sydney city limits Festival
The inaugural SCL festival graced the Centennial Parklands for the first time and brought with it
a stellar line up of local and international acts. Musicology was there to capture the event and
share some of the festival highlights.
THE HEAD AND THE HEART
The dynamism between the band was tight with barely a look from one musician to the next, no need to gauge where the set was going, just an inherit feeling that was evident to see. Josiah Johnson bounding around and spurring on impassioned accompaniment by fellow guitarist Jonathan Russell and Kenny Hensley on keys. A full bodied set by The Head And The Heart that was a perfect opener to the sun soaked festival.
WINSTON SURFSHIRT
There has been much interest surrounding Winston Surfshirt as an emerging artists with a stage presence that commands respect and no one in the crowd was disappointed. After a few cheeky spliffs Winston pranced around on stage, warming up his fellow compatriots. Some strides over the speaker stacks was enough to ignite the crowd. Often in supporting duties, the horns section of Winston Surfshirt was perhaps their greatest asset and defining sound. Reverberating around the park grounds, the jazzy ska fusion an effervescence that was as infectious as it was funky.
THE LIBERTINES
Gritty, ragged and ones to rise to any occasion. The Libertines were ramming through the hits as they slammed out one banger after another. The crowd following every bass line and rough guitar hook as if to encourage an already amped Libertines. Moments of dual singing between Carl Barât and Pete Doherty only uniting the crowd further to chant and clap with every line.
DUNE RATS
What else remains to be said about Dune Rats. They have conquered the world and smashed every barrier a remote southern hemisphere punk band could face. Playing stadium after stadium, their riotous balls to the wall stoner rock anthems permeated throughout the festival, drawing a huge crowd as they preached to the converted. Shrouded by inflatable dunies backdrops, the mad trio roared through their set as Dunies cans were hoisted into the crowd. As rambunctious as one would expect but the delight the crowd enjoyed was on par with the band themselves loving every second of being stage.
THUNDERCAT
It was a free form jazz bliss out with Thundercat tinkling his 6 string bass as if there were several hands ghosting up and down that fret board. The Jamaican tropical vibe with steel drum beats swooning the crowd into submission. A masterful set whose three members proving the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
VANCE JOY
Another home-grown hero, Vance Joy enjoyed the steady build-up of fans as the House stage swelled with admirers. Performing to a local crowd affords you a certain amount of privileges all of which Vance took in his stride. Unprovoked sing-alongs, a roaring crowd and unrequired track announcements. The smiling assassin wavered between old and new tunes which only served to keep the audience on tender hooks. A man who’s enthusiasm oozed through each song. A sparkling set that mirrored the twilight backdrop of late afternoon.
THE AVALANCHES
One of Australia's largest exports The Avalanches have made a spate of reformations and appearances of late after a far too long hiatus. The groves infectious, bootylicious beats and unforgettable samples, make for an unmissable show. No stone left unturned it was an epic set taking in all of the classics that had the crowd enraptured. What isn't to love about Because I’m Me, Frontier Psychiatrist and Since I Left You and having the pleasure to relive them live with 20,000 of your closet mates.
BECK
The maestro, the gentleman, the one and only Beck. From the moment the man stepped on stage we all knew why we attended Sydney City Limits. To witness a man whose music has not only spanned decades but also shaped them.This is bucket list material. We are talking about the man who carved out off a shapeless era albums such Odelay and Midnite Vultures. Truly definitive records and here before us stood an artist that has trans morphed music in such a way that his name is a by-word for creativity. You know what I speak of and Beck took Sydney City Limits to the threshold of its title. A bristling set that took in the full spectrum of his work and set against a huge LED wall of artwork, a remarkable performance that scratched every itch.
JUSTICE
Rounding off the evening Justice with their make shift road case DJ decks and walls of Marshall amps hid in the shadows as they worked the audience into a stupor. PH beats rained down upon those lurking in the depths of a rave that was as conspicuous as the sickle moon that was the only feature illuminating the sky in an otherwise empty night sky....just the way Justice would like it as they closed the evening in a hail of beats and flashes of their signature cross.