Our Laneway Festival 2016 Rumour Mill
The Laneway Festival 2016 lineup is just around the corner, and we've certainly got our wits. Here's who we're betting on for the festival next year!
As you may already know, Laneway Festival organisers have informed us of the Australian dates and venues that will host the 2016 edition of the highly prolific event.
A boutique festival reverent of innovation, Laneway's mantra is pickpocketing the world's hot forward-thinking talents who are inevitably destined for great success. Exposing both local and international acts to a crowd of a few thousand per visited city, it's a pretty influential platform to meet for any aspiring music artist.
With the official lineup to be announced next Tuesday, 22nd September, we've quickly constructed a [wish]list of potential acts we can envision gracing the Laneway stage next February. We already kind of know that Purity Ring have big mouths and are about 98% confirmed, thanks to a recent interview with Triple J, as well as Hudson Mohawke eagerly telling the Stoney Roads dudes of his festival slot, so let's set them all aside for now. Also, not to get cocky, but we did correctly guess five out of six of our estimated main acts for this years instalment, so here's hoping we can outsmart secrecy once again.
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Canada, America, United Kingdom, Europe... Where's Australia on Battles' touring schedule you may ask? Last here for Big Day Out and respective sideshows back in 2012, the boys are definitely due back for an Australian Summer boogie. Just putting out their third record, La Di Da Di now, we're extremely confident we'll be experiencing the new material live in the coming months.
Mate, it's the same deal. Since releasing their (fucking brilliant) fifth studio album, Depression Cherry only a matter of weeks ago through Mistletone, Australia has been lapping up Beach House as if it's In Bloom all over again. Last in the country for Falls Music and Arts Festival 2012, they're too due for another visit down under. Considering Mistletone have their own Laneway stage, as well as the fact that Beach House have nothing scheduled post December 2015, it would not make sense for the duo to be absent from the 2016 Laneway roster.
In 2012, American muso, Zachary Cole Smith gifted us his debut album, Oshin under the moniker, DIIV. A magical dream of washed out guitars and modest synths, the thought provoking record left admirers weak at the knees, ready to hug just about anything within arms reach. Finally on the verge of experiencing all of this lovely tomfoolery again, we can expect its follow up, Is The Is Are to drop next month through Captured Tracks. A patient three year wait, I think we've earnt an Australian DIIV tour, so what better place to celebrate than Laneway?
It's so great observing the various music personalities of an artist's port folio. One that seems to always get it right is Real Estate's Matt Mondanile. Stepping aside from the band's efforts to work under the name, Ducktails, the musician has since created quite the name for himself. Releasing five records since 2009, his latest beauty, St. Catherine emits a certain intelligence, wrapped in floral instrumentation and led by the artist's distinctive vocals. Considering he toured St. Catherine's predecessor, The Flower Lane upon release, it would make sense for his performing return; perhaps at the festival next year.
Previous Laneway lineups have welcomed the likes of DZ Deathrays, Total Control, Parquet Courts and Royal Blood, so it would only seem like tradition to continue this rowdy trend by minding a spot for Californian band, FIDLAR. Celebrating their debut Australian album release at Splendour In The Grass two years ago, why not welcome them back to our shores off the back of their aptly titled second record, Too? Considering they're already on the road in America, before traversing to the UK and Europe for the most of the next two months, it's only fair that us Aussies get in on that action, too; because hey, fuck it dog, life's a risk.
After six long, tedious years, noisey experimentalists, HEALTH, have returned with their third record, Death Magic. A huge comeback album, the dudes resonate with the synthpopsters of yesterday, all whilst nurturing something brand new and exciting. Unsure of how they do it, what we do know is that they've got no tour dates known to the public after mid-December of this year. Seems like a likely Laneway candidate to me.
Much like Alex Calder of Makeout Videotape, Peter Sagar - former band buddy of Mac DeMarco, has gone on to pursue his own music under the name, Homeshake. So ridiculously chilled out and feel good, his music is made predominantly with just a drum machine and synthesizer, topped with added quirk and charm. Having just released his latest Homeshake record, Midnight Snack, through Captured Tracks sister label, Sinderlyn, it's about time Sagar brings it over to Australia; for he has never performed in these parks as Homeshake.
May was a long time ago, so why haven't Hot Chip visited us yet? Having released their sixth record, Why Make Sense? all those months ago through Domino, I think it's about time they play a gig or two for us Australians. Gearing up to perform a string of shows on their side of the world, their touring calendar is looking pretty empty by the end of November, so here's hoping for a Laneway appearance. You boys are skating on very thin ice.
Sam Eastgate aka Sam Dust aka former Late Of The Pier frontman aka LA Priest has thrown us an incredibly wholesome debut record under his latest moniker (that being the fourth name aformentioned). Concocting a cocktail of funk, disco and electronic music with a splash of humility and a shitload of experimental guitar, his songwriting in Inji is absolutely phenomenal, earning the tag as a complete genius. Ticking all of the boxes that Laneway scopes, his vacant February tour plans suggests a possible festival appearance.
MICACHU & THE SHAPES
England's Mica Levi is an absolute whiz when it comes to music. Defying genres, the classically trained artist uses her talents to her utmost potential, as we've previously seen her utilise skills in singing, songwriting, producing and composing; not to mention scoring the film, Under The Skin. Known vastly for her work with her band, The Shapes, the trio have literally just released their third album, Good Sad, Happy Bad. With a few performance dates scheduled, it'd be amazing to see Micachu & The Shapes play Laneway 2016.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
!!! (CHK CHK CHK)
ALEX G
JUAN WAUTERS
KUCKA
NAO
ROYAL HEADACHE
SHAMIR
SKEPTA
SLUM SOCIABLE
TOTAL GIOVANNI
WORLD CHAMPION
Be sure to tune into Triple J next Tuesday, 22nd September at 9am for the full Laneway Festival 2016 lineup announcement! I wonder if we'll get any right?
Words by Hannah Galvin.
Photo by Daniel Boud @ Laneway Festival, Sydney 2015.
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