Falls 2015 Lineup Announced
Get up on this! The Falls Music & Arts Festival’s line-up is here, coolin’ by day then at night workin’ up a sweat!
As 2k15 beckons so too does the sparkle of champagne salutes, New Year’s resolutions and Falls Festivals’ rolling-amphitheatre-dancefloors. Appynewyearbrother.
For those ready to cut shapes it’s time to start planning your summer getaway today. Right now. Falls will be laying out more party for you to play out with Byron now extending to a four-day show! Slow clap it out.
Start bundling your ca$h and enter the ticket ballot via fallsfestival.com before it closes on Monday August 25! Packing their aqua socks and swimmin’ britches to meet you on the sunny coastal shores of all three venues will be…
THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2014 LINEUP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
ALT-J · BIG FREEDIA · THE BLACK LIPS · BLUEJUICE · COLD WAR KIDS · DMAs · GLASS ANIMALS · GEORGE EZRA · JAGWAR MA · JAMIE XX · JOEY BADA$$ · JOHN BUTLER TRIO · KIM CHURCHILL · THE KITE STRING TANGLE · MILKY CHANCE · MOVEMENT · THE PRESETS · REMI · RÖYKSOPP & ROBYN · RUN THE JEWELS · SAFIA · SBTRKT (LIVE) · SPIDERBAIT · STICKY FINGERS · THE TEMPER TRAP · TENSNAKE · TKAY MAIDZA · TODD TERJE (LIVE) · TYCHO · VANCE JOY · WOLF ALICE + MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED.
BOOGIE NIGHTS LINEUP (DEC 28 LORNE, DEC 29 MARION BAY, DEC 31 BYRON):
ALISON WONDERLAND · BADBADNOTGOOD · CLIENT LIASION · SALT N PEPA + MORE.
Riding An Awesome Wave from their 2012 Mercury Music Prize win all the way to Falls, Alt-J have earned their victory lap of Australia! After all, their ubiquitous debut record sold over a million copies worldwide, with three tracks ‘Breezeblocks’, Tessellate’ and ‘Something Good’ all making their way into triple j’s Hottest 100! Back with their follow-up This Is All Yours due this September, teasers ‘Hunger of the Pine’ and ‘Left Hand Free’ are shifting and intrepid sonic adventures already gaining massive traction on airwaves around the world. Currently slaying audiences on a promo tour across the US and UK, it’s your turn to catch them live at Falls!
The combined musical power of Scandinavia’s three biggest and brightest talents Röyksopp & Robyn promises to be two hours of 101% mesmerising dance-pop excess! Banding together for non-stop assault on the senses, serving up their indomitable and inexhaustible supply of hits, created both together and separately, like ‘Call Your Girlfriend’, ‘With Every Heartbeat’, ‘What Else Is There’ and ‘Girl & The Robot’. Their 2014 collaborative release, a 5 song ‘mini album’ Do It Again, is the first official release from either artist in four years and is filled to the brim with hard-driven electronic beats and billowing synths. Fair to say, nobody will be ‘Dancing On Their Own’ this summer.
He of no vowels, SBTRKT live is the popular project led by the ridiculously talented Aaron Jerome. His remix work is one thing (he has reworked tunes by the likes of Radiohead, M.I.A, Basement Jaxx and Mark Ronson), but SBTRKT live really comes to life when recreating tunes from his wildly successful debut record. Think you haven’t heard any of these tunes? You have. Wildfire (feat. Little Dragon) is one. Nervous (feat. Jessie Ware) is another. Ring a bell? How about one of his collaborations with his live vocalist Sampha, or his latest tune with Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig from his upcoming Wonder Where We Land? Thought so.
Named as an ‘Artist to Watch’ in 2014 by Time Magazine, Vance Joy’s ‘Riptide’ was the highest selling Australian single in 2013. Reaching top ten on the ARIA Singles and UK Singles charts, the song topped triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown, along with Fearne Cotton (BBC Radio 1 UK) naming ‘Riptide’ her Song of the Year. With a first time appearance at Falls to premier tracks from his debut album, it’s sure to be one huge sing-along-party!
Jamie XX, the multi-talented beatmaker and creative member of lo-fi Mercury Music Prize winners the xx – one of the most influential acts of our generation. Having carved out a name for himself outside of the band, thanks to a host of critically acclaimed remixes, the likes of Florence and the Machine, Gil Scott-Heron and Adele, alongside producing his own material, few can match this talented young musician’s prowess right now. With a couple of new single releases this year titled ‘Girl’ and ‘All Under One Roof Raving’ it seems he never takes a step in the wrong direction. Bassline junkies get your fix at Falls!
One of the most distinct, festival-ready outfits around today, Cold War Kids have morphed effortlessly from the buzz band that brought us ‘Hang Me Up To Dry’ and ‘Hospital Beds’ to the distinguished single machine we see before us. Blessed with that reedy, urgent cry of a voice, lead singer Nathan Willett and his erstwhile cohorts have never been far from our hearts and radios with tunes like ‘Something Is Not Right With Me’, ‘Louder Than Ever’, ‘Miracle Mile’ and newest single ‘All This Could Be Yours’ (taken from their latest album) never failing to impress.
A shining jewel in the crown of Australian dance music; where would we be without The Presets? For so long now we’ve been able to rely on the duo of Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes to produce bangers worthy of the world stage and, on every occasion, they’ve delivered the goods. This year alone they’ve already issued two new classics (‘Goodbye Future’ and ‘No Fun’) as part of their resolution to release several singles across 2014 and, as these new tracks slide in next to 2012’s Pacifica as well as the likes of ‘My People’ and ‘Are You The One?’ – It’s clear that The Presets are unstoppable!
John Butler Trio. To say that this former busker come world roots music dominator is entwined with the fabric of Australian music is to make a severe understatement. His latest record, Flesh and Blood, sits comfortably with his finest work and has stood to enhance his standing across the planet. With his trusty trio in tow, John Butler’s live show is a hit-packed assault on feet and heart!
As a self confessed “flower punk” band, The Black Lips have steadily built a reputation for mayhem and disorder in the glitziest possible way. Their earlier shows were known for nudity and regurgitation, but as they shifted gears slightly, these Atlanta natives found a knack for tunes that cannot be underestimated. Their latest effort, Underneath The Rainbow, was produced in part by The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney and, while his presence is obvious in it’s dangerous stomp, the record is further proof that The Black Lips’ powers lie in their fluorescent personalities.
As Australian rock royalty, Spiderbait’s illustrious career has produced 5 Top 20 albums, 19 ARIA Nominations and 2 ARIA awards! They were the first band to make it to the #1 spot on triple j’s Hottest 100 for their pulsating guitar anthem ‘Buy Me A Pony’ and their cover of ‘Black Betty’ scored them a #1 single on the ARIA chart and a Top 20 single in the US. After an 8 year recording hiatus they are back with a new self-titled album produced by François Tetaz. The album remains true to their rock heritage mixed with sweet sounds, double kick and gritty ball busting riffs. We cannot wait to see what this seminal Australian rock band pull out-of-the-bag in their triumphant return to Falls!
George Ezra, so hot right now. Following a striking set at Glastonbury this year, the release of his debut album Wanted On A Voyage is something of a tremendous accomplishment for the Hertford-born singer-songwriter. It seems reaching fifth place in the BBC ‘Sound Of 2014’ list at the end of last year has really set the wheels in motion for this album – including the hit tracks on everyone’s lips ‘Budapest’ and ‘Did You Hear The Rain?’! Playing guitar, bass and keyboards, Ezra delivers structurally simple songs with enormous gusto, suggesting an uncynical, joyous release in the very act of making music, which is extra special to witness live.
Seeing The Temper Trap live is one of life’s real treats. It feels like it was just yesterday that they were collecting a tonne of ARIA awards for their second self-titled studio album. This time capped a hugely successful period as the band wrapped up an extensive period of touring featuring sold out performances around the globe and marked by supporting The Rolling Stones in London’s Hyde Park, a stadium tour with Coldplay, and playing in front of 100,000 people at the AFL Grand Final. The Temper Trap return to the live circuit in 2014, premiering material from their anticipated upcoming third record, working with Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange producer Malay. No biggie.
Bursting onto the scene in 2012 as the whiz-kid leader of the Pro Era collective (formed out of Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn), Joey Bada$$ is a rare kind of rapper. Taking influence from an earlier period of hip-hop established before he was born (led at the time by the likes of MF Doom and Mos Def) Bada$$ began his ascent with acclaimed mixtape 1999 – an effort that took his prodigious rapping style and mixed it with breezy production techniques. Last year’s Summer Knights was a darker, but no less stunning affair and this year‘s debut album B4DA$$ has confirmed Joey Bada$$ as a serious contender.
Milky Chance, the German indie-pop duo specialise in unstoppable ear-worms and have been making serious waves with their single ‘Stolen Dance’ – soaring up the iTunes chart to steal the #1 spot! If you’ve been anywhere near a radio in 2014, you’ll know this tune, that bouncy, euphoric slice of acoustic guitar pop sung in adorably broken English by lead singer Clemens Rehbein. The track itself was taken from the band’s debut album Sadnecessary – a record which has charted all over the world, including a stint at Number 8 in our own ARIA charts. Hugely popular in Germany, Australian’s have quickly embraced Milky Chance and they’re rewarding us with their first ever trip to our shores!
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Tycho is the moniker for San Francisco based visual artist and musician Scott Hansen; a mysterious character who has spent the last decade moulding a combination of sound and art to create a body of work now distinctly his own. Tycho first raised eyebrows with his debut record Dive – a synth based odyssey heavy on swelling instrumentation and mood. This year saw the release of Awake – a work which employs a three-piece band to spectacular results. Tracks like ‘Montana’ and the title track deliver a spacious yet epic mood that, in a live setting, promise to be nothing short of spectacular!
Run the Jewels was one of the best albums of 2013. After a well-received collaboration on Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music in 2012—which was produced entirely by El-P—the two veterans joined forces for a group and self-titled album last year. It packed fierce rhymes, innovative production, and a non-conformist lyrical approach onto a ten-track opus. So why not go back to the well for a third time? Mike and El-P were wondering that themselves, and in late 2013 announced that they’d be quenching listeners’ thirst once again, with Run the Jewels 2. While details remain scarce, you can be sure that these two will again bring some of freshest sounds in the New Year.
One of the buzziest buzz bands of recent times, Englishmen (Oxfordians to be exact) Glass Animals didn’t so much pop up on our radar as they did slide in next to us, buy us a drink, drape their arm over our shoulders and utter a polite, yet sexy “‘ello love” into our unsuspecting ears. The love affair started with the dripping synths and coo-ing vocals of debut single ‘Gooey’, continued with follow-up salvo ‘Pools’ and was consummated on their gorgeous debut album Zaba. Take us now Glass Animals – we’re powerless to your charms.
London’s Wolf Alice spent much of 2013 sporadically blowing our minds: from ‘Bros’ to ‘White Leather’, the rocky-pop foursome were on the warpath, bringing their arsenal of grunge axes, fey rage and folk-pop hooks along for the ride. Their debut EP Blush was released in November last year, and while the past nine or so months hasn’t been long enough for them to whittle a full-length, they’ve found themselves on the cusp of their second EP, Creature Songs which proves they’re a band expanding at a welcome-yet-abnormal rate.
Rump. Tootsay. Azz. Tail. Back. Big Freedia is bringing her New Orlean’s flavor of bounce music to Falls, get ready for some sweaty butt-shakin’ mania. Her latest album Just Be Free reveals an expansive palette, punctuated by quick, quirky rhythms and, of course, plenty of bass. It’s music designed to be consumed and interacted with in a specific context — not with headphones on the subway, not on a vinyl record in your apartment, but live, in person, at Falls.
Ten years after Eurodans, Todd Terje’s 2004 breakthrough EP, the Norwegian disco king has finally released his debut album: It’s Album Time. Given the wry grin of that title, it’s only fitting that It’s Album Time is a saucy trip through all of the influences that Terje has nodded to over his career. There are loose-hipped lounge tracks, funky jazz noodlings, Italo epics and humid piano house stormers. All of this is stitched into such a heady trip of sonic extravagance it’s sometimes hard to stop and draw a breath. Playing this live for the first time in Australia this summer, it’ll be a good time party mix.
How’s this for a compliment: when quizzed recently on the reformation of Oasis, Noel Gallagher quipped that his ex band members were too busy “talking about f**king Jagwar Ma” to get around to it. So if raising the ire (and ear) of Manchester’s biggest grump is any indication of success – these ex-Sydney (now London-based) psych-dance lads Jagwar Ma are doing pretty damn well for themselves. Originally cobbling their sound together while chateau hopping in the south of France, debut album Howlin’ mixed a heady blend of Madchester inspired synth melodies and rave ready soundscapes to perfection.
Sydney’s finest Sticky Fingers are back to add another page to their bourgeoning rap sheet. Specialising in summery good-time vibes, with tunes like ‘Caress Your Soul’ and ‘Australia Street’ both lobbing up in their respective Hottest 100 countdowns. Their newest single ‘Gold Snafu’ picks up where these mini-anthems left off as the lads cobble together one of the finest, most addictive live shows on the Australian music circuit today. Just like the Rolling Stones record they share a moniker with, they’re unpredictable, sexy, strange and undeniably inclusive.
“After 13 years of broken bones, broken hearts, sore heads, passive aggression, regular aggression, several arrests, questionable skin infections, and a busload of infuriated tour managers, Bluejuice are announcing they are calling it quits at the end of 2014.” A statement issued by the band that broke many hearts earlier this month. Saying a final goodbye, they’re hitting the road one last time, playing tracks from Retrospectable, a collection of tunes from their three studio albums over 2007 to 2011. Let’s get ready to throw them one hell of a send-off at Falls!
Hailing from Hamburg, Tensnake is quickly becoming one of the world’s most important proponents of house music. Best known for his massive 2010 track ‘Coma Cat’, a classic slice of 1980’s style house that doubled as a serious ear-worm, Oasis returned this year with Glow, his major label debut and his first real release since he gained a worldwide audience. The record does not disappoint as it showcases an ambitious side (first single ‘58bpm’ is exactly as slow and hypnotic as the title suggests) as well as a mastery of house music few others could boast.
Railing against his catastrophic moniker, The Kite String Tangle is the experimental project of alternative, electronic artist Danny Harley. Taking inspiration from the likes of Active Child, Fever Ray and Mount Kimbie, Harley explores emotions such as nostalgia and self-reflection through gently propulsive and highly textured tracks. His universal single ‘Given The Chance’ showcased just how much traction he has created by lobbing up in the top 20 of last years triple j Hottest 100. As a result, the Kite String Tangle sit squarely at the forefront of the Australian electronic scene.
As the winner of triple j Unearthed’s Artist of the Year in 2013, Melbourne hip/hop, indie cool kid Remi sits primed at the crossroads of success. Expertly mixing tight rap flow with a smooth singing voice, Remi got his start in 2011 as he collaborated with Sensible J and Dutch under the Melbourne collective Run For You Life. All this was preparation for his inevitable solo career as he unleashed the infectious singles Sangria and Livin’. His recent debut album Raw Infinity X was a hugely popular Feature Album on triple j and holds Remi in good stead for a massive future.
Self coined as the “princes of electronic pop with a nu-soul bet”, Canberra 3 piece SAFIA have been making all the right noises of late. Gaining momentum throughout 2013 all the way through to a jjj Unearthed Award nomination, these 3 producer / performers have spent the majority of this year on the road touring with the likes of Disclosure, Oliver Tank and, most recently, the all conquering Lorde. Their singles ‘Listen To Soul’, ‘Listen To Blues’ and ‘Paranoia, Ghosts and Other Sounds’ are well titled, carefully constructed slices of electronica that are primed to explode from the stage.
Born from the ashes of several Sydney bands, DMA’s have risen at a mind-boggling speed to become one of the hottest new acts in Australia today. Their single Delete is established as nothing short of an anthem, with it’s rallying cry of “don’t delete my baby” being flung back at these lads by audiences that grow more and more rabid with each passing sold out show. Their self-titled EP only serves to confirm this bourgeoning reputation and, with a nod to their Brit-pop forefathers like Blur, Oasis and The Stone Roses, DMA’s are all baggy pants, tambourine and perfect tunes.
Making waves worldwide with their ambitious mix of post-rock and ethereal pop, Sydney trio Movement pride themselves on their wide eyed, mysterious souls. Described by Pitchfork as “body music”, their singles Us and Like Lust have captivated listeners and audiences alike and put them on tour busses with the likes of Solange, Darkside and Twin Shadow. Currently in the process of creating their debut album, Movement take intrigue, shadows and a honed intuition for modern love and package them as something entirely new and exciting.
Stomp your feet like a Brontosaurus at! Adelaide rapper Tkay Maidza launched onto Australia’s hip-hop scene this year and she’s already making waves around the nation impressing audiences on her debut run of shows, the Brontosaurus Tour (aptly named after her catchy current single) and Nina Las Vegas’ recent ‘NLV Presents’ tour. ‘Brontosaurus’ was released late last year and after enjoying airplay around the nation fans rushed to purchase the track forcing an impressive ARIA singles chart debut of #89. Shortly after, Maidza was also included in triple j’s annual Next Crop list alongside the likes of breaking artists and as “One To Watch” in News Ltd’s annual predictions. With ‘Brontosaurus’ still holding strong on the iTunes singles charts and an EP release expected shortly, it’s clear that Maidza is well and truly one to watch.
As hard working as they come, Kim Churchill takes a blend blues, folk and pop, chops it up into a thoroughly modern smoothie and presents it as something irresistible. First picking up a guitar at the age of 4, Churchill has moved on to master an array of instruments at only 23. Spending a lot of his time in Canada and the United States, where he has amassed a devoted following, the lad from Merimbula has impressed this year with his latest single album Silence / Win, which contains the breakout single Window To The Sky – a true showcase for the myriad talents of this wave riding young bloke.
BOOGIE NIGHTS!
Less jerkin’, more twerkin’! Boogie Nights is a time to put on fancy dress and to be fancy-free. Happening on December 28 in Lorne, December 29 in Marion Bay and December 31 in Byron this year. Taking the lyrics on the attack will be…
Luminaries of the hip-hop world, Salt N Pepa are charged with not only being the first all female group in the genre, but also with completely flipping the script on a male dominated world – breaking the glass ceiling so that generations of ladies could rise up! Gaining prominence with their talismanic hit ‘Push It’, the ladies cut a swathe through the late 80’s and early 90’s with tunes like ‘Shoop’, ‘Whatta Man’ and of course, ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’. With a fearless approach and still with boundless energy, Salt N Pepa tour today as living legends of hip- hop.
Alison Wonderland, the woman Diplo called “one of the best DJ’s in Australia”, has been everywhere of late. Hot on the heels of her brilliantly titled Rural Juror tour, she has released her highly anticipated Calm Down EP and established herself position at the top of the Aussie DJ scene. Her blend of old school dance, hip hop and EDM, as well as an incredible eye for detail, has propelled this former cellist onto the must have list for any warehouse or festival stage. A true ‘it-girl’ and a stayer as well, Alison Wonderland has it all.
Badbadnotgood (BBNG to their mates) are a jazz trio from Toronto known for their appreciation of, and inauguration into hip hop culture. Meeting in jazz college, these gun musicians decided that there was no need for jazz to be an old man’s game and began putting together versions of tracks by the likes of Odd Future, Kanye West, MF Doom and Feist. This got the attention of the artists they were covering and pretty soon BBNG were recording jam sessions in Tyler The Creator’s basement. They have also produced tracks for Danny Brown and remixed Soulja Boy. College kids they ain’t.
Stuck somewhere in Australian society between 1987 and 1999, Melbourne duo Client Liaison are taking their mullets, shaded sunglasses and shoulder pads to the festival stage. As they move through their synth-pop based electronic bangers, these two lads pay homage to a time when Diners Club ruled supreme, when Ansett was our airline of choice and when John Howard would proudly power walk through the nations capital with the concerns of a disgruntled country on his furry brow. Visuals, clothing, dance moves and an unfaltering energy are key to Client Liaison. Put it on the company credit card.
TICKETS:
The Ticket Ballot is now open via the festival’s website and will be closing on Monday August 25.
Most of the event tickets are allocated to sales through the ballot process, starting at 9am on Thursday August 28; however, for those who miss out, there will also be a small allocation of tickets set aside for general public sales starting at 9am on Wednesday September 03.
TRAVEL:
Best to book your travel early while availability is high and costs are low, check out the Falls website for all of your options. Take a look at the Falls Tassie roadtrip here.
ABOUT THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2014:
A world-class line-up of music, comedy and arts in a relaxed festival environment. The coastal locations are beautiful and all camping is free. The 2014 first line-up announcement has been released with more acts to be added to the program.
EVENTS:
Dec 28, 2014 to Jan 01, 2015 in Lorne, VIC (est. 1993) 18+ event
Dec 29, 2014 to Jan 01, 2015 in Marion Bay, TAS (est. 2003) All ages
Dec 30, 2014 to Jan 03, 2015 in Byron Bay, NSW (est. 2013) 18+ event
Follow the festival here:
fallsfestival.com – Twitter – Facebook – YouTube
