfish & The Bottlemen
London Grammar
Alison Wonderland
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
Catfish And The Bottlemen have just visited Australia across the new years period to perform a highly anticipated set at Falls Festival, as well as several headline sideshows throughout the country. In town to promote their new album The Ride, it marked the UK band’s first Australian visit in two years, having cancelled their Splendour in the Grass 2016 appearance at the eleventh hour (they were replaced by DZ Deathrays). Needless to say, the energy and excitement felt during their sets was palpable throughout the audience.
We were lucky to catch the group live in Sydney at the Enmore Theatre on Friday, January 6, with support from Melbourne group Fan Girl.
Fan Girl
Catfish And The Bottlemen
All photos: Jeremy Brebner for Howl & Echoes
It’s just about to tick over into December, which means one thing: we’re less than a month from the 24th annual Falls Festival. With just a few weeks of shitty Christmas carols and resisting the urge to murder everyone at your local Westfield who also decided to buy presents at the last minute in a rain of blood, we took a breather to look at the acts on the bill you should, nay, must see lest you want future generations to snicker when you try to tell them tales of your Falls experiences that don’t include:
Childish Gambino
Gambino’s return to Australia is set to be meteoric in scale. The man is about to release what is sure to be one of the top contenders for album of the year this Friday in the long, long LOOOOOONG anticipated Awaken, My Love!, and what we’ve heard of it already has us dribbling.
His set at Falls will be one of the first chances for fans anywhere in the world to cop a big old earful of new material in a live environment, plus you just know that amphitheatre is going to be absolutely seething to the likes of solidified belters like Bonfire, Freaks And Geeks and 3005 among swathes of others.
He’s not playing a single sideshow either, so if you go to Falls and don’t see Childish Gambino, we can’t be responsible for the twisted ruin your soul becomes in the coming years as it shrivels with regret.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp7eSUU9oy8
Jamie T
Having not been spotted since a goosebump-inducing set at last year’s Splendour In The Grass is London vagabond Jamie T. With his latest album Trick up his sleeve, the inimitably-accented rocker is back for summer to captivate audiences once again.
You may remember him from yell-along hits such as Sheila, Sticks And Stones and Zombie among many others, but if you’ve never seen him live and you do at Falls, you’ll remember him from the shivers you get up and down your spine thinking back to that moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEQXJQn8LZg
Grandmaster Flash
The crafty veteran of the bill is the granddaddy of the decks in Grandmaster fucking Flash. Seriously, it’s 2016 and Grandmaster Flash is on a festival bill. What a time to be alive.
The man has seen damn near everything in hip-hop since its genesis. I’m not sure if he’ll be making his entrance from a beam of light bursting down through the heavens but such is his myth that it’s more than likely.
His set will be full of vintage hip-hop for the soul, but let’s face it, if you don’t make it your business to bask in the glory of The Message played live, you will have to look St. Peter in the eye one day and tell him why he should let you into heaven when you already passed up the chance to be there once before.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYMkEMCHtJ4
Bernard Fanning
Do you feel that? It’s elation, it’s ecstasy, it’s euphoria… it’s the unofficial Emperor of Queensland Bernard Fanning. Yes, there’ll be heat-induced visions of Milton Mangoes and Castlemaine Cranberries by the Brown Snake with the 1994 Maroons re-enacting their Miracle Try as the singer-songwriter-sacred deity takes to the stage guitar in hand at this year’s Falls to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that none of us are worthy.
One of the few bonafide legends of Australian rock still making noise today, miss Bernard Fanning live and be condemned to a lifetime of being jersey-slung out of bed by Gorden Tallis every morning instead of an alarm clock.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYlyghmTSIU
MØ
Danish sensation MØ (fun fact, that’s actually pronounced ‘Mer’) might be best known for her vocal contributions to that one Major Lazer song that became a small hit, but she’s a pop star in her own right as well, with stunning solo album No Mythologies To Follow an absolute ripper.
Possessed of a badass swagger and a bloody great set of pipes on top, prepare to get absolutely lost in the MØ live experience. Just see if you can even begin to handle the pure pop rapture that is Kamikaze at any rate, you’ll be hooked for life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVD9j36Ke94
Marlon Williams
Yet another Kiwi export that Australia will no doubt be claiming for its own very soon is smoky crooner Marlon Williams. If you’re looking for a change of pace from a frenetic Falls to a laidback lounge in the grass, you’d do well to catch Williams, whose 2015 self-titled debut set hearts aflutter and saw swooning rates increase by 600% (approximately).
Williams is a throwback that’ll stop you in your tracks, and with three days of being absolutely buckled to push your way through, it’s so important to take some time out to chill here and there. Let Marlon Williams be the soundtrack to at least one of those brief periods of peace.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow8qMY8JkR0
Client Liaison
Speaking of throwbacks, Melbourne’s Client Liaison do late 80s/early 90s dance pop better than anybody on this planet. They’ll be riding into Falls in an off-white limousine (probably) and pulling out all the stops onstage. These guys are showmen to the bone (frontman Monte Morgan a true treasure) and their set will be absolutely wild.
With a debut album’s worth of new material to light up the night with from this year’s Diplomatic Immunity, (Canberra Won’t Be Calling Tonight ought to bring the house down the moment that first kookaburra starts warbling, as will Wild Life and World Of Our Love from that same album), expect elaborate stage props and costumes, choreographed dancing and glorious, tear-inducing saxophone solos.
Client Liaison live aren’t just a pick-me-up, they’re a grab-you-by-the-collar-and-throw-you-into-the-galaxy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XnyF-tDia4
City Calm Down
An enthralling live act, Melbourne’s City Calm Down have been one of Australia’s biggest breakout acts of the last year since sophomore record In A Restless House first exploded onto the national consciousness.
Post-punk in the vein of The Cure (frontman Jack Bourke’s wide-ranging vocals eerily reminiscent of Robert Smith), the City Calm Down boys bring their sprawling sound from record to stage with razor sharp precision and professionalism and leave audiences breathless. They’re known for a blisteringly honest cover of Bowie’s Let’s Dance and their own signature tunes in Rabbit Run, Son and the anthemic Your Fix always leave a crowd breathless.
City Calm Down are a group on the upswing and there doesn’t look like a zenith in plain sight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26AQCCQKkcc
Grouplove
If you like unbridled joy, superhuman levels of energy and dancing, all of the dancing, then California’s Grouplove will unquestionably be for you. They too have a brand new album this year in big hit Big Mess and they’ll no doubt be bringing a sizeable horde of fans to life with good vibes exploding from the sound system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNDXUhKFPA4
Catfish And The Bottlemen
Having an outstanding year are blue-chip Welsh rock and rollers Catfish And The Bottlemen. Their latest album The Ride has been thrilling and chilling auditory senses and uppercutting everyone directly in the feels since its release earlier in 2K16. They’re back to turn it up to 11 in Australia once again and their loud, evocative rock and roll is nigh on perfect for a summer festival.
If you don’t drunkenly sway while holding a pair of Extra Drys aloft and off-key bellowing the chorus to 7, were you even at Falls?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibv5N70ncsk
If you’re of the opinion that this list is lacking a little in Aussie talent, not to worry. Keep an eye out for our list of Aussie Acts to Catch at this year’s Falls Festival coming soon.
Image: Miss Dimplez
“I raced through soundcheck just to meet you on your fag break and you convinced me to put life aside and want you.”
I love it already.
Singer Van McCann‘s accent, the upbeat, summery vibes and the usual heart on your sleeve inspired lyrics had me humming along after the first listen and countless more will no doubt will have me screaming the words and drumming on the steering wheel on my way home from work on Friday.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACLnXD-lxuw]
Yes, goofy but loveable Brit indie rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen are back with a catchy-as-hell new song Soundcheck. Written by McCann and produced by Dave Sardy (Oasis, Wolf Mother, Jet, The Gorillaz), Soundcheck is getting us all very excited for the band’s upcoming second album due for release later this year. Howl and Echoes was lucky to catch them live when they supported the Kooks in January last year and now we’re hoping the new album will spark the need for another Australian tour after the band’s heartbreaking last minute cancellation before last year’s Splendour in the Grass. McCann says of the album, “I feel like the last album was the support band, or even the soundcheck and this one’s the headliner.” A big call considering how good their debut Balcony was, with tracks like Kathleen and Cocoon, but we’ve got no doubt they’ll back it up.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/135495195″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=’450′ iframe=”true” /]
The second Soundcheck starts McCann’s drawl catches your attention, with “Maybe I don’t act the way I used to because I don’t feel the same about you.” The drums come in, your feet are already tapping and your head’s bobbing in preparation for the little “WOOP!” you can just hear as they launch into another anthemic chorus. You can picture a crowd full of weird haircuts, ripped black t-shirts and tight jeans singing every word along with McCann. Although the sound isn’t anything new from them, it’s still freakin’ good and I’m not ready for them to change or experiment when they do this so damn well. I am however, very excited to hear what they have in store for us on the rest of the album.
Cheers for another banger boys.
Image: The Independent
This morning, unforeseeable illness has compelled the UK act Catfish and the Bottlemen to cancel their appearances at Splendour in the Grass (including all Aussie headline shows) and Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. The band announced the cancellation on Facebook with a statement that reads:
“It is with huge regret that, due [to] illness in the band and crew, Catfish and the Bottlemen will not be playing their planned shows this week in Australia and Japan; including Splendour in the Grass and Fuji Rocks festivals. The band are obviously absolutely devastated not to be making the trip and hope fans will understand. For the band’s headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney, please contact your point of purchase for refund details”.
But don’t be too sad. According to Triple J, the Brisbane rock duo DZ Deathrays have been confirmed as Catfish’s replacement. They will be performing at the Amphitheatre on Friday at 3.15pm. Get excited. They have been tempting and teasing us with talk of demos for a new album. Anyone who has seen DZ live know that it’s a sight to behold, so we don’t think it’s that big a loss.
Do yourself a favour and watch this:
See. Mummy was right. Things do turn out for the best.
With Splendour in the Grass headlining acts like Blur, Florence + The Machine, Of Monsters And Men and The Wombats to name just a few, smaller, lesser known acts have big expectations to live up to.. But hey, that doesn’t mean they can’t fulfill them, hell, even smash it out of the ballpark.
I often think the smaller acts during the day or in the early evening are the best. In fact, my favourite performance of last year was on the last day of Splendour 2014, watching Chrome Sparks play to a tiny, worn out crowd of devoted revelers. It was such an incredible, happy experience for me, and definitely one of my best Splendour mems.
These lesser-known artists often cater to a very niche, dedicated group of fans who will show up rain or shine to see them. And plus, the benefits of being in a smaller crowd means that you can have a stronger connection to act you’re seeing.
So now we launch into a list of non-headliners who we can’t wait to see perform at Splendour in the Grass 2015. Most of these acts are playing Splendour in the Grass sideshows too, so jump on those if you can’t make it to Byron Bay!
- Dune Rats (Saturday)
You can assume that any band that makes a song called Dalai Lama Big Banana Marijuana, and a music video, which includes them smoking, bong after bong, gives absolutely zero fucks about, oh well, just about anything.
But it also means they are a really good time. Fans of the Dune Rats (calling themselves ‘Dunies’) are so dedicated to the band that they will get tattoos saying the aforementioned to forever immortalise their love for the trio.
We can’t make this shit up
They will definitely make for one of the most bangin’ acts there. Don’t believe us? Check out their red hot music video for Red Light Green Light below.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAkBYSbMYA8&w=560&h=315]
Check out our interview with them here.
- Years and Years (Saturday)
Burning up the charts with their hit King, British electronica trio Years & Years is definitely an act not to miss. Frontman Olly Alexander’s impressive vocals will have you attempting to reach the same heights as him, only to fail miserably, because let’s face it – who can actually sing that high? Singing’s not his only talent – he appeared on the seventh seasons of Skins Pure.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_uoH6hJilc&w=560&h=315]
- Safia (Saturday)
Which big Aussie act hasn’t collaborated with Canberra three-piece Safia yet? The dumb ones, that’s who. Since winning Triple J’s Groovin’ the Moo competition back in 2013, the Canberrians have gone form strength to strength.
Included by the likes of Alison Wonderland and Peking Duk into their works, perhaps we can hope to see an onstage performance between the aforementioned?After all they’re also appearing at Splendour, so we may be getting a triple dose of Safia and his hauntingly beautiful vocals.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv_FnbBqnWs&w=560&h=315]
- Hayden James (Saturday)
Sydney Singer/songwriter/producer Hayden James is just more evidence of the amazing electronic acts coming out of Oz in recent years. His works have been remixed by fellow electronic demi-gods Touch Sensitive and Charles Murdoch, and track Permission to Love created some serious buzz when it was released.
Signed to the music label with the Midas touch, Future Classic, he’s toured with ODESZA and already played at Splendour in the past, so James is definitely an easy predication for awesomeness.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mVJJvx04_w&w=560&h=315]
- Mansionair (Friday)
Oh. My. God. I am literally obsessed with this band. Their two releases Hold Me Down and Second Night are just so incredibly beautiful to listen to. Jack Frogatt’s vocals soar to incredible heights with members Lachlan Bostock and Alex Nicholls using a ethereal, magical blend of guitar, bass and electronics to create something so beautiful and enchanting. If their recent performance for Triple J’s Like a Version, covering Future Islands Waiting On You, is anything to go by, they will be show stopping live.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5AInHhyXzE&w=560&h=315]
- Porter Robinson (Friday)
This guy achieved international superstardom by the time he was 18 and three of his records had reached number one on Beatport by the time he was 21. He’s collaborated with Thomas Jack and ODESZA, been commissioned by Avicii and Lady Gaga for official remixes and is a self-taught producer.
Needless to say, Porter Robinson is kinda a big deal. With millions of streams on Spotify and SoundCloud, and a song like the one below, he’s going to be fucking incredible live.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/200818581″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
- San Cisco (Friday)
An easy prediction for greatness here. Their performances at Groovin’ the Moo and at my uni were incredible. They give their all and sound great live with their effusive brand of charming indie-pop. Definitely catch them when they play for their acclaimed hits like Awkward and their excellent cover of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLCaVZ3fmU0&w=560&h=315]
- Catfish and the Bottlemen (Friday)
The best British indie-rock group to come out in years, Catfish and the Bottlemen put in 110% effort for every performance, just read our review of them here.
The charming lead vocalist and guitarist Van McCann’s crowd interaction will leave you guffawing, and their feel good, old-school rock will have you jumping up and down for the entire set. Despite their modesty and self-proclaimed mediocrity, they really bring something special and genuine to all of their performances.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrrcVxnjJO8&w=560&h=315]
- George Maple (Friday)
The beautiful and very talented George Maple always puts on a good show. How could you not with those powerful, soaring vocals, amazing wardrobe and Touch Sensitive on keyboard? She is, without a doubt, the Next Big Thing coming out of the Australian music scene.
Why you ask? Take a look at her hauntingly beautiful live recording of her song Vacant Space, which sounds like a manifestation of the name of the song itself.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcRnr7HlkqA&w=560&h=315]
Having had seen her play at the Future Classic Xmas Party, I can attest to the fact that she is a genuinely talented and beguiling as she seems. And Future Classic has very good track record of picking up and representing hugely talented artists. Flume anyone?
- Client Liaison (Friday)
Holy shit. If I could stress that you absolutely go and see one band, it would be these guys. You simply have to catch these 80s revivalists live. When you think of someone putting on a show, these are the kinds of artists who do it. They do not mimic the whole 80’s thing – they live, breathe and eat it. They inhabit it. Their performance at Secret Garden Festival was one of the best things I’ve ever seen full stop.
These guys are the real deal
Lead vocalist Monte Morgan strutted across the stage like he invented the damn thing. A bevy of aerobics-clad dancers with their leotards pulled up eye-wateringly high, mirrored his swagger, while Triple J’s Tom Tilley was killed it bass.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVv79XEent8&w=560&h=315]
Simply a must see. Above all, they are hella fun. Don’t believe us? Check out our review of their Pretty Lovers tour here, and our interview with them here.
Catfish and the Bottlemen are the kind of band who seem to encompass that old-school glamour exuded by British musicians, engendering the gentle charm of a bygone era that you so seldom see nowadays. It was with great pleasure that I was able to attend their show on a rainy Monday night at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney, while they were in town supporting The Kooks. Glebe’s Food Court opened the show for the sedated Monday night crowd, who swayed half-heartedly as the band belted out a series of high-energy medleys. Guitarist Dan De Santis was particularly excellent, playing a skilful set of guitar rifts to accompany the performance.
Shortly after 10:00pm, Catfish and the Bottlemen glided onto the stage wordlessly, picking up their instruments and immediately launching into Rango, off album The Balcony. Their attire was simple and effortlessly nonchalant, and they exuded modesty and gratitude to ever single person in attendance. Lead vocalist Van McCann greeted the crowd enthusiastically before transitioning into Pacifier and Sidewinder.
McCann, interestingly enough, used to live in Sydney when he was younger, and it was during his time in Sydney where he met a busker named ‘Catfish the Bottlemen’, whom he credits as the inspiration behind the band’s name. In fact, all of the band members were from elsewhere before they moved to Llandudno, Wales, where they formed in 2007 as ‘The Prestige’.
Unfortunately, there appeared to be a large amount of boisterous Brits present, who proceeded to yell and scream at the band “United or Manchester? UNITED OR MANCHESTER?” repeatedly. McCann, ever the gentlemen, answered their queries lightheartedly, never breaking a sweat (except for when he was singing or playing his guitar.)
In fact, his interaction with the crowd was simply splendid, finding the perfect equilibrium between cheeky and charming. In between hits like Fallout and Hourglass, he’d switch up instruments or talk about his other band members, even likening his drummer’s afro to that of Sideshow Bob’s. Paying a special tribute to Triple J for the large amount of airtime given to their next and most well known song Kathleen, the band wound down with Business, Homesick and Cocoon, before finishing with Tyrants.
The highlight of the night definitely had to be McCann. He radiated the irrepressible charisma endemic of a softly spoken Welshman. After every song came to an end in a loud crescendo of instrumentals, McCann would breathlessly add a quick ‘thank you’, before engaging the crowd in some more playful banter. They sounded incredible and they put 110% effort into their performance, so much so that they were all soaked in sweat by the time the concert was over. Before departing the stage, McCann urged everyone to come up and say hello to them afterwards when they would be mingling in the crowd. Enormously talented, but ever humble, the band’s behaviour and performance was that of pure class.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrrcVxnjJO8]
Don’t you just love that feeling you get when you stumble upon a new band?
Here’s one for you. They’ve been around for a while, but just in case they’ve slipped under the radar…
Welsh indie-rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen got together in 2008, and have since made three EPs and a full-length studio album. Their early sound has been influenced by artists like Oasis and Arctic Monkeys –.
In an interview with Triple J, the band’s frontman, Ryan Van McCann revealed his childhood connection to Australia and the reason for the band’s name.
“…my first memory of music is meeting this busker out on the harbour called Catfish the Bottleman and he used to play this thing with wine bottles hanging off of it like a drum kit.”
They released their debut album The Balcony in the UK in September 2014 and in the US earlier this month. From the tracks we’ve heard, it’s pretty awesome.
Check out their music video for Pacifier.
Like their sound? We have some good news for you! They are supporting The Kooks on their Australian Tour in January, starting this weekend in Perth.
Saturday January 17, Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth (Tix Here)
Tuesday January 20, Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (Tix Here)
Friday January 23, Riverstage Brisbane, Brisbane (Tix Here)
Saturday January 24, Arts Centre, Sidney Myer Music Ball, Melbourne (Tix Here)
If you want to see more of them, they also have their own headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne.
Monday 19 January, Oxford Art Academy, Sydney (Tix Here)
Sunday 25 January, The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (Tix Here)
