[willreichelt]

Here’s a bunch of shots from last sunday’s Laneway Festival, down at Circular Quay in Sydney.

[Nick from Cut Off Your Hands, in a wistful post-crowd-surfing moment]

I wasn’t actually feeling that pumped for the festival beforehand, as there wasn’t anyone on the bill I was absolutely gagging to see – although I was looking forward to seeing regular visitors Mountains In The Sky and Cut Off Your Hands again. I was also a bit disappointed with the top billing of Girl Talk, who I’d seen twice when he toured last year around the same time, and The Hold Steady who had already played Laneway two years earlier.

Despite my reservations, it ended up being a packed, sweaty, but very enjoyable afternoon of tunes. I was impressed with The John Steel Singers, Yves Klein Blue and Born Ruffians, and Cut Off Your Hands played a fantastic set (which was also very snap-worthy, thanks to Nick’s compulsive crowd-surfing).

The hands-down highlight of the day though was Tim Fite. I almost didn’t make it to his show – after a few exhaustively epic missions getting in and out of the Basement, I had decided to stick to the outside stages for the rest of the day, but a reliable source persuaded me that braving the crowd would be worth it. It was one of the most unique shows I’ve ever seen – amazing visuals, great tunes, and very interactive (as the fellow whose shoulder Tim hoisted his leg up onto can testify to). Check out Tim’s partner in crime, Sexy Leroy, leading the crowd through an eye test (towards the end).

I was shooting for www.thevine.com.au, check out Marcus’s review and some more photos here.

* Firekites

* Talons

* The John Steel Singers

* Jack Ladder

* Still Flyin’

* Tame Impala

* Mountains In The Sky

* Born Ruffians

* No Age

* Port O’Brien

* The Temper Trap

* Tim Fite

* Cut Off Your Hands

* Stereolab

* The Drones

* Girl Talk

* The Hold Steady

* Daedelus