7 reasons to get excited for summer

The sun is shining, the line ups are out and I for one can not WAIT to get amongst it this summer.  "It" being the amazing showcase of musicans that will be featuring in festivals throughout our beautiful, sweaty, hot, amazing Australian summer.

The artists traveling down under for this summers' festivals are of the highest calibre, not to mention the incredible homegrown talents that have launched themselves onto the music scene in the last 12 months.  Festivals seem to be popping up left right and centre across the states and what a fantastic opportunity for everyone to see their favourite bands and artists as well as expose themselves to some more.  In case you live under a rock and are unsure of what music festivals I am referring to - Behold!

7 Reasons to get EXCITED for summer!

1. Falls Music Festival
www.fallsfestival.com.au/

Tickets have been sold and received but do not let this dishearten you! There are always genuine people having to sell their tickets for whatever reason.  A friend of a friend - you know the drill! But if someone seems dodgy on ebay - trust me they probably are! You can always try crashing as well - it's not like you'll get lost in the shrubbery or anything! (in case you can't remember; it happened - don't do it)  Angus Stone, Ball Park Music, Bombay Bicycle Club, Boy and Bear, Django Django. Jinja Safari, Lisa Mitchell, SBTRKT, The Hives and The Vaccines are a few names who will be featuring at this years wonderful New Years celebration festival.  A word to the organisers - please sort out the countdown this year.  or just someone to do it.   Falls Music Festival is set to be amazing once again with many of the bands already aurally pleasuring festival goers throughout 2012 and receiving rave reviews. 

 

2. Big Day Out
www.bigdayout.com

Returning to it's former glory, the Big Day Out has audienes excited once more after many were disappointed with the line up choices, with drawls and cut downs of last years music festival.  Boastin international acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vampire Weekend, Bloody Beetroots and The Killers this year's festival will struggle to disappoint.  Of course there will be Australian bands present with local acts featuring in each of the festivals cities.  Grinspoon, also be featuring as part the festival, will be an Aussie band to keep your eye on - the guys will be showcasing songs from their new album "Black Rabbits."

3. Soundwave
www.soundwavefestival.com.au

This Soundwave line up makes me both laugh and cry.  I loved The Offspring.  I used to listen to them on my discman when I was in Year 7.  I feel the same way about them touring as I do the Backstreet Boys with New Kids On The Block.  I was listening to them around that time too..

Metallica, Blink 182, Garbage, Paramore, The Amity Affliction, Cypress Hill and Tomahawk are a few of the other names that put together this huge Soundwave line up.  I'm sending resident reviewer Nat Brunoli out to this one on RTMs behalf (aka i couldn't afford a ticket) so keep an eye out and say hi!

Tickets are still available so if you're into loud music, head banging and gimp masks, hop to the website and get on it.

4. St. Jermone's Laneway Festival
www.lanewayfestival.com.au

With the pre-sale beginning today, Laneway Festival hits the mark when it comes it chilled our indie pop music featuring the talents of acts that have been prolific this year including Alpine, Alt-J, Bat for Lashes, Chet Faker, The Rubens and Yeasayer.  General tickets are on sale on the 5th of October - so don't miss out!

 

5. Stereosonic
www.stereosonic.com.au

Do you think Calvin Harris is the new David Guetta?  Admittedly I heard of Calvin first, but he's been doing so many collaborations lately it's only a matter of time before Flo Rida ft. Calvin Harris or vise versa hits the charts...if it happens you know you heard it first here.  That said Calvin certainly has earnt himself the spot on headliner at this years Stereosonic Music festival, Featuring alongside names such as Tiesto, Avicii, Example, Major Lazer - the name behind this years smash hit "Get Free" and also that popular beat from Pon De Floor you may also recognise in Beyonce's "Run The World".  Also gracing festival heads are Laidback Luke, Martin Solveig, Diplo, Flux Pavilion, Bingo Players (who better to drop Rattle then these guys themselves), Tommy Trash and Beni.

6. Summadayze
www.futureentertainment.com.au/summadayze

The same group that put together Parklife have put together this stella line up which I'm sure will capture summer days (har har) perfectly Fredde le Grand, Knife Party, Kimbra, The Chemical Brothers, Mark Ronson, M.I.A, Disclosure, Icona Pop and festival favourites Stafford Brothers, Timmy Trumpet will be back in action.  Get your neons and dancing shoes on for this one people!

If this song doesn't take you back to circa 2005/2006 i don't know what will...

7. All these other gigs!

Check out your local gig guide for more info :)

September

Parklife (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth)

Counter Revolution (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)

Village Fair (Sydney)
October
Jazz in the Vines (Hunter Valley, NSW)

Manly Jazz Festival (Sydney)

Stonefest (Canberra)

Rewind (Kembla Grange, NSW)

The Boroughs (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney)

Counter Revolution (Adelaide, Perth)

Fat As Butter (Newcastle)

November

Queenscliff Music Festival (Melbourne)

Shine On (Melbourne)

Foreshore (Canberra)

Stereosonic (Sydney, Perth)

Blues at Bridgetown (Bridgetown, WA)

Harvest Festival (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane)

December


Falls Festival (Melbourne, Hobart)

Meredith Music Festival (Melbourne)

Stereosonic (Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane)

Peats Ridge (Glenworth Valley, NSW)

Pyramid Rock Festival (Melbourne)

Homebake (Sydney)

Woodford Folk Festival (Brisbane)

Good Vibrations (2012) (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)


January

Big Day Out (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth)

Southbound (Perth)

Rainbow Serpent Festival (Melbourne)

Summafieldayze (Gold Coast)

Summadayze (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth)

Soundscape Festival (Hobart)

Tamworth Country Music Festival (Tamworth, NSW)

St Jerome's Laneway Festival (Brisbane)

Thredbo Blues Festival (Thredbo, Victoria)

February

St Jerome's Laneway Festival (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth)

Riverboats Music Festival (Vic/ NSW - Murray River)

A Day on the Green (vineyard-based events - Victoria, NSW)

National Festival of Australian Blues Music (Sydney)

Soundwave Festival (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth)

Earth Freq (Sydney)

Between the Bays (Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula)

Clarence Jazz Festival (Hobart)

March

Future Music Festival (Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide)

MS Fest (Hobart)
Soundwave Festival (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth)

Corinbank Festival (Canberra)

Nannup Music Festival (Nannup, WA)

Port Fairy Folk Festival (Port Fairy, Vic)

Brunswick Music Festival (Melbourne)

love ran xo

Splendour Diaries: Day 3

Day 3: July 29, 2012

Day 3...the last day.. I don't even know where to begin. The icing on the cake that was Splendour in the Grass 2012.  The beautiful warm Byron Bay weather set the bitter sweet mood of what would be the final day of the biggest Australian winter music festival.  We made sure we arrived earlier this time to get the most out of final day.

Parachute Youth welcomed Splendourites into the venue, performing their fresh beats from the mix up tent - the first stage of three main stages that made the festival.  We cruised on past to the GW McLennan stage for the gorgeous Gossling ("YOU sing the woolies song!") who won us all over with her iddy biddy voice and musical talents.

We stayed at the stage to watch The Rubens set up for their show, while at the same time melting the hearts of every girl in the tent. Such gorgeous men!  When The Rubens began their set they were adamant that this was the largest audience they had ever played too and did not disappoint.  As if they had been playing together for years, the boys were flawless in their delivery.  There is something about the emotion in their vocals, particularly in "Lay it Down" and even in more upbeat songs such as "My Gun" that wins your heart over and sings to your soul.

After falling in love once again with The Rubens we were off to make friends with the cool kids of Splendour, Ball Park Music.  Getting the party at the Supertop started, BPM started off with their hit "I FLY" and treated fans to a couple of new hits as well as a cover of the classic Frankie Valli disco hit "Oh what a night".

San Cisco were super cute, Angus Stone brought his own forest to the stage and Blue King Brown reminded us of the power of music.

Next was Wolfmother, who brought rock and roll to the main tent, then The Kooks who played everyones favourite songs and then some.  A bit of Triple J House Party Host Nina Las Vegas was a delightful interlude and finally the day ended with Gossip and The Smashing Pumpkins.  Beth Ditto was so lovely and brought a new energy to the Mix Up Tent.  The Smashing Pumpkins set time surpassed Gossip's allowing everyone to have a chance to see their set which did not disappoint.

Overall Splendour was an amazing experience and I cannot even fathom having to go to work tomorrow. Thank you to Nat Brunoli for a wonderful weekend, thank you Byron Bay and thank you thank you Splendour in the Grass.  Until next time,

Ran xo