Project Description
ROLLING LOUD
@ Sydney Showgrounds
27/01/19
(Live Review)
Reviewer: Kaycee Cool
.
.
.
The worlds largest hip-hop festival finally touched down on Australian shores this past weekend. Since it’s inception in 2015, Rolling Loud has quickly grown from a one day festival in Miami to a weekend running event expanded to Los Angeles, Bay Area and now Australia as well as talk of events in Japan, China and Europe to come in the future.
Selling out almost instantly, the hype for Australias’ first ever edition of Rolling Loud was undeniable with all 20,000 of it’s tickets sold in a single day, and that was before the complete lineup was even announced. Speaking of the lineup, I want to address the last minute changes – Lil Uzi Vert couldn’t make it for unspecified reasons and Ski Mask The Slump God lost his passport, replacements were announced to be Rae Sremmurd and a ‘special guest’ who was later confirmed as Gunna, all that being said is it really an Australian festival if there isn’t at least one cancellation?
Doors were scheduled to open at 4pm so I arrived at 3pm anticipating lines, but with only ONE entry point I did not get in to the actual Showgrounds until 6pm – so anyone in line behind me would have been waiting at least another hour – meaning I had basically missed the first six sets.
.
.The real party started when Tyga, his dancers and stripper poles hit the stage with his set full of classics like Ayo, Rack City and his newer bangers like Taste and Dip. Despite only touring Australia a few short months ago YG is back and had everyone shouting “4 Hunnid” with favourites like FDT and Big Bank. Next we saw brother duo Rae Sremmurd– who also were only in Australia two weeks ago but it was a treat to see them again, they always have the crowd wildin’ out with ease, performing tracks that everyone seems to love like Black Beatles, No Type and Powerglide. With Future running 30 minutes late a lot of attendees began to leave but the wait was worth it when he finally hit the stage with hits like Jumpman, Mask Off and Low Life.
Now, since this is Rolling Louds‘ first International date I feel some constructive criticism is warranted. First of all I am aware of budgets and the venues may have been booked out but who thought it was a good idea to throw a festival in a literal tin shed during an Australian summer?! If people weren’t being sick from intoxication, they were sick from the intense heat. The sound quality was absolutely awful, sure, the louder the music the better but it was also impossible to make out what the performers were saying, it was all just one big loud mess. The wait times were completely unreasonable, more entry points were needed instead of trying to squeeze 20,000 people through the same door. I don’t want to say it was unorganised but considering the rate tickets sold and this event has been running in the States for years, things like this should have been anticipated, but you learn from your mistakes so hopefully we see improvements next year.
.
Connect with Rolling Loud
Facebook Twitter Website
.
.
