Live Review: Bad Friday

The day started off swimmingly as Bec Sandridge took to the stage with her band. The laneway was already filled to the brim as she began her infectious set. High Tide stunned audiences with its signature guitar riffs and Sandridge's harrowing vocal runs. After talking about nervous pooing, she transitioned into her tune You're A Fucking Joke, about a 'significant other' in Scotland. She extended the end of this track with momentum-building stop/start tactics before transitioning into one of her more balled-like tunes, I Keep Running Back. This one really pulled at the crowd's heart strings before she played her Like A Version of You're The Voice, a true Aussie classic that had everyone singing along. Her cover of this, whether you like it or not, is for sure one for the history books after its controversy.

Shining Bird changed the scene from pop-rock and transformed it into an experimental and environmentalist boogie, each sound reminiscent of the sounds of nature. Their politically driven lyrics demanded attention along with bursts of saxophone and chimes that hyped the crowd. Distant Dreaming was the standout of the set, as it glowed with a more electrifying catchiness than the rest. To end their slot one of the guitarists, dressed all in white, crossed over the scaffolding and danced up a storm, waking the crowd up from their slumber-like daze.

The next band to play were something of a mystery. On the line-up it just stated they were called A Band and that they would cover songs by legendary outfit The Band. Including 'all stars' from local Sydney outfits, such as The Delta Riggs and Sticky Fingers, the sound that resonated from them was almost textbook perfect. It sounded as if all the elements had been ripped straight off fresh vinyl. They played classic tunes from Scorsese's seminal concert film The Last Waltz, and The Weight got the rather confused crowd pumping to something familiar.

Sampa The Great fully illuminated the stage with her energy and power. Her raps flowed seamlessly as her hype man echoed her with his low and booming tone, a physical force in the cosy outside venue. Her intense audience interaction made it feel as if you were on stage with her, that it was your performance too! It was communal and affective. Everyone had their hands up in the air for F E M A L E. "Where are all my queens? Get up here to the front!" she exclaimed, the space filling out as Sampa championed the women in the crowd.

The Jezabels stunned from the minute they set foot on the stage. Hayley Mary commanded everyone's attention and, as the night got colder, she warmed the crowd up with her '70s-esque hip thrusts and finger pointing, leg spreading and interactive grooves. Classic track Endless Summer was a tremendous way to start. The crowds ran to the thick of the mosh and were bathed in each other's sweat just to get a glimpse of the band in the flesh. They transitioned into My Love Is My Disease, the catchy collection of riffs mixed with Mary's flawless vocal drawing a stunning reaction from onlookers. Easy To Love was a clear standout, the singer, still pitch perfect, surfing over the crowd as they danced, a feat she topped towards the end of their set by effortlessly scaling the scaffolding to dance.

Once DMA'S hit the stage they transfixed with their signature acoustic sound mixed with grungy undertones. They began with Play It Out and the catchy lyrics, "I'm stuck inside of you, you're stuck inside of me", got the crowd singing out in a full scream. They maintained an awkward yet endearing stage presence, regularly thanking the crowd and going into long tuning transitions that almost seemed like the end of their set.

Pauses aside, they managed to fill their headline set with flawless musical quality, especially on their breakout single Delete. Lead vocalist Tommy O'Dell's effortless power enchanted the whole crowd and not one person could stop listening or watching. They ended with their hit Lay Me Down, the perfect way to end a stunning festival full of great vibes and mesmerising tunes.