Marion Bay, Tasmania
29-31 December 2018
As a new resident of Tasmania, attending Falls Festival seemed like a right of passage that was unavoidable. We set off bright and early from Hobart for the first day (Friday 29th) to make sure we got the full Falls experience. The Festival site is spectacular. The rolling hills overlooking the untouched Marion Bay beach alone would have been enough for me to leave happy. But we came for a music festival so the following is two, (feeling our age) thirty plus year olds experience.
After setting up camp and with plenty of great food to choose from, we were well fed and ready to see some music. The first act we caught was HOBO JOHNSON and the LOVEMAKERS, a Californian spoken word/punk/hip hop group littered with angst and humour. Making an impression on every person within earshot, HOBO set the tone for a very diverse line-up to come. HOCKEY DAD from Wollongong, NSW was the stand out for the daylight hours. Oozing cool surf rock tunes with a very full sound for a two-piece.
A great feature of Marion Bay Falls is THE VILLAGE, a family friendly area with all sorts of amazing oddities. Once you enter the gates a vast array of entertainment is on offer, from playing Italian bingo with MAMMA ROSA to learning about local bush tucker presented by NITA EDUCATION. A great chill out zone for the bleary eyed or a kid friendly hang spot.
Plenty of artists were seen into the night but only one I really enjoyed was a loud and wonderfully obnoxious DIZZY RASCAL. His signature snotty British hip-hop capped off a great first day for us.
Day two was a slow start after a terrible sleep in a van parked at a bad angle (like I said, over 30 and feeling those aching bones). Still, nothing a festival breakfast and a barely dribbling shower couldn’t fix. Lets see some bands!
AMYL and the SNIFFERS are my new favourite band. Anyone harbouring a hangover would have snapped out of it quick smart after listening to this punchy four piece punk band. Their menacing yet endearing presence made it hard to look away. Don’t sleep on this band!
The homegrown stage kicked off on the Saturday and was the perfect set up to discover local talent, including HURRICANE YOUTH who gave me the dose of pop punk I needed amongst a solid roster of main stage electronic bands.
TOTO!! Just when you thought they had one good song, out comes a string of absolute bangers hitting you in the face. The extended version of ‘Africa’ did give me chills though. Every single person above the age of 30 was there in force. I didn’t feel old for the first and only time over the duration festival. Ha!
TOUCH SENSITIVE stood out on the field stage. This chiselled jaw Adonis is for bass what Santana is for guitar. He is all class sporting 80’s hair, pastel pants and TNs.
On another walk from one stage to another we caught THE PRICKLY GRAPES on the ‘homegrown’ stage. Good punk lives in all corners of the world, seemingly also in North East Tasmania. Cool band and with equally cool fans going absolutely nuts. Nothing much else stood out this day to my ageing ears.
Sunday, after a fresh sleep, New Year’s Eve is upon us and at this stage of the day we had every intention of lasting the distance. WEST THEBARTON certainly had the type of energy that made me think I could make it past midnight. 7 members didn’t seem necessary for this style of Aussie rock/punk but on a large festival stage it worked a treat. TIRED LION continued the vibes and gave me more hope that mumbling hip-hop is not the only music kids these days like.
FIRST AID KIT filled every corner of Marion Bay with the perfect harmonies only two sisters could achieve. Maybe it was the sultry sounds of the Swedes or maybe my wife and I are getting old, but we made the call to pack up and b-line for our own beds back in Hobart.
I would confidently guess HILLTOP HOODS brought in the New Year perfectly, they have had enough bloody practice, and KING GIZZARD followed up with a fuzzy goodnight kiss of a set.
Goodnight 2018. Falls Festival was tops!
Reviewer : Daniel Coy
Photographer : Linda Coy
