Golden days with solid hits, the 2015 #fallsfestival line-up is here to sweep you off your feet with all the best frequencies and your favourite summer love songs. Taking you dancing, all night.
Tried, tested and perfected over the past two dozen years, Falls proudly delivers all your number ones: rolling green amphitheatres, multiple stages, stunning locations, bountiful nature, free camping, sustainable and environmental processes, curated foodies, interactive arts and all the best sounds with even better memories.
The Ticket Ballot is now open and your best shot at locking down a pass. So pop your name into the draw if you’re looking for a summery getaway at Lorne, Marion Bay or Byron this NYE – our costal towns are sufficiently salty, watery and waiting for you!
^ Lining up ^ and playing across all three locations this year will be…
Powerful, commanding, idiosyncratic, majestic; FOALS. Who knew way back in 2008 when we received our first glimpse of these unruly English guitar slingers that they’d grow to become the behemoth that we see before us today. Charting a course through small stages to huge, with spiky shards like ‘Balloons’, ‘Cassius’ and ‘My Number’ taken from their record Antidotes and the Australian #1 Holy Fire. Foals are primed for the huge impact their new album What Went Down is about to have, featuring the brutal first single of the same name (with a chaotic video clip to match). These guys show that all you need for musical magic is a will, a way and insurmountable levels of enthusiasm.
Needing no introduction but commanding maximum respect, BLOC PARTY come to us this year in the wake of a new record and a new lease on life. Last time we heard from Kele and the boys, they were spruiking 2013’s The Nextwave Sessions EP; a release that featured unstoppable single ‘Ratchet’. Since then, Mr Okereke has been busy touring his latest solo record Trick and performing at festivals the world over. There always comes a point at which we come home though and, as news filters in that we’ll soon have a record to sit next to stone cold classics such as Silent Alarm, A Weekend In The City, Intimacy and Four, we couldn’t be more excited! One of the defining bands of their generation, Bloc Party are set to deliver choruses so big, they’ll have their own gravitational pulls.
UK duo DISCLOSURE are one of this decades best acts! Squeezing the melting pot of past dance trends (predominantly bass music and house), into sleek, chart-friendly packages with their catchy, vocal-led pop style. Still riding high on the phenomenal success of their debut album Settle, a release which received soaring reviews worldwide (including a 9.1 on Pitchfork!), with sneaky bangers like ‘Latch’, ‘You & Me’ and ‘Holding On’. The dream team of Guy and Howard Lawrence will be bringing a whole new slew of ready-made classics to Australian shores again this summer in the form of Caracal, their latest album set for release this September. Like a slow-mo sprint across the Savannah – unstoppable.
The fresh prince is back, and not a moment too soon. We were beginning to get a little stressed out here down under. We need a dose of chill. We’ll get one from KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS. We first began to fall in love with his half Springsteen, half Tom Petty, and somehow uniquely modern sound back when he was a part of fellow buzz act The War On Drugs. That love grew with 2011’s solo album Smoke Ring For My Halo and exploded with 2013’s Walkin on a Pretty Daze. Getting ready to release a new album titled b’lieve i’m goin down… in September, with a first single ‘Pretty Pimpin’ just landing, proving to strengthen this romance.
What to do after your first record, made at home in your pyjamas, unexpectedly goes on to sell 100,000 copies in your home country? What to do when instead of moving furniture you’re suddenly flying to Japan to play in front 60,000 people? What did London pop maestro’s DJANGO DJANGO do? They one-upped themselves. Sailing on the seas of worldwide popularity via their incredible self-titled debut (you’ll know their ubiquitous singles ‘Default’ and ‘Waveforms’), these lads went back to the drawing board and have emerged with Born Under Saturn – one of the finest exponents of relentless melodic witchery seen since the heyday of Hot Chip. As festival fit as any working band today, Django Django guarantee synchronicity.
The legendary PAUL KELLY & MERRI SOUL SESSIONS FEATURING CLAIRY BROWNE, DAN SULTAN, KIRA PURU, VIKA & LINDA BULL. A swag of soul-inspired songs and Kelly classics preformed by some of the country’s best young talent – as well as the man himself, of course. The stage is set to satisfy old and new fans of Kelly, utilizing plenty of tunes from his illustrious back catalogue alongside tracks from the new album. The Merri Soul Sessions has a cohesive feel with a warm, holiday atmosphere of relaxed sessions with friends. Perfect for the Falls stage!
What is there to say about the ARIA Award winning trio HILLTOP HOODS that you don’t already know? You know they’re the pinnacle of Australian hip-hop. You know their music is steeped in massive hooks, epic samples, razor sharp lyrics and heavy beats. You know all the words to ‘Nosebleed Section’, ‘The Hard Road’ and ‘Cosby Sweater’. With their latest album Walking Under Stars hitting our ears late last year, you know their set at Falls is going to be one for the masses.
Arriving very young as a talent to watch on the Austin scene, GARY CLARK JR. wasted no time establishing his reputation. His 2011 Bright Lights EP set tongues wagging globally and it wasn’t long before he was sharing the stage with the likes of B.B King, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy. Clark has also worked with Alicia Keys on several occasions – and it was her that revealed in 2012 his debut album Blak and Blu was ready for release. The album went on to be listed at number 27 on Rolling Stones’ top 50 albums of 2012 as they waxed lyrical about “Clark’s brain-frying guitar solos”. Since then he has supported The Rolling Stones and Foo Fighters and even married one of our own in Perth model Nicole Trunfio.
Australians love many things. We love beetroot. We love double pluggers. We used to love Shane Warne. We love making fun of politicians and we love MAC DEMARCO. Yes there’s nothing like getting home after a long, hard day at work, kicking off the King Gees and relaxing to the skewed pop stylings of the Big Mac. There’s something about this blissed out Canadian boy genius that we just GET. Is it the mix of chilled out drums, space echo’d guitars and crooned vocal stylings that we identify with? Is it his bizarre sense of humour? Is it his astounding breakout record Salad Days or upcoming mini album Another One? Who knows? Whatever it is, it’s love.
One of Australia’s biggest exports of the past couple of years, COURTNEY BARNETT. Setting herself apart as one of the sharpest, most original songwriters around with a focus on unique portrayals of everyday life. Her ability to convey those mundane moments, magnifying and stretching them into dense micro-narratives is just the outer shell of her songwriting skills, best demonstrated in her debut studio album Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit. Receiving massive love and critical acclaim around the world, tracks like ‘Pedestrian At Best’ are already hitting the #1 spot on pretty much every ‘Best Song of 2015’ list, including Rolling Stone! We can’t wait to welcome her home to the Falls stages this summer!
Is it chillwave? Is it R&B? Is it pop music? Is it dance music? It doesn’t matter. Whatever TORO Y MOI decides to put down, we’ll gladly pick it up. Taking his name from a Spanish expression which translates literally to “bull and me”, this shape shifting artist first came to prominence in 2009 along with the likes of Washed Out and Neon Indian to form an inspiring collective of self made producers. As a dabbler in glacial synths and bedroom beats, Toro Y Moi has gained a reputation as a real forward thinker. You’ll be moving your hips while simultaneously scratching your chin. With his brand new album What For?, it’s gorgeous single ‘Lily’ and a full band in tow, this is sure to be one of the years festival highlights.
One of the most talked about live bands on the planet at the moment is Scottish collective YOUNG FATHERS. Often described as a hip-hop group but more accurately existing somewhere completely indefinable, the description that seems to have stuck is “Liberian/Nigerian/Scottish psychedelic hip-hop electro boy band”. Growing up together in Edinburgh, Alloysious, Kayus and G have been creating music for much of their lives; cultivating an extremely unique worldview and translating it into some truly mind bending sounds. A long road led to claiming the 2014 Mercury Prize with their debut album Dead, followed up this year with White Men are Black Men Too; released to universal critical acclaim.
Known to his significant others as Tristan Casara, THE AVENER is a mysterious French deep house and electronic producer. Granted, the words “mysterious” and “French” go together like a horse and carriage, but this bloke has spent years cultivating a reputation as a gun-for-hire ghost writer behind countless club hits, never actively seeking the limelight. All things must pass though and 2014 saw The Avener spending countless hours in the studio perfecting skills and touch that would combine in his global hit Fade Out Lines – an eclectic fusion of blues, jazz and house perfect enough so as to propel itself to the top of the charts the world over. Think Flume by way of Mazzy Star – this is gorgeous stuff.
Many have tried and many have failed to achieve what London-based duo OH WONDER have managed. Release one song a month, every month for a year on SoundCloud. See what happens. A brave move and a folly in the hands of less talented artists. The thing about Oh Wonder though is; it worked. The public started listening and play counts began rising, rising and rising up into the millions. Anticipation for the next tune would hit fever pitch every month and pretty soon Anthony and Josephine’s brand of gorgeous, soft vocals and heartbreaking emotive qualities were hitting critical mass in the UK. Once they were done releasing, they began playing live. Simples! We’re lucky enough to have them for their first Australian shows.
Looking (and sounding) like the love child of Jack White and Jeff Buckley, BØRNS is a 23-year-old LA based prodigy. It’s no surprise really – one listen to his debut single ‘10,000 Emerald Pools’ reveals a significant talent. A cascading tune as memorable as it is ethereal, BØRNS brings to mind the likes of Marc Bolan, Jack White and Elton John but with a distinct melodic sensibility that is all his own. There’s something magnetic about his brand of ghostly genre-spanning pop in latest EP Candy that grabs you and doesn’t let go.
One of the hottest new bands in Australia right now, we welcome Sydney’s RUFUS. From humble beginnings in 2010, these three whiz-kids built up a formidable live show which put them on the map Australia wide. Frenetic beats rub shoulders with powerful vocals and eventually make way for dance floor rave-ups that have become irresistible on the main stage of festivals the world over. So popular in Australia are RUFUS that their debut album Atlas went to directly to the top of the ARIA charts on release. Number one with a bullet! This momentum was used to spend the next two years touring the world converting swathes of obsessive fans. The lads now return home with a new single ‘You Were Right’ and an album later this year.
It’s getting a bit suspicious how often BIRDS OF TOKYO are able to put together timeless, hug-your-mate-and-raise-your-glass, stadium sized moments. It’s as if they’re grass fed on the roots of every great Australian band before them, maxing out their ability to hit you exactly where you feel it. Whatever their secret may be, we’re glad they figured it out because without tunes like ‘Plans’, ‘Lanterns’, or their latest single ‘Anchor’ and any of the other various jewels in their heavy crown, we’d be left with a much drier musical climate. Led with soaring precision by everyone’s favourite jack of all trades Ian Kenny, these Perth-born lads are doing it larger than anyone out there at the moment. Long may they fly.
Everybody’s favourite free-form jazz, funk, rock, punk, psychedelic, folk collective – KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD hit our stage for this first time this year to send us deep within the trip. One of the most prolific bands in recently memory, King Gizz (as they are affectionately known) have released nothing short of seven records in the last four years. Count ‘em – seven! The most recent is this years Quarters, a song cycle of sorts in four even parts which features everything you’ve grown to love about these Geelong bred virtuosos – pounding grooves, flute led widgets and psych-based melodies are in steady supply. On stage they are a multi-headed, unpredictable beast; chaos will reign supreme.
Landing at #5 in the ARIA charts this year with their debut LP The Positions, GANG OF YOUTHS are playing the albums already cherished, polished stadium-indie epics like they’ve been on tour for decades. The album is dense, richly textured and sprawls through numerous realms of sound, with layers of soaring guitars, strings, glistening synths, lingering piano riffs and pockets of glitch – especially magic on tracks like ‘Magnolia’ and ‘Radioface’. Seeing them live is all pounding drums, heavy bass and walls of guitar as frontman David Le’aupepe spreads his wings and takes you along for the ride; cementing them as one of Australia’s best new bands.
Wildly popular back home in the UK, THE MACCABEES are beginning to make some serious ground worldwide. They may have decided on their name after picking a random word out of the Bible (for those playing at home; the Maccabees were the leaders of a Jewish rebel army) but there has been very little else left to chance when it has come to the steady rise of these Brighton / London natives. So far, the lads have released four albums of thrilling, intelligent guitar pop; culminating in this year’s Marks To Prove It which features the popular single of the same name. Shape shifting sounds that are both timelessly English and thoroughly contemporary runs through The Maccabees blood – you’ll be hooked.
Question: how many artists from Australia have been nominated for a Grammy over the past few years? There’s Gotye, you could throw in Iggy Azalea, Sia, Keith Urban and M-Phazes and then you might come to a dead end. If that’s the case; you’re not listening hard enough. You’re not listening to HIATUS KAIYOTE. These self-proclaimed “multi-dimensional polyrhythmic gangsters” were nominated for a big-G in 2013 for their incendiary tune ‘Nakamarra’ – taken from their breakout record Tawk Tomahawk. Since then these ridiculously talented Melbournites have gone from strength to strength, recently releasing their second record Choose Your Weapon to massive critical acclaim. Hiatus Kaiyote dodge definition.
The resident troublemaker of Australian rap, SETH SENTRY was recently described as “so laid back he’s almost horizontal”. A cool cucumber he may be, but a chilled exterior hides one of the hardest touring MC’s on the circuit today. After working his way up through the Melbourne open mic scene, Sentry began to gather steam in 2009 when he released ‘The Waitress Song’ – a poignant mediation on a cheap breakfast. Since then it’s been nothing but buffets and expensive avocados for Seth, riding high on the release of his latest record Strange New Past and its typically thought provoking single ‘Hell Boy’. A recent trip to America saw him slay audiences on Jimmy Kimmel live so catch Seth Sentry here while you still can!
Yuck! Obviously a negative word. Only uttered in moments of disgust, right? Not necessarily. As far as ALPINE are concerned, Yuck denotes the title not the content. In fact, yum is a more prescient word to use when describing the second record by this Melbourne sextet. All swooning synths and cooing vocals set up against surgically precise rhythm work swirling together to create an eminently danceable whole, it’s classic Alpine. First gaining prominence in 2012 with their ubiquitous debut A Is For Alpine, these world beating chill-zoners have made it their business to hold a mirror up to the finer points of Generation Why?, expressing their discontent in the most irresistible fashion imaginable.
Born in New Jersey but now a native New Yorker, rising songstress HALSEY describes herself (via Instagram) as such; “I write songs about sex and being sad. I will never be anything but honest.” A bold mission statement for sure but coming from this prodigiously talented twenty year old – it’s nothing if not convincing. Rising to prominence late last year with her seductive single ‘Hurricane’, Halsey follows in the footsteps of the likes of Banks, Lana Del Rey and Lorde as a new generation of pull-no-punches. Her debut record Badlands (no relation to The Boss) drops in August and as the hype builds and the exposure grows, there’s a distinct impression that it won’t be long before Halsey has the spotlight all to herself.
“Roll up your sleeves” – good advice for the lazy. Get on with it – get digging! For our latest and greatest songstress though, ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’ is both a single and a mission statement. Born in Sydney, based in Melbourne and discovered in Perth, MEG MAC has become an extremely big deal in a short space of time. First coming to prominence as she won triple j’s Unearthed Artist of the Year in 2014, this young lady combines head turning vocal chops with a musical nous to die for. Her singles ‘Every Lie’, the aforementioned ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’ and her cover of Bill Withers’ ‘Grandma’s Hands’ have seen her dominate showcases the world over and scored her a chance to tour with legendary US artist D’Angelo.
LITTLE MAY are a big deal. This Sydney folk-pop trio have, in the space of a couple of years grown into one of Australia’s most talked about new acts. Establishing themselves with a string of gorgeous singles (you will have heard ‘Boardwalks’ and ‘Hide’ on triple j) Annie, Liz and Hannah have gone on to sell out shows in Australia and London and grace the stages of Bonnarroo, Reading and Leeds. They’ve also supported the likes of Alabama Shakes, The Flaming Lips and Mumford & Sons – quite the CV! Having just finished recording their debut album in New York with The National’s Aaron Dessner, they’re set to head back to Australia and amaze us all over again.
BOOGIE NIGHTS
It’s the opening ceremony, the party starter! Boogie Nights is the first day of each event (Lorne: Dec 28, Marion Bay: Dec 29, Byron: Dec 31). It’s all about celebrating, dressing up and getting footloose and fancy free. Turnin’ the beat around across all locations will be:
Does this man really need any introduction? He’s a singer, songwriter, parodist, record producer, satirist, actor, director and producer. He’s Fat. He’s White and Nerdy. He’s Like A Surgeon. He takes a look at his wife and realises she’s very plain. He’s been making us laugh for thirty-five years and he’s more popular than ever. He’s ‘WEIRD AL’ YANKOVIC! Never stopping to take a breath and always running with scissors, 2015 saw the release of a new record in Mandatory Fun on which the Yankster set his sights on the likes of Pharrell (Tacky) and Robin Thicke (Word Crimes). Amazingly, this was Weird Al’s first US Number One and also earned him a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. It’s about time!
ART VS SCIENCE – what a pack of ratbags. Bursting onto the scene a few years back with the unforgettable single ‘Flippers’ and it’s equally massive follow up ‘Parlez Vous Francais?’ the two Dan’s and a Jim have never been far from our collective hearts. Trading in a thrillingly unique brand of dance pop, the lads are readying themselves for a renewed assault on our senses after spending the last couple of years touring the globe showing off their debut album The Experiment. Newest single ‘In This Together’ is yet another banger to sit proudly next to the likes of ‘Magic Fountain’ and ‘Finally See Our Way’ which means Art vs Science’s return to our stage is guaranteed to push the energy to never-before-seen levels.
Not so much a tribute act as a reimagining, FLEETMAC WOOD is a popular London party series and re-edit project inspired by the music of, you’ve guessed it, Fleetwood Mac. There seems to be a moment at every festival in this spirit; one act has finished and another is setting up, the vibe is high, the between act DJ is becoming more of a big deal and then BAM – ‘Go Your Own Way’ or ‘Dreams’ is dropped and everybody loses their collective minds. Such is the power of Fleetwood Mac. Fleetmac Wood realise this and have gone to significant lengths to re-edit these classic tunes in a disco-centric manner that will have the audience clambering for more. Remember; players only love you when they’re playing. Let’s play!
Known as the Mexican Elvis (hence the name) or sometimes the Thin Brown Duke, EL VEZ is much more than just one of the worlds finest impersonators of the King. The man, the myth, the legend has been operating for nearly forty years now taking classic tune after classic tune and redeploying them in his inimitable style. And when we say “inimitable” style, we kind of mean “in the style of Elvis”. No one trick pony though; El Vez is the consummate entertainer. His show is a high-octane mix of cabaret, lounge and just the right amount of cheese. Featuring such standards as ‘You Ain’t Nothing But A Chihuahua’ and ‘God Save The King’ – El Vez can best be described as the love child of Elvis Presley and Che Guevara.
TICKETS:
· The majority of tickets are allocated and sold via the Ticket Ballot which is now open at the Falls website, registrations close on Friday August 14.
· There will be General Sales for those who miss out in the Ticket Ballot, starting at 9amAEST on Wednesday August 26.
TRAVEL BOOKINGS:
Best to book your travel early while availability is high and costs are low, check out the Falls website for all of your options.
ABOUT THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2015:
A world-class line-up of music, comedy and arts in a relaxed festival environment. The coastal locations are beautiful, the natural amphitheatres are sublime and all camping is free.
THE FALLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL 2015 LINEUP (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
ALPINE · THE AVENER · BIRDS OF TOKYO · BLOC PARTY · BØRNS · COURTNEY BARNETT · DISCLOSURE · DJANGO DJANGO · FOALS · GANG OF YOUTHS · GARY CLARK JR · HALSEY · HIATUS KAIYOTE · HILLTOP HOODS · KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD · KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS · LITTLE MAY · THE MACCABEES · MAC DEMARCO · MEG MAC · OH WONDER · PAUL KELLY & MERRI SOUL SESSIONS FEATURING CLAIRY BROWNE, DAN SULTAN, KIRA PIRU, VIKA & LINDA BULL · RUFUS · SETH SENTRY · TORO Y MOI · YOUNG FATHERS
+ MORE
BOOGIE NIGHTS LINEUP (DEC 28 LORNE, DEC 29 MARION BAY, DEC 31 BYRON):
ART V SCIENCE · EL VEZ · FLEETMAC WOOD · ‘WEIRD AL’ YANKOVIC + MORE
EVENTS:
Dec 28, 2015 until Jan 01, 2016 in Lorne, VIC (est. 1993) 18+ event
Dec 29, 2015 until Jan 01, 2016 in Marion Bay, TAS (est. 2003) All ages
Dec 31, 2015 until Jan 03, 2016 in Byron, NSW (est. 2013) 18+ eventfe
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