The enduring legacy of Laneway Festival
A 10 year retrospective
We’re all firmly aware that the Australian music festival; once a stalwart of the music scene, is changing before our eyes. Importantly, this isn’t a think piece about what used to be or where things are going — there’s been plenty of excellent reporting already via Junkee, Vice and The Guardian.
I’m also not here to dissect debates about lineups, difficulties with logistics or the impact of rising costs of living. Nor do I intend to pit one festival against another — it’s a struggle for everyone out there and what appears to be a ‘successful’ festival is often entirely based on smart marketing and good optics.
Instead, this is a celebration of being a punter. A loving reflection of 10 years at Laneway Festival, one of my most joyous moments on the music calendar.
With a track record of capturing artists at the midpoint of their meteoric rise, Laneway Festival played host to Billie Eilish in the 18 months before she became a global superstar, Fred again.. in the afterglow of his Actual Life anthology and the dearly missed electronic innovator, SOPHIE.
A festival of personal and professional firsts, this is my love letter to Laneway 💌
These days, Billie Eilish comfortably claims global megastar status. However, 2018 saw her performing an early afternoon slot in broad daylight.
More recently, 2023 saw a stirring set from another artist dominating the cultural zeitgeist, Phoebe Bridgers.
The masterful St Vincent and FKA Twigs stopped by in 2015, delivering visually and sonically electric sets.
In the thick of her Art Angels era, Grimes made an appearance in 2016. Other highlights that year included DIIV and Purity Ring.
2018 saw some of the finest names in alternative — with Alex G, Aldous Harding and Wolf Alice all taking to the stage.
After debuting in 2020, prodigal post-punk sons Fontaines D.C. visited again in 2023.
Their first time on the Laneway bill — but no stranger to Australia shores, 2023 welcomed beloved sibling trio HAIM.
From Badbadnotgood (2018) and Jungle (2015), to 100 gecs (2023) and RAYE (2024), Laneway has always been a melting pot of genres and crossover of communities.
It was a family affair at Laneway Festival in 2015, with Mac Demarco bringing his Mum Agnes along to MC the event.
As anyone who attended the Melbourne leg of Laneway at the Footscray Community Art Centre and Riverside will attest; The Very West Stage was indeed Very Far Away. However, the set from Anderson .Paak in 2018 was absolutely worth the brisk walk.
A special moment each and every leg of Laneway is of course the first act of the day. Selected by triple j Unearthed, in 2019 Rat!hammock got the call.
As Laneway Festival grows each year, the artists who grace its stage do too. Angie McMahon opened the Melbourne leg of the festival in 2018, before returning for a national run in 2024. Each set a lyrical, life affirming look into growth, courage and change. It’s a message that has never been more important.
While this post is laced with nostalgia, that also isn’t the sole intention. To look forward involves looking back. There’s no doubt that it is a challenging time for the creative industries, but let this be a reminder that there’s always new memories to be made.
Long live Laneway Festival.