St Jerome’s Laneway Festival is our favourite event on the music calendar. Renowned for its healthy dose of up and coming acts alongside alternative scene stalwarts, 2020 finds the beloved festival reach one of its biggest lineups yet. Here’s what you can expect.
The Bands You Love, on the Cusp of Something New:
One look at the lineup and you’ll see a few familiar favourites. The likes of Hockey Dad, DMA’s, Ocean Alley and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are no stranger to the Aussie festival circuit, although Laneway wouldn’t just book them for the sake of it – each of these bands have something new in store.
Photo courtesy of Jack Gobbe
From Hockey Dad adding bass to their lineup, DMA’s embracing their pop sensibility, or King Gizz’s wildly unpredictable creative output, Laneway 2020 marks a turning point for all of these favourites.
Breaking the New
Laneway wins our hearts time and time again by introducing some killer acts to the major Aussie festival crowd. At the top of our must-see list is Fontaines DC. The rhythm takes the forefront in this Dublin band, the instrumentals twisting and turning around front-man’s Carlos O’Connell’s unapologetic Irish croon. With only a debut album under their belt, Fontaines D.C. has big things ahead, and align with Laneway’s knack for curating upcoming international talent.
On the Australian front, there’s The Chats. Behind the viral hits is a trio that already possesses an undeniable knack for writing truly infectious pub rock, while Spacey Jane has won the hearts of local indie-rock fans.
And then, of course, there’s Tones and I. Inarguably the breakout artist of the year, the Byron Bay popstar has made her presence known around the world with chart-topping single ‘Dance Monkey’ leading a debut EP primed for global pop stardom. After opening Splendour in the Grass earlier in the year, Laneway will find Tones and I at her first major touring festival – the first of many.
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Hip-Hop Heavyweights
Laneway has welcomed the rise of hip-hop with open arms over the years, with both Earl Sweatshirt and J.I.D set to bring their distinct rap to the festival.
A lot has changed in Sweatshirt’s life since his 2015 Splendour appearance, namely the loss of both his father and uncle in a matter of months. Enter ‘Some Rap Songs’, a record that is fuelled by Sweatshirt’s knack for off-kilter beats and equally as mind-bending bars. The recent follow-up EP ‘Feet of Clay’ has only solidified Sweatshirt’s status as one of hip-hop’s finest.
Photo courtesy of Steven Taylor
Where Earl Sweatshirt melds wordplay with production to a mesmerising effect, J.I.D makes music made for the moshpit. Hailing from the J Cole’s dynamic Dreamville collective, J.I.D is armed with a flow that rivals anyone and a sound made to rage to. Between both Sweatshirt and J.I.D, hip-hop heads have plenty to look forward to at Laneway 2020.
A Laneway Kind of Headliner
Throughout the years, each Laneway headliner has played the festival right before a monumental rise (e.g. Tame Impala right before they went on to headline Splendour and Coachella!). This year is no different.
The 1975 are slowly straying from Tumblr-era icons towards pop-rock icons of their own, with another album set to debut alongside their Laneway appearance. A string of headline shows last August proved that Australia is as ready as anyone to embrace The 1975’s new headlining chapter.
Photo courtesy of Matthew McNulty
Meanwhile, Charli XCX has turned her glitchy, metallic sound into an unstoppable pop machine. Charli XCX embodies everything you find in a Laneway artist -progressive, ground-breaking and going against the grain of what people know as “pop music”. You’ll struggle to find a soul not bopping along to Charli’s twisted anthems.
St Jerome’s Laneway Festival is in your city and on sale now! Visit their site before tickets fly out the door.