St. Jerome's Laneway Festival @ Perth Cultural Center, Northbridge 06.02.2010

Northbridge was alive last Saturday, with the Cultural Centre fenced up for the 2010 Laneway Festival. Volunteering at the gate for few hours and free entrance to the festival after that? Sounds like a good deal to me.

After a hard's day work, it was off to PICA stage to catch Wild Beasts. The band amazed all with their dreamy sound. Hayden Thorpe's countererenor high pitched voice took over the stage perfectly, with Tom Fleming provided a deep vocal at times as well. Tracks played were mostly from the highly acclaimed 'Two Dancers', including 'The Fun Powder Plot', 'All the King's Men' and 'We Still Got the Taste Dancin' on Our Tongues'. I was made a fan on the spot.

On my way to the TAFE stage, there was a massive crowd going to the opposite direction, they were all bailing out to see the newly crowned triple j's Hottest 100 winner Mumford & Sons. It was a shame that I missed them but instead of catching them far away with such a massive crowd, I chose to go for the less known Hockey, and oh boy it was indeed a great decision. The band performed a tight set with funky bass lines, keyboards and electric guitar strum perfectly matched the lead singer’s smooth vocals. Two of their most recognisable and climactic tunes, Too Fake and Song Awat were played with tremendous energy and saw Hockey’s front man Ben Grubin energetically dancing around the stage.

Walking back to PICA stage, Daniel Johnston placed his book of lyrics and played an amazing set of acoustic guitar tracks. I had to admit that I never really heard of his songs before but it was nevertheless a great performance. Highlight of the set was when he played a cover of John Lennon's 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away' where everyone sang along joyously.

Up next was The XX, emerging from backstage with their right mix of cool, careless and alternative dreamscapes, with Islands and Crystalised being notable crowd favourites. Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim’s whispered vocals are as sexy as it gets, and they finished it off with Sim’s climatic and energetic cymbal solo.

At the main Museum Stage, headliner Florence + The Machine took the stage with all leg, hair and impressive vocals. Drawing the biggest crowd of the day, it was so squashy that I decided to leave just after 5 songs. Bad decision you might say? Well certainly not. Back at PICA, Sarah Blasko joined onstage with Dappled Cities to perform the infectious The Price, which I enjoyed thoroughly.

Closing out the show at PICA, Black Lips brought Laneway to a jagged flower punk end. The band roared their way fast, solid and tight through the likes of O Katrina, Cold hands, Veni Vedi Vici and Bad Kids. Florence Welch was behind the stage and the band members went to hug her in the middle of their set, which was pretty hillarious and random. There was no short of drunken antics as well, with bandmates kissin' each other, playing baseball with beer can and guitar and groupies on stage flashin'. Insane set indeed.

I was smiling my way troughout the festival. Such intimate performances, without the usual bogans and idiots that annoy the hell out of me. One of the great festivals I have been to.

Wild Beasts - All The Kings Men
Hockey - Song Away
Black Lips - Bad Kid