Live Review: Falls Festival Fremantle

Renowned for its unique festival offerings and inspired line-ups, Falls Festival returned to Fremantle this past weekend, kicking off the 2019 festival season for Perth music lovers.

A new layout greeted guests, including a secluded “Danceteria” area involving an indoor dancefloor, with a large open double-main stage filling the majority of Fremantle Oval. Local indie star Carla Geneve continued her impressive run with an opening slot on the bill, and stepped up to the plate with a strong vocal performance. Running through tracks such as the tongue-in-cheek single Greg’s Discount Chemist, Geneve rocked the Main Stage and showed why she’s one of Perth’s most exciting emerging talents.

Soon it was over to see buzzing New South Wales outfit Hockey Dad bring their surf rock vibes to life on the adjacent main stage. As countless bodies on shoulders were seen enjoying the sunshine and great music, the Australian duo kickstarted the day into rhythm in great fashion. This was slightly mellowed by their follow up act, Dean Lewis, whose more sombre ballads still drew a crowd but lowered the intensity of the main crowd. Despite this, covers of Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark and Oasis’ Don’t Look Back In Anger served as moments that saw the crowd rise up for some well-aged classics.

Australian hip hop talent Tkay Maidza brought her slick rhymes and upbeat dance moves to the Valley Stage, with her rendition of fan favourite Simulation proving as a highlight. Fans were then eager to get a glimpse Rich Brian as part of international collective 88rising . The set illustrated the diverse nature of the group’s style, from trap-drum heavy hitters (Dat Stick) to melodic pop anthems (Midsummer Madness).

Cherished Aussie vocalist Amy Shark then treated the crowd to a powerful display of her talents (and showed that Teenage Dirtbag still garners a huge reception among festival-heads). Her day-stealing set was concluded magnificently, as a sea of spectators blasted the chorus of her beloved Adore You before she entranced the crowd with a stellar rendition of I Said Hi.

With the occasional passer-goer seen drowned in glitter from the “Glitoris” kiosk and others enjoying the beanbag-riddled Nintendo Switch gaming area, Falls really provided something for everyone in 2019. This included music-lovers, who were then privy to a traditionally outstanding live performance from Flight Facilities. Opening with their massive recent single I Need You, their set contained characteristic moments of progressive climactic build ups, and ended with the impassioned Clair De Lune and ever-adored Crave You.

Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals. Pic by Linda Dunjey

While Welsh band Catfish & The Bottlemen and the eclectic godfather of grime Dizzee Rascal clashed on opposing stages and tussled for punters’ attention with lively sets, it was the headline act who stole the show in the end. Multi-instrumentalist Anderson .Paak and his band, The Free Nationals, had everyone’s attention as they rattled through live-band performances of tracks old and new. 

Visually backed by jarring psychedelic backdrops, Paak scrambled between lead microphone and his drumkit for different songs, with upbeat tracks like Bubblin’ and Come Down elevating the crowd to their peak. After an inspired performance of the politically-charged Oxnard cut 6 Summers, and concluding with a gracious tribute to late friend Mac Miller in the form of their collaboration Dang!, Paak left fans with an incredibly good - if not slightly emotional - taste in their mouth as the festival came to a momentary halt on day one.

As midday hit on Sunday, a few dedicated and visibly broken bodies could be seen making their way back into the venue for day two. Triple J Unearthed competition winners Spacey Jane were the first cab of the rank, and like local Carla Geneve before them, showed why they are blazing a trail through Perth’s local music scene.

As the unrelenting sun reigned down on the largely shadeless venue, Ocean Alley only helped to heat up the Main Stage with a set which included their notable Like A Version cover of Baby Come Back, and climaxed with the 2019 triple j Hot 100 frontrunner, Confidence. The Main Stage’s next guests, DMA'S, were arguably hard done by to be so early in the day, as they served up an afternoon delight to an enormous crowd. The musical angels in disguise from Sydney turned an entire swarm of punters into an intimate singalong as they pulled off old favourites such as the emotional Delete and recent favourite In The Air.

Toto. Pic by Linda Dunjey

The singalong continued, with rockers Toto bringing their anthemic classics to the speakers, with Hold The Line and internet-famous Africa garnering the largest receptions from the crowd. Touch Sensitive and Hilltop Hoods then contended for the crowd’s attention on opposite stages, as both acts delivered simultaneously impressive sets with Lay Down and Cosby Sweater proving their respective highlights.

As nightfall fell on Fremantle, Manhattan rock legends Interpol served up a 60-minute show which seemed to resonate with die-hard fans only, garnering the smallest Main Stage crowd of the day. Luckily, a change of pace on the main stage to wrap up proceedings in the form of Australian deep house expert Golden Features was exactly what was needed. 

In an electrifying display of high intensity EDM, the Sydney DJ/producer treated the largest crowd of the festival to a thumping mix of danceable tracks - in the process transforming Fremantle Oval into the largest nightclub in Perth. Supported by an intense, strobe-lidden light show and backboned by tracks from his 2018 album Sect, it was still matured releases such as Falling Down and Guillotine which lifted the crowd to their highest points of the set, and arguably the entire festival.