ST. JEROME’S

LANEWAY FESTIVAL

2018 LINE-UP

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“A perfect summer music festival” – The Music

“Arguably the best-run, most consistently great and interesting festival going around…Laneway is at the top of its game right now.” – Huffington Post

“A well-rounded and thoughtful festival experience” – Timeout

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Following the huge response to the Mac DeMarco/Anderson .Paak first announcement (the first Visa pre-sale allocation was exhausted in record time), Laneway Festival is super proud to unveil its main line-up for 2018.  With a focus on the best new and established live acts in the game, iconic locations in each city and a food and drink offering to be revealed in the coming months, the 2018 festival promises to be a full sensory experience for music fans.

Let us present the soundtrack to your summer:

In alphabetical order:

Aldous Harding – Alex Cameron – Amy Shark – Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals – BADBADNOTGOOD** – Billie Eilish – Bonobo** – Cable Ties – City Calm Down – Dream Wife – Father John Misty – KLLO* – Loyle Carner – Mac DeMarco – Miss Blanks – Moses Sumney – ODESZA** – Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – (Sandy) Alex G – Shame – Slowdive – Sylvan Esso – The Babe Rainbow* – The Internet** – The War on Drugs – TOKiMONSTA – Wolf Alice**

*Excluding Freo
**Exclusive to Laneway

 

ALDOUS HARDING

Mesmerising NZ artist ALDOUS HARDING has emerged as one of the year’s most exciting voices.  Igniting interest two years ago with her eponymous debut album, Harding quickly became known for her charismatic combination of talent, tenacity and shrewd wit. This year’s follow-up Party (4AD) sees Harding shape-shift through a variety of roles: chanteuse, folk singer and balladeer – all executed with her twisted touch of humour, hubris and quiet horror.  Go watch her recent performance on Jools Holland for an inspired and haunting rendition of ‘Horizon’, a career defining moment that brought her the attention she deserves.
 

ALEX CAMERON

ALEX CAMERON is one of a kind: a notorious misfit, enigmatic storyteller and subtle concept artist. Laneway trainspotters will recognise him from Sydney-based electronic trio Seekae, but his solo project is from a completely different world. On his new album Forced Witness, Cameron writes from the perspective of his adopted stage character, an old-time lounge singer who can’t catch a break. With a charming sense of gravitas, Cameron sings about loserdom, failure and humiliation, which we reckon is pretty ironic for an artist who enjoys such wide  acclaim. Be sure to check out ‘Strangers Kiss’, his recent duet with Angel Olsen that comes with a video clip starring and directed by Jemima Kirke of Girls fame.
 

AMY SHARK

AMY SHARK’s sleeper hit ‘Adore’ has amassed over 25 million streams since she uploaded it to triple j Unearthed just under two years ago. Not bad for someone who had almost given up on music. Earlier this year it romped in to #2 on triple j’s Hottest 100, and peaked at #3 on the ARIA chart. The brooding, coming-of-age track won fans here and abroad, not least of all Lena Dunham who was hardly exaggerating when she said it saved her life.  Her debut EP Night Thinker, which features chart mainstay ‘Weekends’ and killer new single ‘Blood Brothers’, is confirmation that Amy Shark is the real deal. After returning from a run of international headline shows this October, we can’t wait for Amy to cap off a huge 18 months at Laneway 2018.
 

ANDERSON .PAAK AND THE FREE NATIONALS

We are psyched to have one of the world’s most exciting live acts ANDERSON .PAAK & THE FREE NATIONALS on next year’s bill.  Breaking out via multiple lauded appearances on Dr. Dre’s surprise 2016 album Compton, .Paak has emerged as one of the most talented triple threats of the decade. The LA-based singer, songwriter and producer is a genre-bending master, effortlessly melding ’60s funk, ’70s soul, hip-hop, R&B and electronica in his own music (please listen to his brilliant 2016 album Malibu) and lending his syrupy vocals to killer singles like Kaytranada’s hit ‘Glowed Up’ and Snakehips ‘Money on Me’. As one of the most prolific and hardworking artists in the biz, we’re anticipating new music v. soon.  Anderson .Paak is a genuine star and it is a major honour to have him and his band join us in 2018.
 

BADBADNOTGOOD

Surely the most ironically named band on the planet, BADBADNOTGOOD bring their futuristic fusion of jazz and hip-hop to the party in 2018.  The then three-piece met at music school and rose to prominence in 2011 courtesy of a series of imaginative takes on hip-hop classics and early support from the likes of Tyler the Creator and the BBC’s Giles Peterson.  Since then, they have continued to push the boundaries of improvised instrumental music, collaborating with Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt, MF Doom, Pharaoh Monch and RZA and many others. Their latest LP IV saw them collaborate with guest vocalists (Samuel Herring, Mick Jenkins) to stunning effect and their magnetic live performances have brought fans across the whole musical spectrum together, taking the band around the world from Coachella to Glastonbury and beyond.
 

BILLIE EILISH 

BILLIE EILISH is an unfairly talented teenager with a startlingly mature outlook and irresistible voice.  Billie’s meteoric rise began in 2015 when she uploaded ‘Ocean Eyes’ to SoundCloud. She instantly became a veritable phenomenon: an international record deal, over 90 million cumulative streams, global praise from Vogue, Interview Magazine and Elle Magazine (and the list goes on). At 16 years old, Bille will be the youngest member of the Laneway touring party since Lorde’s unforgettable run in 2014. Not unlike Lorde herself, Billie has an undeniable talent for pop songwriting, an impervious sense of self, and inimitable style. We’re certain that Billie will be a stand out of Laneway 2018.
 

BONOBO

Illustrious UK producer BONOBO’s steady but unstoppable rise began at the turn of the millennium. Since then he has shared an impressive six full-length releases (incl. 2017’s masterful, magisterial Migration) and earned his title as one of the best electronic acts in the biz. First as a DJ in the UK’s thriving club scene, and now with a live band in tow, Bonobo has converted thousands of people around the globe into genuine fans. Listen to ‘No Reason’ (feat. Laneway alum. Nick Murphy), and get ready for an aural journey at Laneway in 2018.
 

CABLE TIES 

In a couple of short years, Melbourne post-punk trio CABLE TIES – Jenny McKechnie (vocals/guitar), Nick Brown (bass), Shauna Boyle (drums) – have developed a dedicated, cult-like following, beginning with two self-released 7″ singles in their arsenal, and thanks in no small part to their savage live show. Their energy is captured perfectly on their self-titled debut, 44 minutes of blistering power that earned them widespread praise and a triple j feature album. With a pulsing krautrock edge and a ferocious energy that remains eminently danceable, this music with a message is sure to pack a punch at next year’s festival.
 

CITY CALM DOWN

Melbourne alt-rock four-piece,  CITY CALM DOWN recall the expansive soundscapes, brooding stage presence and emotive lyrics of bands like Joy Division, The National and Wild Beasts. Signed to I Oh You, one of our favourite local labels, the band released their debut album In A Restless House (ft. singles ‘Son’ and ‘Rabbit Run’) in 2015.  We’re loving ‘Blood’, the new single from a forthcoming album, rumoured for release in early 2018. Self-aware, self-assured and custom-made for the festival stage, we predict City Calm Down are on the verge of a big break.  
 

DREAM WIFE

UK three piece DREAM WIFE were our pick of this year’s Great Escape, performing with an irresistible kinetic energy and brimming with charisma. Rakel Mjöll (lead vocals), Alice Go (guitar and vocals) and Bella Podpadec (bass and vocals) met at Brighton Art School and were formed as a performance art project. Oozing girl power, their music juxtaposes simple pop hooks, cutting riffs and screamy-dreamy vocals, nodding to Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Blondie, but in a far grittier and contemporary way. With singles ‘Somebody’, ‘Fire’ and ‘FUU’ (work it out), Dream Wife promise to be one of the most fierce – and most fun – artists on the tour.
 

FATHER JOHN MISTY

Your secret crush FATHER JOHN MISTY is heading to Laneway in 2018.  The alias of singer-songwriter Josh Tillman, FJM has released three widely acclaimed albums – Fear Fun (2012), I Love You, Honeybear (2015) and Pure Comedy (2017) plus the recent single ‘Ballad of the Dying Man’ and has also contributed to songs by Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. Pure Comedy, Father John Misty’s third album, is a complex, often-sardonic and equally touching meditation on the confounding folly of modern humanity. He is also funny a.f., a sarcastic and caustic yet equally sincere voice for the post-internet age.
 

KLLO

Melbourne cousins Chloe Kaul and Simon Lam are KLLO. The duo’s first two EPs, Cusp (2014) and Well Worn (2016), have received millions of streams, making them a fixture on festival stages across Australia and Europe (Great Escape and Primavera Sound, among others) as well as Artists-to-Watch features, like BBC Radio 1, Spotify, Elle Magazine, and VICE. Their forthcoming full-length debut, Backwater (out 20 October via respected US based label Ghostly International) is a refined, coming-of-age affair. Kaul’s smoky voice emanates with assurance and leisure while Lam’s production inverts brooding, steely undercurrents hemmed with engaging crescendos.  
 

LOYLE CARNER

Erudition, insight and poetic intensity have earned 22-year-old LOYLE CARNER the respect of all the right people: die-hard hip-hop fans, industry insiders and most importantly, his peers.  His debut album Yesterday’s Gone is planted at an intersection between the boom-bap of East Coast hip-hop, jazz-inflected portraits of South London, and soulful laid back pop. It’s an intensely personal and candid release, that received near perfect reviews everywhere but it’s on the live stage that the endlessly charming Carner really shines.
 

MAC DEMARCO 

We’re pleased to welcome our pal MAC DEMARCO – modern poet, consummate entertainer – to Laneway 2018. Mac has charmed audiences on countless stages around the world with his woozy, sun-drenched tales of love lost and won. The prolific 26-year-old songwriter has written, recorded and released a record a year for the past half decade practically on his own – pretty impressive for the so-called king of slacker-rock. Mac released his excellent album This Old Dog earlier in the year, an LP widely regarded as an engaging step forward for an artist in his prime. It’s a thrill to have him back.
 

MISS BLANKS

MISS BLANKS is the new face of Australian hip hop. With fire rhymes, hot style, and an electric stage presence, Miss Blanks is blowing up the scene in a way that’s too loud for the mainstream to ignore. Her explosive debut single ‘Clap Clap’ blew minds upon its release and saw the industry clamber to celebrate this new, powerful voice from Brisbane. Alongside her music, she’s a fashion icon, internet celebrity and activist, having given talks in London for TED and in New York at NYU, all the while serving up an unapologetic rawness in all aspects of her career. She’s a total boss.
 

MOSES SUMNEY 

When Pitchfork’s main criticism of your EP is that it’s too short, you know you’re doing something right. It’s true though – Los Angeles’ singer/songwriter MOSES SUMNEY and his angelic electro-folk music is basically faultless. Set to swirling synths and dark, expansive production, Sumney’s voice is intoxicating and brim with emotion, especially in the spaces where his notes linger. Listen to his track ‘Doomed’ and let it sink in. No wonder Solange wanted to collaborate with him on her 2016 album A Seat At The Table. Sumney’s long-awaited debut album Aromanticism is out on September 22, be among the first to hear it live at the Laneway Festival.
 

ODESZA

U.S. electronic duo ODESZA’s new album A Moment Apart is brilliant. Across 16 tracks, the rising global stars (300 million streams and counting) have produced a career best LP that takes a well-considered step forward. Odesza have assembled a unique range of vocalists (Regina Spektor, Leon Bridges, RY X and more) and paired them with production that is true to form: sweeping cinematic soundscapes, punctuated by ecstatic, thumping percussion. Lead single ‘Line Of Sight’ (ft. WYNNE & Mansionair) is an undeniable festival hit. Meet you at the front!
 

ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER

After a rip-roaring 12 months, ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER look set to be one of Australia’s break-through guitar bands. Having honed their craft in the thrumming confines of Melbourne’s live music scene, Rolling Blackouts C.F.’s debut EP Talk Tight (2015) earned them multiple international nods and a stellar 8.0 Pitchfork review. Soon after the band signed with coveted US label Sub Pop (The Shins, Beach House, Fleet Foxes) and plugged away at their sophomore EP The French Press (2017). It’s a bloody brilliant effort, beaming with the confidence and purpose of golden-era Australian rock n roll and featuring three songwriters growing in stature and voice.
 

(SANDY) ALEX G

24-year-old Philadelphia artist (SANDY) ALEX G is as prolific as he is genuinely gifted.  As a teenager, he built up a solid rep for himself online with his self-recorded uploads to BandCamp. His 2017 album Rocket (out via Domino) is his eighth full-length release. It’s a masterpiece, and his most focused effort yet. Over musical backdrops that effortlessly jump from post-punk to country pop to dreamy folk music, Alex G inhabits a cast of characters that fall in love, get into trouble, and burn out. Fun fact: Frank Ocean is a fan and appointed him as a collaborator on 2016’s Blonde, alongside a string of high-profile guests.
 

SHAME

We are v. excited to introduce you to SHAME, one of London’s best new bands. Formed by five 19-year-old school friends, the band first broke out from their local DIY scene via word-of-mouth. Notorious for their visceral and exhilarating live show, Shame were booked to play Pitchfork Paris before they had released a single song. In 2016, they stage-crashed Glastonbury, only to be invited back to play the following year. Their debut single ‘The Lick’ comes with a rumbling, frenetic bassline and razor-sharp wit. Follow-up single ‘Visa Vulture’ is a vicious indictment of Britain’s PM Theresa May, disguised as an indie love song. Politically-charged and uncompromising in their ethos, Shame are experts in the art of not-giving-a-fuck.
 

SLOWDIVE

Twenty two years on from their last record, SLOWDIVE have made a resounding comeback with their self-titled fourth LP, one of the strongest shoegaze albums of recent years. The band’s live comeback has also been rapturously received around the world. Highlights thus far include a festival-conquering, sea-of-devotees Primavera Sound performance, of which Pitchfork noted: ‘The beauty of their crystalline sound is almost hard to believe, every note in its perfect place.’ Dive into their outstanding catalogue (1991’s Just For A Day, 1993’s Souvlaki and 1995’s experimental Pygmalion) to see why Slowdive has a legion of fans, both new and old. Listen to their gorgeous new single ‘Sugar For The Pill’. We wish every band would age this well.
 

SYLVAN ESSO

SYLVAN ESSO’s sophomore album What Now (2017) is the sound of a band truly fulfilling the potential and promise of their debut album. Everything has evolved – the production is bolder, the vocals are more intense, the melodies are brighter, and the songs are that much more expansively open and cohesive. The electro-pop duo from North Carolina, consisting of vocalist Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn, started out in 2014 as a collaboration project between two new friends. Two records and more than 100 million streams later, Sylvan Esso has near-perfected the art of writing a pop song (listen to the album’s third single ‘Die Young’ for proof). This set is going to be energetic fun.
 

THE BABE RAINBOW

Self-proclaimed purveyors of ‘all things good and right in the world’, THE BABE RAINBOW are bringing their kaleidoscopic psych-rock to Laneway Festival 2018. The Byron Bay three piece started out in 2014 with their weird and wonderful ‘Secret Enchanted Broccoli Forest’, and recently shared their colourful debut, self-titled album. It’s exactly what we thought it would be: super chill, really good and with a noted Gallic influence. The band are are on track to back up their 2017 debut with a second LP, out early next year via King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s label Flightless. Watch their blissed-out video for ‘Peace Blossom Boogy’ and imagine it on stage on a hot summer’s day. This set will be a total vibe.
 

THE INTERNET

THE INTERNET absolutely stole the show when they last played Laneway Festival and they’ve only gotten bigger, better and sexier since. On their third album, the game-changing, Grammy-nominated Ego Death (2015), the Odd Future offshoot truly came into their own. Then to everybody’s surprise, they went out on their own. Front-woman Syd shared her intricate, soulful debut album Fin (she is an undeniable star in her own right) and Matt Martians dropped his funk-infused solo endeavor The Drum Chord Theory.  The band’s 18 year-old guitar whiz Steve Lacy is also a highly sought-after hip hop producer (he’s worked with J Cole & Kendrick Lamar) who records everything on his iPhone. This year he shared Steve Lacy’s Demo, a dazzling 6 song release bursting with ideas. We loved them all in equal measure, but tbh we can’t wait for their next record (expected asap) as a team. Hear it first at Laneway 2018!
 

THE WAR ON DRUGS

Gosh we love THE WAR ON DRUGS. The Philadelphia-based 6-piece, led by frontman Adam Granduciel, have been on the Laneway wish-list since the release of their debut Slave Ambient in 2011 and their landmark album Living on a Dream in 2014 only renewed our eagerness.  The War on Drugs released their fourth record, A Deeper Understanding last month and it’s a bonafide masterpiece,  sure to top this year’s Best Of lists and go down in history as the most important rock record of recent times.  The album is a fully immersive experience from start to finish, layering chugging guitars, synthetic strings, vintage keyboard sounds and impressionistic lyrics delivered in Granduciel’s gravelly voice.  Capable of mesmerising a festival crowd of thousands, we’re so happy to finally welcome them to close Laneway in 2018.
 

TOKiMONSTA

Jennifer Lee (aka) TOKiMONSTA was a classical pianist until she discovered the underground hip-hop and beat scene in LA. It’s a good thing she made the switch – her work as TOKiMONSTA gained widespread recognition from the very start. She was the first female to sign to Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder imprint, and with her 2010 debut album Midnight Menu she cemented her reputation as a formidable electronic act. Since then, Lee has collaborated with artists like Anderson .Paak and Kelly Rowland, and put out consistently good records. Her third full-length album Lune Rouge (out October 6) is a culmination of all that experience, as well as a confident stride into the pop world. See you on the d-floor for ‘We Love’.
 

WOLF ALICE 

In 2015 North-London alt-rock outfit WOLF ALICE, led by the electric Ellie Rowsell, released their astounding debut record My Love Is Cool, as if they had always been ready to inspire a generation. With its unique combination of grunge, indie and folk influence, it scooped them noms for the Grammys, the Brits and The Mercury Prize and propelled them into the public consciousness as one of the brightest new hopes in indie-rock. After two years of relentless touring, the release of their follow up album Visions Of A Life is imminent (September 29). If their new single ‘Don’t Delete The Kisses’ is any indication, this album will be a career highlight.

VISA CHECKOUT PRE-SALE

Gain early access to pre-sale tickets by using Visa Checkout. Register now at visacheckout.com.au and add a major payment card (debit or credit). Advance tickets will be available from Thursday 14 September at 9.00am local time. For more information click here.

The first pre-sale allocation was exhausted in a flash, so be ready for these!
Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

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GENERAL ON-SALE

Tickets go on sale to general public on Monday 18 September at 9.00am local time vialanewayfestival.com.

#LANEWAY2018

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ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2018

Supported by triple j & Pedestrian

Saturday 27 January –  SINGAPORE – VENUE AND LINE-UP TBA
Monday 29 January – AUCKLAND – ALBERT PARK PRECINCT
Friday 2 February – ADELAIDE – HART’S MILL, PORT ADELAIDE (16+)
Saturday 3 February – MELBOURNE – FOOTSCRAY COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE (FCAC) AND THE RIVER’S EDGE
Sunday 4 February – SYDNEY – SYDNEY COLLEGE OF THE ARTS (SCA) AND CALLAN PARK, ROZELLE*
Saturday 10 February – BRISBANE – BRISBANE SHOWGROUNDS, BOWEN HILLS (16+)
Sunday 11 February – FREMANTLE – ESPLANADE RESERVE AND WEST END

*Subject to DA approval

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CHARITY PARTNERS

Laneway Festival is incredibly proud to partner with Plus 1 again for the 2018 event. Plus 1 partners with bands and events who make a $1 donation for every concert ticket sold, with 100% going to charity organisations of the band/event’s choice.  Laneway Festival’s chosen charity partners for 2018 are Yiriman and Fight MND. To find out more, click here.

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AMNPLIFY – DB