One of the biggest festivals of the Australian summer, Laneway Festival has dropped its lineup for 2020 and boy, is it a humdinger.
Beginning in St Jerome’s laneway in Melbourne in 2005 as a way to put more live music on in unusual locales, Laneway has grown out of its original location across Australia and New Zealand (with cameo appearances in Singapore and Detroit!).
Here are our picks for the five acts you should see at Laneway 2020.
Stella Donnelly
Hailing from Fremantle, Western Australia, Stella’s stellar voice and powerful lyrics are sure to pack a punch down the laneways this year. Think the rawness and thick-skin of Courtney Barrett but with a voice similar to softer artists, like Clairo.
Pist Idiots
Representing the modern face of Aussie Punk, Pist Idiots have enough grit to pump you up, but enough melody to make you sway along in the sunshine. If old school Powderfinger was lead by Pete Doherty, they’d be Pist Idiots – and sound like them too.
Col3trane
One of the international imports for the festival, Col3trane is bringing his brand of smooth beats and intelligent rhymes down under. If you’re a fan of Flume but wished he would collab with Frank Ocean, then Col3trane has something for you.
Spacey Jane
Typifying the ‘Triple J sound’ this Freo four piece came through the ranks of Triple J Unearthed, and will bring their upbeat and jangily guitar pop to laneways across Australia. More than a match for their peers Rolling Coastal Blackouts Fever and San Cisco, Spacey Jane will be making sure the sun is shining on stage as well as in the sky.
Charli XCX
I know, I know, these types of articles are meant to uncovered the hidden gems of the festival – but she brings so much energy to her performances that you’d be idiotic to leave her off this list. She’s exclusive to the festival, and with a new album out this month, will be sure to have the walls rattling. I’m banking on a surprise Troy Sivan appearance in at least one performance (he is an Aussie boy after all).
Laneway is playing Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Fremantle, Melbourne and Sydney from Sat 1 Feb to Sun 9th of Feb. Tickets go on sale 26th of September, but pre-sale sign ups are available.
