Randwick Racecourse, Sydney
Saturday March 9, 2013 :
Arriving to a long queue of revellers begging for guest admission, it quickly became apparent that one of the themes for this year’s Future Music Festival would be waiting. All good things come to those that wait, however, and this year’s lineup brought an outstanding range of performers covering not only up to the minute current stars such as Psy, Rita Ora and Fun, but also 80’s rockers The Stone Roses and 90’s stars The Prodigy.
Possibly one of the more controversial choices was the special appearance of Psy. No doubt, his performance of ‘Gangnam Style’ sent the crowd into a frenzy and there will be many waking up with a sore head and Facebook evidence of their truly hilarious dancing attempts this morning. However even in their drunken states the novelty of what is currently in Australia a one-hit-wonder artist wore off with some wondering whether another big name would have been a better choice.
With 50,000 revellers massed into the construction zone of the new Randwick Racecourse facilities there was almost a sense of organised mess, however as is the norm with these events you were left wanting for another Nando’s food truck or block of toilets. This didn’t seem to dampen the mood of the crowds much at all though, and when it did a Smirnoff double black quickly swept the thought away.
The still ‘in’ (??) trend of tragic fake tan had me thankful for my sunglasses as I am positive the neon orange glow would cause serious eye damage. Standard festival denim cut offs and singlets were the norm, thankfully however not a Toukley short was spotted while I was there. Thank Mercy.
Personal and fan favourite The Temper Trap proved that Australians punch just as hard as the international heavy hitters. The crowd came together to embrace the band who has provided what really are the summer anthems of the past few years, with ‘Love Lost’ and ‘Fader’ drawing a huge portion of the festival to watch and sing their lungs out with the rest of us. For me they were one of the best of the festival.
While I may have been a festival skeptic before this, and no I never want to have to go near those festival toilets again, I have to say the performances this year have converted me. An amazing day that I won’t forget any time soon.
Reviewer: Lauren O’Hara
Photographer: Richard Hedger
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