Laneway aptly marked it’s humble beginnings in a Melbourne laneway in 2005. It has since built a reputation as a festival with it’s finger firmly on the pulse of the music industry, despite canning one of Australia’s foremost up-and-coming artists from the bill this year (cc: Kirin J Callinan).
Nevertheless, we savour the release of each lineup with intense anticipation because the event delivers a solid slew of talent from around the world every single year; from artists who we don’t usually see in this neck of the woods, to absolute crowd favourites we can’t get enough of.For the Sydney leg of the tour, the weather was cool, clear and decidely perfect. We tipped in just in time for UK boys Shame who have received nods from the likes of Fat White Family, which might offer some indication of what we walked in on. Unwinding, The Babe Rainbow lulled us into a flowery frenzy right before we caught a highly anticipated set from Alex Cameron straight off the back of about two years of touring everywhere but Oz, including opening for The Killers (yes, they did Madison Square Garden). Roy Molloy’s stool review was an authentic delight.
Billie Eilish rolled out in a red tracksuit with a Louis Vuitton purse strapped to her back and she belted out her first song into a bung mic which somehow went completely unnoticed by the sound guy. We snuck in some quick muzzing courtesy of Kllo at the Red Bull stage before blissing out to (Sandy) Alex G over at Spinning Top. Sylvan Esso followed shortly after and systematically blew our minds with perhaps the most high-energy set of the day before we landed firmly back on the ground in time for Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Then, back over to the Garden Stage for big favourites The Internet who always receive the warmest reception. Guitarist Steve Lacy also played a bit from his solo EP to the glee of literally everyone present.
Photos: Dani Hansen
Shame
The Babe Rainbow
Alex Cameron
Billie Eilish
Kllo
Sandy Alex G
Sylvan Esso
Rolling Blackouts CF
The Internet
Photos: Dani Hansen/Howl & Echoes
Weird and wonderful psych dudes The Babe Rainbow have been hard at work in their studio-in-a-bookshop, and have emerged with another tune perfectly designed for floating down a stream on a sunny, technicolour afternoon. Planet Junior is as trippy and blissed out as you’d expect from these chillers, and has come just in time for their string of shows to wrap up what has been a pretty successful 2014.
Guitarist Kool-Breeze says of the song, “Planet Junior is the ancient hoeing tool we use on the farm for raking gold from the skies for harvesting.” I don’t know what that means, but what I do know is this; Planet Junior is a step away from the full throttle psych previously heard (Secret Enchanted Broccoli Forest) but not a step down. Highlighting a more delicate melody, with silky smooth vocals, the song weaves it’s way along into a state of complete bliss with the breakdown. Clocking in at just over 3 minutes, my only wish is for it not to end.
To celebrate this latest release, they’re dropping in for one show only at The Workers Club in Melbourne this Saturday afternoon, and are bringing Sunbeam Sound Machine along for good measure. They’ve also locked down some pretty pivotal support slots, sharing the stage with labelmates King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard for their next tour, as well as Ty Segall no less. They’ve also been locked down to play at NYE On The Hill at Loch Village alongside The Smith Street Band, The Delta Riggs and Oscar Key Sung.
Planet Junior is out now via Flightless/Remote Control!
The Babe Rainbow tour dates:
Sat Nov 22: The Workers Club, Melbourne (supported by Sunbeam Sound Machine)
Tix here
Sat Dec 6: Howler, Melbourne (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
Tix here
Thurs Dec 11: Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
Tix here
Fri Dec 12: Roller Den, Sydney (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
Tix here
Sat Dec 13: The Rosemount Hotel, Perth (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
Tix here
Sun Dec 14: Mojos, Fremantle (supporting King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard)
Tix here
Fri Dec 19: The Zoo, Brisbane (supporting Ty Segall)
Tix here
Sat Dec 20: The Great Northern, Byron Bay (supporting Ty Segall)
Tix here
Wed Dec 31: Evie, Tallarook, Victoria (SOLD OUT)
Thurs Jan 01: NYE On The Hill! Loch Village, Victoria (SOLD OUT)