Hypothesis: partying with Beck, Justice and The Libertines is the most ideal way to kick a new festival off the ground. By all calculations, it turns out that reality lives up to the theory.
Sydney City Limits is Australia’s answer to the renowned Texas event that has become a cornerstone of America’s festival circuit. Like Austin City Limits, SCL is set to make its mark on the industry here at home. The event came out swinging in its inaugural year with a glittering lineup that echoed festivals past (Big Day Out, Soundwave), beckoning some big acts who haven’t been this side of the shoreline in a while (what we like to see).
Brit punk icons The Libertines, the infinitely talented Grace Jones, mastermind Beck, and French electro/indie powerhouses Justice and Phoenix all joined a rich and diverse bill of local and internationals acts. Aussie wares like Gang of Youths, Stella Donnelly, Winston Surfshirt, Alex Lahey and The Avalanches sat alongside comfortably showcasing staggering talent.
The kick-off was a one-day affair set to four stages and was peppered with boutique food, beverage and retail stalls, including The Grove VIP section, for anyone malcontent with the sweaty mosh life. While around 14,000 turned up to muzz, the Centennial Park space was easy to navigate between stages and the lines for food and drinks were spread out and moved quickly, thanks to the abundance of vendors. It was a jam-packed schedule which meant that we weren’t bored for a second. We’ll definitely be back next year.
Photos by Dani Hansen.
Thundercat
Gang of Youths
Oh Wonder
The Avalanches
Future
Ocean Alley
Grace Jones
Justice
Phoenix
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
Hypothesis: partying with Beck, Justice and The Libertines is the most ideal way to kick a new festival off the ground. By all calculations, it turns out that reality lives up to the theory.
Sydney City Limits is Australia’s answer to the renowned Texas event that has become a cornerstone of America’s festival circuit. Like Austin City Limits, SCL is set to make its mark on the industry here at home. The event came out swinging in its inaugural year with a glittering lineup that echoed festivals past (Big Day Out, Soundwave), beckoning some big acts who haven’t been this side of the shoreline in a while (what we like to see).
Brit punk icons The Libertines, the infinitely talented Grace Jones, mastermind Beck, and French electro/indie powerhouses Justice and Phoenix all joined a rich and diverse bill of local and internationals acts. Aussie wares like Gang of Youths, Stella Donnelly, Winston Surfshirt, Alex Lahey and The Avalanches sat alongside comfortably showcasing staggering talent.
The kick-off was a one-day affair set to four stages and was peppered with boutique food, beverage and retail stalls, including The Grove VIP section, for anyone malcontent with the sweaty mosh life. While around 14,000 turned up to muzz, the Centennial Park space was easy to navigate between stages and the lines for food and drinks were spread out and moved quickly, thanks to the abundance of vendors. It was a jam-packed schedule which meant that we weren’t bored for a second. We’ll definitely be back next year.
Photos by Dani Hansen.
LDRU
Stella Donnelly
Tkay Maidza
Sigrid
The Head And The Heart
Allday
The Libertines
Car Seat Headrest
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
With much glee, Beck’s first trip to Australia in five years was adorned by the news that he would be appearing at an intimate gig in Sydney – his only other headline show in the city ahead of his spot at the inaugural Sydney City Limits festival.
The Factory Theatre in Marrickville played host to the special affair; a one and a half hour set that touched on all eras of his vast catalogue, and then some. That whimsical spontaneity that Beck honed in his formative days is something he clearly still carries with him. The entire show was built on an air of offhandedness, and with about only 500 people in attendance, it truly was a glittering night.
He broke in the evening with a solo quip of Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime before his seven-piece band joined him on stage for some more country-esque ditties, a little “Colonel Sanders” as he put it. Once we’d brined through a quarter of his slower paced Morning Phase LP, Devil’s Haircut and Black Tambourine had the crowd hankering for the fry up. Like his iconic genre bending, the setlist jumped back and forth between originals, covers and albums. Think I’m In Love melted into a brief rendition of Donna Summer’s I Feel Love before some more fleeting moments from Odelay and Guero. He also took what moments he could in between tunes to showcase his light humour and considerable wit.
Beck grooved and pop-locked his way through the dancier numbers with punters in tow, so by the time Loser breezed round to bring the event to a close, he barely had to utter the words for the crowd clamouring every lyric. The highlight of the encore was some Jagger moves during a Rolling Stones bit as he introduced each of his band (also, great Talking Heads, Gary Numan and AC/DC soundbites). “That’s the kind of friendship we have together.”
Privileged. Thank you, Beck. Please move to Sydney at your earliest convenience.
Beck is also playing the Royal Theatre in Canberra, February 26, and Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, February 28.
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes