Crikey! 3 Aussie acts to check out at Laneway Festival this year
Words by Jesse Davidson and Jenny Nguyen
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard:
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are a rare gem in an increasingly homogenised Australian music scene, melding various styles and genres together in way that doesn’t come across as laboured or gimmicky.
Since they’ve come onto the scene in 2011 they’ve released eight albums in six years, and plan to release another four in 2017. Basically, they’re a bunch of dead-set legends. The bands’ willingness to experiment with different genres and styles has given them plenty of ammunition for new material, cementing themselves as one of the most prolific young bands in Australia.
Their next album, Microtonal Flying Banana, is an exploration of microtonal music, and will feature modified microtonal guitars and a Turkish horn called a Zurna. I honestly don’t think I’d be able to explain microtonal music to you even if I knew, but apparently the Zurna looks like this.
If you want a sneak peek of the band’s musical prowess check out this belter of a KEXP session they did back in 2015:
Bad//Dreems
The Adelaide bad boys have gone from strength to strength since the release of their debut album Dogs at Bay in 2015, winning over crowds with their energetic brand of Australiana rock and scoring themselves a couple of SA music awards in the process.
It’s hard not to enjoy yourself at a Bad Dreems show; the catchy yet abrasive melodies of singer Ben Marwe are infectious, particularly in breakout singles Hoping For and Dumb Ideas. After a divisive online feud between Bad Dreems and tour mates Hockey Dad over ‘who could drink the most beers’ (Hockey Dad won, obviously) they return in full force to bring their brand of outsider rock to Laneway Festival this year.
You can check out their latest single Mob Rule here:
Camp Cope
Music and political movements often go hand-in-hand and Camp Cope are using their talents to make an impact. The fem-punk icons have made it their mission to call out entitled dickheads at live shows, in the hope of creating safe spaces for all to enjoy music.
Released via Poison City Records, their 2016 self-titled release made many “best of 2016” lists and copped a honourable J Award nomination. To top off what was an incredible year, the Melbourne-based trio will be hitting up Hart’s Mill with their lo-fi, grunge-y riffs ready to make the gravel rumble beneath your feet.
Check out their Like a Version performance of their song Lost (Season One):
