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The 2018 run of one of Australia’s most treasured and diverse music festivals, Groovin the Moo, kicked off in Adelaide on April 27th with a lineup bursting full of national and international talent, catering for the expected masses. Every year before this one has seen this day in Adelaide raged with autumn weather and a heap of mud, but this year we were basked with unusually pleasant weather and something in the air was just different. Maybe it was just me but the overall vibe of the day didn’t make it seem like Groovin the Moo at all. Maybe it was the lineup consisting of a mixture of acts with some well accustomed to the festival circuit (Tkay Maidza, Duke Dumont, Ball Park Music, Confidence Man, The Amity Affliction, Flight Facilities), others as part of a nostalgic resurrection (Paul Kelly and Grinspoon) as well importing some important crowd pleasers (Royal Blood).

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Tkay Maidza @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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In comparison to last year, the crowd was more relaxed. I suppose being hit with the controversial venue change in 2017 took away the festival’s concept and meaning. But this year, it seems as though everyone knew what to expect and have accepted the venue as suitable for GTM. Spread across two main areas; the outdoor stages (Triple J and Cattleyard), a tent (Moolin Rouge), and a smaller stage with an array of food trucks close by, being set in the showgrounds has made it easier to navigate through and enjoy.

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MANE @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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The day started off earlier this year at 11.30 am with short 20 minute sets from the likes of Young Offenders, Dyspora and Adrian Eagle following each other on the outdoor stages, while Mane kicked the day off in the Moolin Rouge tent.

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Baker Boy @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Walking through the entrance gates, we were welcomed by the sounds of Baker Boy‘s undeniable energy before making our way to the Triple J stage to catch the reggae infused surf rock tunes of Sydney lads, Ocean Alley. Their set seemed quite similar to when I caught them at Falls Festival, but they’re the perfect act to have to start the day’s 30-minute sets.

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Ocean Alley @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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With a solid turn out, the band opened with their smooth track, The Comedown, before making their way through tracks off of their new album, Chiaroscuro, as well as some old favourites too. The crowd packed out both sides of the adjoining stages, while some chose to reside on the hill at the back of the area.

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Baden Donegal of Ocean Alley @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Yellow Mellow came in the middle of the band’s set energising the dancing crowd and closing track, Confidence, shot through the crowd and led to vocalist Baden Donegal moving around the stage showing off his impeccable vocal work. For me, Ocean Alley started the day off on a high with their smooth sounds providing the perfect foundation for the next 12 hours.

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Vera Blue @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Next up and exploding onto the Moolin Rouge tent, came Vera Blue. Out of the whole lineup she instantly struck me as a performer I needed to see. Since seeing her light up Slumberjack‘s set at Falls Festival I had been interested in seeing her approach to her own sets.

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Vera Blue @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Taking the stage with her band, she commanded the tent’s attention through her angelic vocals and signature locks which flowed as she effortlessly worked the stage.  After opening her set, Vera powered through crowd favourites, Fools, Settle, Private, and even her collaboration with Slumberjack, Fracture.

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Vera Blue @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Her onstage energy was felt throughout the entire tent and reflected off the crowd. At several points during Vera‘s set, the crowd almost overtook her vocal powers, bursting through a singalong during break-up track, Mended.

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Vera Blue @ Canberra Groovin The Moo – By Joshua Concepcion

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When she got to the latter part of her set, everyone was warmed up and ready to belt out Regular Touch; the chorus of which got everyone singing along. Vera finished her set with her feminist anthem, Lady Powers, with a beat that got the pumping crowd dancing.

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Vera Blue @ Canberra Groovin The Moo – By Joshua Concepcion

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For me, Vera‘s set was a highlight of the day: when performing, she owns the stage and effortlessly manages to entertain and engage a huge crowd leading to her sweep across the stage in an effort to reach all ends of the crowd.

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Vera Blue @ Canberra Groovin The Moo – By Joshua Concepcion

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Vera personifies the expectations I often have of festival sets; you need to keep a crowd engaged and communicated with, all while getting through as many songs as possible during a strict set time; and this is a skill that Vera has blended and mastered well.

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Public Service Broadcasting @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Following this electric performance (still in the Moolin Rouge tent) came UK producer, Public Service Broadcasting. While this set provided the perfect transition into Cosmo’s Midnight, many of the crowd used this as an opportunity to relax a little, with many catching a bite to eat while sitting at the tent’s edges.

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Dean Lewis @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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While this was happening under the tent, Dean Lewis‘ vocals could be heard floating around the outdoor crowd who, at this point, was being bathed in the sunlight. As the weather continued to hold out Adelaide rapper, Tkay Maidza took to the Cattleyard stage a while later, igniting her fans and getting them pumped for the night ahead.

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Tkay Maidza @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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In a similar sense to Vera Blue‘s persona, Tkay is a well-seasoned performer who’s nailed her sound and style, making her a performer you need to watch. Seeing her on a line up is a guarantee that you’ll have at least one interesting set to see. Ultimately, Tkay delivers: She has a contagious energy and confidence that’s undeniable. She knows what her fans want and also knows how to gauge a reaction from them.

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Tkay Maidza @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Following Tkay’s explosive performance came smooth sailors, Winston Surfshirt, followed by Aussie legends, The Amity Affliction. I feel as though Amity is one of those bands that always have a killer set, and Groovin was no exception. As we watched from being perched on the hill, the usually full grandstand of the showgrounds was cleared out as these Queenslanders seemed to be devoured by the crowd.

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Joel Birch of The Amity Affliction @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Before this, I hadn’t seen these guys live before but had always been bombarded with Snapchats of their previous Adelaide shows, so it was a set that I was excited to finally catch. As the night began to darken, the flames from their set lit up the crowd who appeared to replicate a wave with their movements. It was a set that was so damn easy to watch and be enticed with; I now know what all the fuss has been about, it’s taken me a while, I know! (sorry!!)

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Janet Planet and Sugar Bones of Confidence Man @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Next up I ended catching a bit of Germany’s Claptone, whose set pulled a decent crowd in the Moolin Rouge tent. The bird masked DJ, along with his lighting display and audiovisuals, built up a standard entertaining set that kept the crowd moving and ready for Confidence Man. I feel as though Confidence Man is one of those groups that you can’t look away from. Their eclectic style, beats, and dance moves, scream an 80’s exercise video but it makes them unique.

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Paul Kelly @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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At the moment amongst festivals, it seems like there’s a nostalgia theme, and Paul Kelly (and Grinspoon) served as this for Groovin. During the day amongst the crowd, it seemed like Paul‘s set was highly anticipated, and I suppose it lived up to expectation.

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Paul Kelly at Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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As the crowd crammed in at the Triple J stage outdoors, we resided back on the hill to watch. His set ultimately provided that feel good karaoke sesh everyone needs at a festival, rocking out to his classic hits including Before Too Long, To Her Door, and Dumb Things to name a few. The crowd swayed, cheered, sung out and took a relaxing step back from the day’s inevitable craziness.

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Duke Dumont @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Generally, when it comes to Groovin, I have a basic idea of who I want to see, but this year I was more open and went with the flow a little. In saying this though, I decided to miss out on Duke Dumont‘s set based on a previous experience when seeing him. As much as I enjoy his music, last time I saw him live (at Adelaide’s Oh Yes Festival) he barely acknowledged the crowd which was unfortunate. Perhaps in this case, at a bigger festival, I should have given him the benefit of the doubt but a name I had my eyes (and ears) out for since the lineup was released was Royal Blood.

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Mike Kerr @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Even though I haven’t particularly followed their music closely, they’ve been a band whose success and live shows have intrigued me, so there was no way I was turning down that opportunity. With a shout of ‘What’s up Adelaide, we’re Royal Blood from Brighton, England,’ their set began with Lights Out.

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Mike Kerr @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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Following on from this came the beginning of Flight Facilities set. Since seeing them at Groovin a few years ago I had been excited to catch them again. Originally, I didn’t particularly mind that they clashed with Ball Park Music but as I watched the first 20 minutes of their set, my mind started to change.

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Flight Facilities @ Wayville Groovin The Moo – By Kay Cann

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In this time frame, they played a few songs but it seemed it would be a slow and safe set. As much as I love their music (including their new stuff) this didn’t jump out to me as something to stick around for. So as their guest vocalist sung out a cover of Drake‘s Passionfruit, we made our way to the Moolin Rouge tent to catch Ball Park Music.

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Hugo Gruzman of Flight Facilities – By Kay Cann

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After appearing on stage 10 minutes late, Ball Park Music began and immediately drew the crowd in. Their short set (still only 40 minutes despite being a headliner) led to them smashing their way through a bunch of tracks (Sad Rude Future Dude, It’s Nice to Be Alive, Exactly How You Are).

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Daniel Hanson from Ball Park Music – By Kay Cann

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Both the energy of the band and crowd surpassed that of any other set from the day, despite being the last of the festival’s performances. They finished up with She Only Loves Me When I’m There, to the whole tent jumping and closing the night with a confetti cannon that sprayed over the crowd.

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CHECK OUT MORE OF KAY CANN’S ALBUM OF WAYVILLE GROOVIN THE MOO HERE!

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AMNPLIFY – GD